Chapter 15: The Gatekeeper

Jessamine said it again.

She said it to his face, in the same small flat voice, with the baby between them.

"He's Aldous's, Magnus. He's always been Aldous's."

Magnus did not shout.

I had waited a week to see what he would do when the floor went out from under him, and what he did was stand very still.

"Give him to me," he said.

Jessamine did not move.

"You've never asked."

"I know."

"You've walked past his cradle forty times, Magnus. Aldous told me you were afraid to wake him."

"I was afraid he wouldn't look like me."

His voice cracked on the last word.

Jessamine put the baby in his arms.

Magnus held him badly, stiff-elbowed, a tall man in a ruined jacket holding a bundle that weighed nothing.

The baby's grey eyes opened and slid across his face.

Magnus looked down into them for a long time.

"Oh," he said. "Oh, God."

His knees bent, and he sat on the carpet with his back against the sofa and the child on his chest.

Hester did not go to him.

She stood at the window with her face turned away, and I saw her shoulders shake once.

"Mother," Magnus said, without looking up. "I gave away my son for this."

"I know you did."

"I sealed the door on his mother, and Aldous stood in the stairwell and..."

"I know."

"I'll kill him."

"You won't." Hester turned. Her eyes were red, and her voice was granite. "Not before the packs have heard it from his own mouth."

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