Free Moonlight(Pact Arcanum 3) by Arshad Ahsanuddin

minutes?”
    She nodded. “Sure. I hope things work out better than your last conversation.”
    “So do I.” He walked a short distance apart for privacy. “Put her through, Strings.”
    A virtual screen opened in front of him, showing Layla with the Council Chamber in the background. Nick and Faith stood to either side of her.
    Toby frowned at the presence of his siblings. “Layla, is this a business or a personal call?”
    Layla stood straighter. “Both, actually. It seems our relationship is about to become an affair of state.”
    Toby waited silently for a moment, then looked at Nick. “Is someone going to explain that remark?”
    Nick and Layla looked furtively at each other, weighing which of them should speak. Faith shook her head in disgust. “Toby, you’re going to be a father. Congratulations.”
    Toby just stared at her. “Is that supposed to be funny?”
    Faith grimaced. “Do I look like I’m laughing, little brother? She’s between sixteen and twenty weeks along, and the fetus appears to be developing normally.”
    “Whoa. Just wait a minute.” Toby tapped his hands together in a time-out sign. “Even if that were at all possible, we’ve only been going out since December.”
    Faith gave him a hard look. “Then you must’ve got off to a fast start.” She shook her head in annoyance. “Typical.”
    Toby swallowed and turned back to Layla, who watched him with a challenging gaze. He considered and discarded his next words several times. It had to be true, or Faith wouldn’t go along with it. And Layla certainly wouldn’t be caught in such an obvious fabrication. Finally, he simply asked, “Are you all right?”
    Her expression softened slightly, and she allowed herself a small smile. “I am well, Tobias. Thank you for asking.”
    Toby licked his lips. “How did it happen?”
    “The Gift and Grace are mystically compatible,” Nick answered. “The White Wind apparently always meant for Daywalkers and Sentinels to start a new race while the Great Work progressed.”
    Toby frowned at him. “And how do you know that?”
    Nick shrugged. “They answered my questions when I asked.”
    Toby’s eyes grew wide. “Pact Arcanum? How did you—” He broke off suddenly. “The higher powers never give up anything for free, Nick. What did you have to pay for the information?”
    “They asked me to protect the child in your place, for as long as necessary.”
    “In my place? It’s my kid,” Toby said hotly. “I can protect it!”
    “They said you might not be around.”
    “What the hell does that mean?”
    “It means you’re in danger.” Nick gave him a diamond-hard stare. “I want you to break off your assignment and come home. You’ll be safer here.”
    “What about Andrea?” Toby protested. “You want me to throw her to the wolves?”
    “She still has her security detail, including Anderson. We’ll send someone out to replace you when we can set up a suitable cover story. Set up whatever wards around her that you can, but hightail it back here as soon as possible.”
    Toby was about to argue further, but Nick cut him off. “Just do it, little brother. Please. I don’t want to lose you.”
    There wasn’t much Toby could say to that, so he just bowed his head. “Can I speak to Layla for a moment?”
    Nick and Faith stepped away from the screen, leaving the two of them with a modicum of privacy.
    Toby looked at her helplessly. “I’m sorry.”
    Layla shook her head. “I am not. I have often wondered what it would mean to be a mother, although I have sired a legion of scions. I choose to view this as an opportunity. I might even learn something.”
    “That’s not what I meant,” Toby murmured. He reached into his shirt and pulled out the gold charm so that it lay visible on his chest. “I’m sorry I got so angry.”
    She sighed. “You had a right to be incensed. I should not have given it to you.”
    “The gift didn’t piss me off, Layla,” Toby said in an earnest