The bedraggled man breathed heavily like he had fought through hordes to get here. He wore only black pants, no shoes, and no shirt. Long blond hair hung over his shoulders and in front of his dirt-smeared face. His piercing yellow eyes sunk into me like teeth—I was holding his daughter. “Give her to me,” he said darkly.
Seconds ago, I hadn’t wanted anything to do with this baby. But now, inexplicably, I couldn’t stand to hand her back to the enemy.
“Give me my child!” Lothair roared.
“Lothair! Forget the goddamn child; stop them!” David howled from deep within the cavern.
His eyes shifted behind me, flickering with anger. “You neglect the father’s obligation to his daughter. I will protect her above all else,” he said harshly, then zeroed in on me again. “Give her to me now!”
“Y
