Chapter 353

We washed little Jonathan the same way we had washed Kennedy.

I was fascinated by the light markings on the baby’s skin. Unlike the men, who wore their stripes all the time, Jonathan’s only appeared when he became upset. Now as we bathed and he was relaxed in the warm water, they were invisible and he was as pale as me.

Evan held Jonathan as his brothers cleaned his baby’s body thoroughly. They handled him so carefully, but Evan was still protective. He demanded Kein be the one to clean his hair.

“It is matted and stuck together. You have the best hands, brother. Clean it without causing him pain,” Evan instructed Kein solemnly.

After our bath our baby was diapered in an absorbent towel. He was then dressed in an outfit that Nu-reeh had sent for him. It was like a bag with arms. The men told me once he started to move around small pants would be brought for him. For now, this was warmer and safer.

“This leather,” I said touching the smooth brown of the