Though it was now partially the issue since it was clear he’d thought much on it and the thoughts he’d had were not cheerful.

She began to broach that with him when he said, “But I will.”

She had thought she’d grown solid before.

But now it felt like all the muscles in her body had atrophied.

“You…will?” she pushed out between stiff lips.

“Although I do not relish waiting for Elena to leave The Enchantments, and you to follow her, so that I can see you, for I cannot live with you in them, I will wait for my times with you and Mars will understand when I take them. It is not only he, but he was taught by his father, family is most important. This is why Guard is not with us. He has a new child. Mars is more likely to cut off his own arm than take Guard from his wife and daughter when she is that wee and Zosime needs him. And I know this because times are this rife, and Guard is not here. He’s with his family. When it is our times to share, Mars will arrange something for me.”

“After this, I am free to do as I wish,” she told him quietly. “Elena might want me at her side, yes, but she would prefer me to do what makes me happy.”

His eyes lit.

“It is that I wish a son.”

These words rushed out before she could stop them.

“Rena—”

“I know it is not what you wish but,” she raised her hands to frame his face, “you are beautiful, and you are a good man, and I want to raise a son with you. I do not know what kind of mother I would be. I never thought I would wish to be a mother. Now, having you, I do.”

His eyes warmed.

But she was not finished.

“What I know is, men like you, and women who can teach their sons to respect the sisterhood, should be the ones making sons. I have thought on this long, and I feel the Nadirii got it wrong. I see it through what I know could have with you. We should have been making girls and boys. Our ancestors should have taken their sons with them and built a true army. The kind that fought at the Heights. The kind that stood, side by side, and it did not matter who was what. What country. What sex. Just fighting for right. I…I…”

She realized she’d descended into a giving speech and finished it quickly.

“I just wish for you to consider giving me a son.”

“Then I will say I have considered this, and when the time comes, I will give you one.”

She felt her brows shoot up.

“Though, if you agree, he will be second born so he knows humility,” he carried on.