He took the small red smartphone out of desk drawer and checked the screen. “It says ‘Baby is here! Meet us at the rift site.’”

A moment later, the phone chirped again and Zed added, “And bring Leonard.”

“How did she know I was here?” Leonard asked.

“It’s Sonja.” Zed shrugged. “How does Sonja know anything?”

“I’ll get to see Charlotte,” Leonard whispered. “I’ll get to see the baby! Oh, holy hell, how am I supposed to get out of this room without tripping and knocking myself unconscious on office equipment?”

“I could carry you?” Zed suggested.

“Thanks, but no,” Leonard grumbled.

Now the rift site was just an empty field near the Afarpiece Swamp, it was perfectly safe to meet the new family there. Zed drove carefully on the gravel road the League had installed to make it easier to reach the site, which would eventually serve as the new storage facility Cordelia and Brendan were setting up. Sonja’s SUV was parked near the clearing, and Leonard spotted Will and Sonja waiting there with a tired-looking Jillian and Bael. Charlotte was leaning against a tree, watching the little scene while she sipped a bottle of water. Sonja was holding a little bundle wrapped in a yellow blanket while Will pressed a stethoscope against the baby’s chest.

Apparently, the baby did not appreciate the intrusion of this cold metal object because Sonja startled suddenly and the bundle burst into bright blue flames. Bael stepped in, taking the flaming blanket from Sonja’s hands while Will looked his girlfriend over for burns.

“Is the baby on fire?” Leonard asked.

Zed nodded slowly. “Yup.”

“Things that only make sense in Mystic Bayou,” Leonard sighed as they climbed out of the truck.

They edged closer, while the flames slowly died out and the baby’s cries were replaced with burbling. Sonja laughed, cooing at the little bundle. “No harm, no foul, sweetie. We’ll work out some sort of early baby flame warning system.”

“Is it a boy or a girl?” Zed asked. “Or a bird? Is it something with wings?”

“Zed, meet your honorary niece, Dalinda Zedwin Boone.” Jillian laughed as Bael handed the baby over.

“She’s so tiny and perfect,” Zed breathed, his hands trembling a bit as he held her. He stroked a finger down her little cheek. “Hello, sweet bebelle. I’m your uncle Zed. I will protect you and love you and do all the fun things that maman and papa say no to…. Oh, no, Bael, you’ve got a girl! You’re never gonna sleep again! By the time she’s ready to date, you’ll be in jail for threatening any boy that comes near her. Oh, merde, that means I’m gonna be in jail, too. I’m gonna be charged with accessory to threatening any boy that comes near her. I can’t let you go to jail alone.”

“Her godfather, ladies and gentleman,” Bael sighed.