"Why hello there, chér." Emeric winked at her. Grant growled, and the introductions continued.
"This is Leif Grassfield and Travis Hickory. They are both unit warriors just returning to Noctem Falls. They were supposed to get tested at Storm Keep but got called back early."
Leif grinned. "For which, we are eternally grateful. We took a little detour in Vegas to postpone the inevitable, and before we knew it, we were getting reassigned back here."
Travis looked just as pleased. "We're supposed to take over training for two redheaded rapscallions, but we hear they were up last night working on some project so they have a reprieve, and we're all yours for the day."
Ellie felt some of the weight lift from her shoulders. Three extra witches would help immensely. "We're finding the medicine is becoming less effective, so any distractions that will keep the children calm and entertained would be a godsend. "
"So basically play with them, but keep them in the cots and lying down?" Leif asked.
She nodded. "Last night, Hawthorne turned the ceiling into the night sky; it lifted the spirits of everyone here." She pointed to where the weary parents sat with the children, trying to keep them smiling.
"Got it," Travis said, nodding.
"Any food restrictions?" Leif asked.
She nodded. "No sugar, of course, and the more fluids the better.
"
As the witches got started entertaining the children, Ellie settled down off to one side to go over each child's chart and read her grandmother's notes. Grant sat beside her, and Emeric took up a spot against the wall not too far away.
"That's going to take some getting used to."
"What?" Grant asked.
She pointed to the guard. "Having a bodyguard. Is it really necessary?"
Grant was quiet for a moment. "Did you dream before coming here?"
Ellie froze. "Why?"
"I did. So did Adriel and Declan, right before their mates arrived. They dreamed of their mate's deaths."
"But they're alive."
"Yes, but the general consensus is that being aware of what could happen helped to prevent them from dying."
Ellie noticed that Grant's hands twisted and flipped the air stone over and over. She reached over and held one of his hands in hers. His thumb rubbed circles over the top of her hand. "What did you see?" she asked. He shook his head. "Please tell me. Don't carry those images alone. I did dream, but I didn't really see anything. I was just afraid and overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness. I would wake up crying without knowing why."
"Death."
"What?"
"I think I saw death. Etain and I compared dreams; they were almost identical. In my dream, I saw a woman with creamy, pale skin and warm brown eyes drown in an ocean of black."
"I can't drown in a desert," she reminded him gently.
"No, but I don't think the darkness was water. I think it was death, and it swirled all around you."
Ellie looked out over the room. "You don't think..."
"I hope not."
She shook her head. "Let's talk about something else. Tell me about your parents."
His hand tightened. "There's not much to say. My father kicked me out of my pack when I was young, and I never tried to go back. You?"