End of the Line by Bianca D'Arc Page A

a bear totem that shone
brighter than any gem. With shaking hands, she held it up so Rocky
could see it.
    His expression hardened and a single
tear trailed down his face.
    “ He really is
dead.”
    She nodded, feeling his pain as her
own. “I burned his body after he died, as he instructed, then
sifted through the ashes for this. He called it—”
    “ A heartstone.” Rocky’s
expression was filled with an odd mix of wonder and sorrow. “If
anyone could do it, Tony would have that kind of magic. But why?
How did he die?”
    Another contraction halted her
explanation for a few moments, and he held her hand throughout. The
pulsing heartstone seemed to comfort her, as it had all along her
ragtag journey over half the continent.
    “ He was ambushed. He
barely made it home before collapsing. He was beyond help by that
point. It only took him moments to breathe his last, but he did it
on his home territory, free and safe. He told me the magical
protections he’d put on our land would fade after he died, but I
would have time to fulfill his last wishes. I followed his
instructions and lit out of there just hours later. I’ve been
crisscrossing the country ever since, but I knew when my labor
started, I’d have to stop running. I came to you, like I promised
Tony I would. My babies will be too vulnerable while I’m
recovering—if I survive their birth—and you’re the only person on
earth I trust to keep them safe.” She clutched at his hand. “I
don’t care what happens to me. Just promise you’ll take care of my
babies.”
    Rocky surprised her by taking her in
his arms and burying his face in her hair as she burrowed into his
neck. It felt so good to be surrounded by his warmth, his strength.
It had been so long since she’d been able to lean on someone, even
for just a moment.
    “ I’ll keep you safe.
You’re not going anywhere, Maggie. I’ll watch over you all. I
promise. Tony knew I would. It’s why he sent you to me. But why did
you wait so long? You should’ve come to me straight
away.”
    “ I couldn’t.” Tears leaked
from her eyes and seeped into his flannel shirt. He was so strong
and she’d felt so weak for so long. It was such a relief to have
someone to share her fears with. “I didn’t want to lead them to
you. I’d just lost Tony and we hadn’t heard from you in a long
time. I didn’t want to presume…”
    “ You should have,
sweetheart. You had to know I’d never turn you away in a million
years.”
    She sniffled as he pulled back to
place a kiss on the crown of her head. The gesture touched her
deeply—so deeply—when she hadn’t dared hope he would welcome her.
She’d spent the last eight months conflicted. She’d lost her
husband, which was traumatic enough, but Tony had known how she’d
always felt about Rocky. Tony had been a shaman. He’d known things,
and he’d sent her straight to the only man who had ever been a
rival for her affections.
    But Rocky had left so long ago. Right
after the wedding, he had announced his move and she hadn’t seen
him since. For all she knew, he was married with children of his
own now, though judging by the sparseness of his house, he lived
alone. The thought brought a lightness to her heart. Perhaps it
wasn’t too late for them. Perhaps Tony had been right to send her
here. Perhaps she did have that chance for happiness again—as Tony
had promised—once this situation with the Venifucus was
straightened out. If it could be straightened out.
    Another pain gripped her and she clung
to Rocky, digging her fingers into his thick muscles, but he didn’t
complain. He just held her, speaking soothing words in that rumbly
voice and stroking her back with one hand while his other hand
moved down to cover the protrusion of her stomach. His touch felt
good. When his fingers settled over the beach ball of her abdomen,
it was as if the squirming babies within sensed his presence and
immediately quieted.
    Tony had warned her how difficult