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As soon as we had stepped outside and the Hawk shut the door behind us, Aiden marched forithout a word As he walked, he looked around to be sure no Haere following us I was about to open lare

Aiden led us back along the wooden ays to the cluster of tree houses we’d stopped by earlier This time, we travelled much deeper into the cluster Outside one of the cabins he rapped on the door and a pale hureen eyes and black hair opened it It took uises, she clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle a screarowled Anna stepped aside and allowed us into the tiny living quarters Sitting on an unco couch was Kyle

As soon as ere all safely inside, Sofia rushed to Anna and swept her up into a tight e

"Wow Good of you to visit us, Derek!" he said with a broad smile

I turned to Aiden, but he said, "I can’t stay here any longer I can’t have Arron noticing my absence Stay here until I return I know that we don’t havehim before he could leave "Don’t you dare be late I can’t lose you again," she said

Aiden nodded curtly and exited the cabin Then Sofia gazed around the room "Where’s Ian?"

"They housed him in a different place, a few trees away from here," Anna explained "So, they turned you into Hawks?"

"No" I shook uise We don’t even kno long it’ll last before it wears off and reveals our true for back home over the past few months And Sofia"--her eyes lit up with an odd excite to show you"

She ran into the back roo what appeared to be a rolled-up blanket But rolled-up blankets didn’t move Rolled-up blankets didn’t cry

Anna handed the bundle to Sofia A baby boy with green eyes and black hair Sofia broke out into hysterics and knelt, clutching the baby in her ar?"

I knelt beside her and brushed the hair away fro, my love," I whispered Her eyes were filled with tears of ecstasy as she looked up at me "It’s our baby… our baby boy… Ben"

I’d tried to hold in my own tears in the face of Sofia’s breakdown, but when Ben turned his ser I pulled Sofia onto my lap and wrapped my arms around hers, so we could both cradle our child simultaneously

The rest of the world ceased to exist as we sat there, in a bubble of happiness Kyle and Anna looked on silently

Eventually I said, "But ho is Ben here?"