Sorry for such a long hiatus. I hope you like this chapter. I know the plot is going a little slow, but I have big plans for the next few chapters. Also, slight waring there is some romance at the end of this chapter. It's got only a tad spicy. Please be sure to leave comments or constructive criticism.

Kendra's eyes scanned the room of unfamiliar faces. With everyone else gathered nearby, there were a few other new faces that Kendra didn't recognize.

The slide leveled out completely, and Tanu and a woman with thick black hair and large round eyes moved forward to help Kendra out of the slide and wrap a large wool blanket around her.

"This is Jo," Tanu said, motioning to the graying woman next to him.

"Here, let me take your coat," Jo said.

"Thank you," Kendra whispered.

Ashlyn offered a hand to Bracken to help him up, which he took graciously. She blushed slightly, but ever the gentleman. He pretended not to notice; at this point, he had gotten over the embarrassment of others' infatuation and kept close to Kendra. He thanked her and went to make sure Kendra was okay.

Bracken sighed in relief, and they had made it at least to the preserve. His eyes scanned Kendra. He tried not to make his assessment noticeable, but Kendra caught him watching her. She smiled softly at him. She knew she would have to be patient with him.

Taithen slid down after them a few moments later.

Bracken was worried, and rightly so. Yet, he was so patient with her. Bracken hadn't even complained as Kendra's husband had pushed her up the icy stairway. He had let her come on this mission just so that she wouldn't be at home alone worrying about him.

It felt stupid to be so worried about him, but she couldn't get over the fear that something would happen to him the second he was out of her sight.

It was old anxiety resulting from their first year of knowing each other, back when every mission Bracken went on resulted in his capture. Kendra didn't even know how it was possible to go to prison so many times. Kendra sometimes worried that Bracken didn't see his safety as necessary like Seth. He didn't realize how much she worried about him. Kendra worried that Bracken didn't see himself as essential; he thought that the mission could succeed without him.

Bracken, Kendra knew, would readily put himself in danger to protect anyone. The notion made Kendra want to cling to her husband and not let him out of her sight.

Whether Bracken realized it or not, Kendra needed him, especially now.

Bracken scanned the large room. No, not a room, a cavern. The walls and ceilings were solid ice. Beams of pinewood ran up the sides, and ceilings bolted into the pale blue ice. Industrial lighting hung from beam to beam along the walls. Iron-wrought chandeliers hung at even intervals from the ceiling.

His eyes went to the caretakers— a middle-aged couple with dark hair and dark eyes talking with Knox about his upcoming portion of the mission. Kendra tried not to roll her eyes as Knox assured the caretakers of the reserve that he and Seth could handle a dragon without any problem. Knox continued to insist that he was a professional for dragon slaying. Seth, to his credit, didn't even seem to care about Knox's bragging and was completely ignoring him and instead choosing to focus on a set of antlers hanging from the wall and a glass case filled with different gems.

The woman caught her eye, and she turned to greet Kendra and Bracken. She introduced herself as Alma. You must be Kendra. We are honored to welcome you into your home. Kendra thanked her as Alma showed Kendra to the large lounge with a steaming cup of hot cocoa. Kendra siped the drink as carefully as possible so she wouldn't burn the tip of her tongue.

Rater has been feeling super nauseous for the last few days. The diner was a small occasion which, honestly, Kendra preferred it that way. The hot stew was perfect.

After dinner, everyone made themselves comfortable on the plush fur-lined couches, relieved to finally be able to rest after the boat ride and hike. Bracken wrapped his arm around Kendra, pulling her close while she snuggled into his side.

"So most of the ingredients are not super complex to retrieve. The worst for you will be retrieving the bottle of dragon breath weapon." Said Taithen nodding at Seth and Knox. "It is also the farthest destination from the cavern. The closest is Borealis crystals. It is only a few miles away by foot. Still, we have snowmobiles that can get you to the crystal caves. Our milk walrus buffy has her barn near the waterfront on the other side of the island. We will take you over there in a helicopter," Taithen said, motioning to Tanu and ashlyn.

"The dragon, Boramis, has a cave near the tip of the glacier peak. After a few hours, we can get you to the mountain base and then plan a rendezvous back at the bottom." Alma said, unlike taithen, her voice seemed to ring throughout the cavern.

"You have communicators in case something happens, let the team know.

Get a good night's rest and, we will head out in the morning," taithen said; what about Kendra?" Seth said. "I think that you should stay here at the cave, you know with how sick you've been lately." Seth hinted not so subtly.

Kendra's head whipped toward him and shot him a death glare that she reserved for only exceptional occasions

"What do you mean isn't she, Bracken, and Tess going to collect the Borealis crystals?" asked Knox.

"It's nothing," Seth tried to amend, his voice becoming smaller.

"I am fine," Kendra insisted

"No, you're not." A Small voice from the corner of the room spoke. A young woman, maybe fourteen, revealed herself from the shadows. She had long loose raven hair and bright blue eyes. Her eyes glazed over as she spoke. Those with eyes that can see know that you have tipped the balance to the light, and all creatures of darkness will seek your destruction.

Shivers ran down Kendra's spine as Bracken pulled her impossibly closer.

"Sorry," Alma whispered. "Our daughter Skadi was blessed by the fairies to see all the light of the world."

"Was she fairstruck?" Kendra asked

"Yes. Ska∂i has been able to see the world as it is."

"Sometimes, I see more." Skadi explained. "when your soul is open to light, you're are more aware of the darkness as well you cannot escape one without the other."

Kendra nodded silently. She knew that since she and Seth discovered the magic of Fablehaven so many years ago, she had gained too much joy and life and light, but she also had fought on literal battlefields to preserve that light. You cannot have the light without the darkness that came along with her sacrifices, as she had been a force to grow up too fast.

I understand, Kendra looking at Skadi, and I intend to do everything I can to preserve this light, said Kendra as she placed her hand over the spot where her children were growing in her belly.

She looked up at Bracken. "I'm going with you," She said. "I have to."

We will talk about this later. Bracken whispered, fear clutched at him at the thought of Kendra going out on the preserve. The idea of anything happening to Kendra made him want to puke. Some would have called him paranoid, but at the moment, he felt like he had a right to be.

"It would be best to go with him," Skadi told them, "you will not find a safe harbor here. The enchantments are not as strong as the passage and cave of the Borealis crystals."

Why wouldn't Kendra go to the crystals? Our mission is easy compared to other assignments that we have done. Knox said, are you sick or something. And what does she mean when she says that

everyone stared at Kendra and Bracken. Kendra wilted a little under their stares.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice wavering a little. "It's nothing."

"Yeah, right," Seth scoffed. "It's not nothing," he insisted.

Kendra shot Seth a glare that could make a demon wither under her gaze, and even Seth backed off just a little bit.

"Seth, please shut up. You are only making the situation more awkward for everyone." Bracken said, trying to mediate the tension between the two siblings.

"Kendra," Tanu said, "Seth is correct. It might be a good idea to let your team know what is going on to help if need be. You were struggling to get up the Icy stairway, and it might help them know in case of an emergency."

Kendra breathed deeply in an attempt to try to calm her nerves.

"I am okay." Kendra tried to assure everyone.

"Kendra Tess said gently, "it is okay if you are afraid we want to be there for you just like you have been there for all of us."

"Yeah, whatever it is, I promise that we won't make a big deal," Knox said.

Kendra looked at Bracken. "You know that I'll support whatever you

decide, Kendra. I am here for you to whatever end," he said.

Kendra grasped his hand to steady herself. Brackens presence provided a much-needed anchoring that she so desperately needed. She recalled his promise that they would make it through this together.

"We just found out that we are expecting," Kendra to be admitted.

Tess squealed. "I can't believe it! Oh gosh, you guys, I'm so excited for you."

"Congrats. I guess it'll be cool to have a baby in the family." Knox said.

"Why did you even come?" Tess asked you should have stayed at home.

"I don't know." Kendra admitted, "I was worried that something would happen if I didn't."

"Well, at least you are safe," Tess said.

"So I should join Bracken and Tess," Kendra said, looking at Skadi.

"You shouldn't stay here. I know why but I sense that you will be in danger more than if you went with Bracken." Skadi said.

"I guess that's settled," she said, standing up. "I need to get an excellent night's sleep if I plan to go with you to the crystal caves."

she bid everyone goodnight, and Bracken followed her as Alma showed them to their room

"Are you okay?" Bracken asked once they were inside and closed the door.

"I'm fine," Kendra said. "I'm a little mad at Seth, and he might as well have just told everyone. I should have known that he couldn't keep a secret. He just has been a little off since he found out about the pregnancy."

"Are you sure we should trust what Skadi said? You can still stay here if you want to," Bracken asked.

"I don't know, but we can check tomorrow just to make sure her intentions are good," Kendra said.

"What about going to the crystal cave? Are you going to be okay?" He asked as he began to shuck off his coat and shirt as he sat on the bed.

"I'll be fine," Kendra said as she began to strip her clothes to change into her pajamas. "We won't be hiking much, and we will talk to your mom at the shrine. It might be fun to tell her the good news together with anyone."

Kendra turned So that she was facing Bracken. She couldn't help but blush at seeing her husband. His wife stared at him, blushing at the sight of the strong panes of muscle in his chest and torso. Bracken caught her staring at him. he opened his arms, and Kendra let him wrap his arms around her and gather her to him. he scooped her up, and she snuggled up to him. Sitting on his lap as she buried her face into the crook of his shoulder and his neck and lightly kissed his warm skin.

"Kendra," he whispered. "I love you. I hope that you never have any reason to question that."

"I don't," Kendra whispered as she caressed his face and ran her hands through his hair as she kissed his jaw. Bracken let his lips meet hers as his worries melted in the warmth of her lips. He moved so that he could lay down on the bed, letting himself fall back into the warm blankets. Kendra followed him, allowing herself to bask in his warmth and the safety she felt at being in his arms. She only wishes for that feeling to last forever.

I am looking for someone who would be willing to help me edit. Please comment if you are interested.