My children came in next.

Devis, Andrius, and T.a.o.

Merit's absence left an ache in my chest, but I maintained a grin for the gentler three. For all of Celindria's faults, she'd created some pretty amazing people.

"Hello, my Progeny."

Andrius saluted with a fist to his chest, Devis nodded, and T.a.o. traced her fingers across the spines of my journals. I couldn't blame her, as I'd often caught myself doing it.

I noticed how they filled the space with an awkward, uncertain energy. They were unsure of their place in this world. While I assigned everyone else work which would suit them, I'd left the First Wave Progeny free to do as they wish. It seemed only right, given how long Celindria had kept them in captivity. T.a.o. was the only one who took full advantage of it, and I often missed her.

After another stretch of silence, Devis finally clicked his tongue with impatience and blurted, "We want jobs."

Andrius looked at him sharply and nudged him with an incredulous expression.

T.a.o. blinked.

I let them see all the acceptance I could muster in my smile. "Whatever I can do, I will do. Name it, but remember, nepotism only goes so far."

At my joke, T.a.o. let out a single laugh. That one second of joy from her was enough to swell my chest with pride.

At Devis' insistence, Andrius stepped forward, saying, "I would like to help Caedes with security. I could help with suggestion, as you call it. Although, my combat skills could use refreshing. It has been too long since you've trained me in self-defense."

I clasped his shoulder and gave a nod. "Done."

The relief in his teal eyes made me smile brighter.

"I want to teach the Progeny meditation," Devis volunteered. "They could use it to better hone their skills, as I feel they are missing a center. This affects their performance by mere seconds, but seconds are hours when it counts."

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"Done. We'll work with them all to schedule it. Are you fine with home-visits?"

Devis nodded. "Absolutely."

Purpose and function brought a new depth to their eyes and anchored their usual uncertainty.

Confidence.

This was good for their self-esteem.

Now it was the most fae of my Progeny's turn. The Afflicted One pulled a volume from the shelf, and the color drained from my skin.

How?

It was my most recent journal. I'd hidden it randomly among older entries.

T.a.o. stared at me as she said, "The hunt. I will join you, Father."

Andrius looked less confused than Devis, which increased my anxiety. Did he know as well? Andrew's ancestor tapped his brother's shoulder, saying, "Let's leave them. Sister needs some time alone with father."

Devis was unaware and still beaming from his newfound occupation. On the way out, he stopped to say, "I wished Celindria were alive to see how much the Shadow have accomplished and how we united the Twelve Worlds. Perhaps it would be enough to change her mind."

So close.

It was so close to my own feelings that I needed to swallow before I could even nod at him.

Both sons left me with my afflicted daughter. Unlike the memory and suggestion Progenies, Seamswalkers have an air of confidence about them. Unbending faith in their ability to remove themselves from any situation.

T.a.o. was not threatened alone with me. She repeated, "I wish to join the hunt."

I nodded. "Yes. You would be an asset, but T.a.o., no one else knows she's alive. I don't even know how you know."

"Her eyes appear in black flames in the skies of all the Worlds, beckoning me to return to her. I will not." T.a.o. tightened both fists, emphasizing the striation of her muscles and straining the veins under her skin. "I will not."

Gently, I placed my hands on her shoulders, brushed back the curtain of her wavy black hair, and assured, "I'll never let her take you again, but that means I don't want you chasing after her on your own."

T.a.o. nodded.

"Would you like your own apartments back here in the Stronghold?"

She blinked at me. "My home is in the Seam."

An image of a little nest with a bundle of blankets and a short supply of food stored in Monarch Hall's violet architecture brought a small smile to my lips. I said, "I think Razor would like that."

When T.a.o. found an occasion to smile, it was more radiant than the sun. She Seamswalked back to the ravine, beaming.