The Destroyer Book 3 by Michael-Scott Earle

love our child. I just wanted him with me for the rest of my life. When I had my moon flow, we didn't speak of it again, but I continued to dream of the beautiful baby that could have solidified our love.
    I thought about the last time we made love. We came back to our glade and spent our last few hours with our Spirits entwined, our lips feasting on each other, and his body filling mine. Memories were always flawed. The day after he left, I remembered every kiss he gave me in perfect, beautiful detail. A week after, I could only remember the few positions we enjoyed and what it had felt like for him to fill me. Now that two months had passed, I could only clearly remember what it felt like to lie in his arms after we made love. Everything else was a blur of passion and warmth.
    My family was dead. My home was gone. The only two things that mattered were Kaiyer's seed finding a fertile womb, and him returning to me. After that, we would build a life together. A life away from the Ancients, the death of my family, the crumbling of my old life. Our new life would be sweet and wonderful.
    I smiled at the sky. Unlike me, my lover had been amazingly adept at the various chores around the dairy farm. Rayat often commented that having Kaiyer helping with the work was like having a team of twenty men. During our first full day here he cut enough wood for the rest of the winter from a fallen tree in the outskirts of the forest and hauled it back to the farmhouse. Then he repaired the roof of the barn, killed two deer, and harvested several baskets full of wild mushrooms, greens, and berries. In our new life together he would have no problem providing for our children. I'd just have to do my part and learn how to maintain the farmhouse.
    "Jess?"
    I opened my eyes and sat up with a cry. I must have fallen asleep.
    "It's okay. It is only me." A large hand held onto my left shoulder. Jiure.
    "You scared me!" My heart beat quickly and it didn't seem to want to calm.
    "Sorry. You looked so peaceful sleeping. I didn't want to wake you." He smiled and squeezed my shoulder reassuringly.
    "How did you find me?" I looked up at the sky and noticed the color of the sun. Kaiyer taught me how to read the position and it had probably been a few hours since I fell asleep.
    "I followed you. I wondered where you went every day." His mouth broke into a smile that did not bring me any happiness. I returned the smile though. It was never good manners to be rude to someone, even if they had been rude to you. Or so my grandmother taught me.
    "We should be getting back." I stood up and tried not to sound annoyed. Jiure's presence made me uncomfortable here.
    "No. Let's spend some time here together. This is quite a charming spot you have found. I never explored the forest much. How did you find this place?" He tugged lightly on my arm in an effort to get me to sit down next to him.
    "My husband found it while he hunted. We should return. Your mother will wonder where I am, and your father and sister will need your help." The lie about Kaiyer came so easily to my lips. Grandmother had sent me a sign. Soon he would come back to me and we could make it true.
    "They won't worry. My chores are done for the day and you aren't very useful around the house anyway." I looked down at him to see if he was joking, but his face had lost its ugly smile. “My parents are nice people and took you and your husband in. But we've had to work harder to feed you, and there hasn't been any sort of payment. You may not see it, but it burdens them." He frowned.
    "We gave you two horses, some gold, and my husband helped with many chores around the farm. We hold no debt to your parents." I shook my arm lightly and looked at his hand. I didn't want to tell him to let me go, I assumed the look would indicate my wishes.
    "Maybe you have trued up with my parents. But you haven't settled with me. I have had to do extra work because of you. If a man works to feed and take care of a woman,