“They can’t know about him,” I said adamantly. “Olive was right about that, and I owe it to her to keep him secret. It’s the least I can do since I failed her.”

“Adrian—”

I wouldn’t let Sydney finish. “We have to hide him. Will you help me?”

Her face was filled with concern for me, but she didn’t hesitate in her answer. “You know you don’t need to ask.”

I kissed the top of her head. “We’re going to need help.” I beckoned Rose and Dimitri to come forward. They approached immediately.

Rose swallowed, her dark eyes shining with tears. “Adrian, I’m so sorry. There was nothing anyone could do.”

Well, remarked Aunt Tatiana, you could’ve done something if you hadn’t been so careless with spirit.

“No time for that,” I said briskly. “I need your help. What’ll happen to Declan now? You know these kinds of places, Dimitri. What’s the protocol when the mother dies? I need to know if we can take him.”

“Who’s Declan?” asked Rose.

I nodded down at the baby in my arms, still wrapped in someone’s coat.

Dimitri’s face was hard to read. “If she had family living here in this camp, he’d go to them. I’m sure we could also contact her family on the outside, whoever’s left of them. There’s a tradition . . .”

“Yes?” I prompted.

He studied the baby uncertainly before continuing. “There’s an old tradition among dhampirs, especially those living in dangerous places and in uncertain conditions. Whomever the mother first gives the baby to becomes its guardian. Like I said, it’s old, but I’m guessing that’s why Olive was so insistent about seeing you and why Lana hasn’t tried to take him from you yet. I’m sure as soon as you tell her—”

“No,” I interrupted. “That’s perfect.”

“You . . . want this baby?” asked Rose, making no attempt to hide how improbable she found the idea.

“I want to get the baby out of here,” I said. “I want as few people to know about him as possible. Or that I’m taking him.” I thought back to who’d been around, Lana and the two warrior dhampirs. I wasn’t sure if anyone else had been there when Olive had been found. “Can you talk to Lana? Tell her we’re taking the baby to Olive’s family but that it’s being kept quiet? And tell her not to mention my involvement to anyone. If we don’t make a big deal about any of it, most of these people will assume we’re taking him to his next of kin. But I’d prefer if he was as unmemorable as possible. I don’t want anyone else seeing him or thinking too much more about him.”

Rose and Dimitri exchanged understandably perplexed looks. “Adrian, what’s going on?” asked Dimitri.