Free The Valkyrie's Guardian by Moriah Densley

onto the floor. With an irritated feline expression, Cat darted from the room.
    â€œWho starred on Sesame Street last summer? Every kid on the planet knows his adverbs because Lyssa Logan can play a Paganini violin concerto while hanging upside down from Grover’s trapeze. And don’t forget ‘Lyssa the Invincible’ who vaporized the world’s worst supervillain.” Cassie tilted her head. “I’m not even immortal.” It was easier to say when she made it sound like an annoyance instead of heartbreak.
    â€œYou don’t know — ”
    â€œI know. Lyssa, I ate three pounds of chocolate last night and felt fantastic.” It seemed Lyssa meant to argue, so Cassie added, “I’m going to enjoy the years I have. With Jack. Better short and sweet, right?”
    Lyssa half-smiled. It was the pitying expression a mother would wear. “I wondered when you would tire of tormenting Jack and fall for him.”
    â€œOh, I plan to make his life a living hell. Business as usual.”
    Lyssa shook her head. “I knew the day I met you both, watching you play music together. There is deep beauty in his soul. It moves me.” Lyssa frequently made mystical hippie comments like that, and Cassie nodded, trying not to appear completely ignorant of artistic matters.
    Lyssa did have a point, though. Cassie confessed, “I was wrong about him. He’s a good man. And I think he loves me back. What else matters?”
    â€œYou might consider what it would do to him, watching you die an agonizing death on the birthing table.”
    â€œI’ll just patch myself back together.”
    â€œIf you pass out? Blood loss? Shock? Blunt force trauma to vital organs?”
    Cassie managed not to wince. “Then he’d have a son. He’s immortal — plenty of time to get over it.” She shrugged. It took a few years off her life, but there was absolutely no irony in her tone, no welling tears, no telling grimace or sigh. She should have been an actress.
    Before her tight throat betrayed her, Cassie asked, “So what was your fight with Kyros about?”
    Lyssa looked at the ceiling and sighed. “No way.”
    â€œPlease? Have anything to do with why you’re not playing any concerts until fall? I hope it’s not linked to the reason you’re pretending not to be ill.”
    â€œYou’re too smart, Cass.” She winked. “But it’s private, sorry.”
    â€œIf you’re afraid to tell Kyros what’s wrong, let me try. I’m a decent healer. I learned from the best, remember?”
    â€œThat’s not — ” Lyssa paused to hiss a breath through her teeth as her back arched. A long moment Cassie watched as Lyssa stiffened, trying to keep a calm face, but Cassie knew these symptoms immediately.
    Lyssa was pregnant. And something was wrong.
    Ignoring Lyssa’s attempt to hide her strain, Cassie tugged the blankets away and thrust out her hands to feel for contractions over Lyssa’s abdomen. Unmistakable. The small bulge tensed and churned under her hands. Without waiting for permission, Cassie closed her eyes and felt for the tiny presence.
    A faint wisp of life, no larger than a newborn kitten. Almost four months. Cassie tried to probe the tiny presence, then it flickered. A little boy. He was aware of sounds and sensitive to emotion. His genetics already determined dark hair like his father, sage green eyes like his mother, and the fledgling electrical current indicated the same astounding talent Kyros had with electromagnetism. Scientifically speaking, the offspring of the two most powerful known extra-sentients should be … essentially, Superman.
    Lyssa quit struggling and observed with Cassie. Already Lyssa sobbed silently as Cassie learned why it had been a secret, why Lyssa didn’t want to tell. Again the baby’s thoughts stuttered then — a void. Long moments later he struggled to connect