Dez nodded as he moved closer. His features became clearer. “Gideon has been so wrapped up in disrupting the ley lines that he didn’t ask too many questions when I went to him about a Trueborn’s ability to reproduce.”

It was the strangest thing as I sat there. My heart wasn’t pounding. My stomach was settled. I was just prepared, at least on a surface level, to hear whatever it was he was going to say. “Was he able to find anything?”

“He pulled out some dusty old books he knew referenced Trueborns. Took him a couple of hours to go through what he has on hand,” Dez explained. “But I have either an answer or no answer, depending on the way you look at it. He could find nothing referencing any Trueborn having a child.”

There was no loosening of the tension nor any tightening. “That could mean that no Trueborn has ever had a child or none was ever recorded.”

“Yes, but it would seem strange for there to be no mention at all,” Dez said. “I think you’re going to have to find out the old-fashioned way. They make tests now that can tell you yes or no within a day or so of conception.”

I nodded slowly.

“Thank you for looking into it,” Zayne said, the warmth of him pressing against my back.

“No problem. I just wish I had more of a clear answer,” he said, and I could see a faint curve of his lips. “And that this was happening during easier times.”

“I think we can all agree on that,” Zayne replied.

“Depending on what you all find out, let me know? When you’re ready? And if it’s a yes, call me when you flip out, Zayne. Trust me when I say that’s definitely going to happen.”

Zayne must’ve nodded behind me, because Dez started to turn to the door but then stopped. “Oh, and, Trin, he checked out that name you were asking about.”

I blinked, seeming to come out of a stupor. “Any more information on that front?”

“Actually, yeah, there is,” Dez said. “Luckily this apartment requires names of all occupants to be listed on file, including children. He looked at current and the last decade or so. There’s no Gena or any variation of that name that Gideon could find on any records listed here.”

24

“What is the Gena thing about?” Zayne asked after Dez left.

“The girl that Peanut has supposedly been hanging out with.” I turned to where Zayne leaned against the back of the couch. “He told me her name is Gena, and other than things being weird with her parents, he’s been really vague about her. I wanted to check in on her to see if everything is on the up-and-up, but apparently she’s not real?”