In the back of her mind, Lane knew that there could be reasons, both good and bad, for Mia's mother to hand her over. Though they had managed to mend a part of their relationship the night before, it still felt like there were bits and pieces James hid from her. Lane had started to wonder if he had ever been fully honest with anyone in his life. She wished that Fiora's words weren't true, that she had not been used for her book and her power, but at the core of her being...Lane knew that was exactly what had happened. Still, children did not deserve to pay for the sins of their parents.<br/><br/>She took the ice, sharp as a blade, and cut her palm before she could second guess her decision. Lane could see Nora out of the corner of her eye, she was frowning, a sad look crossed her features. It was the sort of expression she rarely saw Nora with, the woman tended to hide her feelings if they were the kind that made her vulnerable. There was only one comfort in it all, Nora actually looked at Pace and slid a hand into his. That was the last thing Lane noticed before her hand was tightly pulled forward. She felt the magic of the deal, she had expected it to be foreign, to feel wrong, but it didn't. It felt...familiar. It made her wonder if the fairy creatures and the gods were not all that different.<br/><br/>"She's safe. She's going to be safe, James." Lane said, looking over at him. Her face remained neutral, she feared to show any real emotion, lest Fiora try to use it against her.<br/><br/>This was not what he wanted, she knew that. He was going to make the grand sacrifice and she was going to raise a kid she had no relation to. Now...Lane had no idea how he would move forward, but he would have to adapt, just as the rest of them had.<br/><br/>Lane pulled her hand free, a jerky motion, more uncontrolled than she intended. She wanted to say something heavy and poignant, but the words just would not come to her. She could not confess her undying love for James, though she felt love for him, she realized her choices were more about the child than that love. Fiora would use the power of the girl just as James might have, though Lane wanted to believe a father would be more tender towards his daughter. She thought of her own father, who had tried to weather the storms her mother faced.<br/><br/>"You can take me there now, if that's what you wish. Best to make whatever exchanges are needed, now."