I stand among the herb beds, running my fingers over the glossy leaves of one of the plants. It’s thriving, like everything else in Astra’s garden. The scents of rosemary and thyme fill the air, mixing with the warm afternoon sun. I shake my head, straightening up to look over to where Astra sits at the wooden table laden with food.
“I don’t know how you can be this dedicated to plants,” I say, brushing dirt from my hands. “I can’t even keep one alive.”
Astra laughs, but there’s something off about it. Something tight. I watch as Selene’s hand hovers over her, that familiar silver glow of healing magic washing across Astra’s skin as she checks her vitals.
“I’ve always been good with plants. You know that,” Astra says, and there it is again, the strain in her voice that makes my stomach clench.
I hear it clearly now: the thread of tension woven through her words. My body moves before my mind fully processes it, forgetting everything else and walking over to her. “Are you okay?”
Astra’s smile falters. Her hand moves to her swollen belly, cradling it protectively. “I’m fine. Just worried.” Her voice cracks slightly. “I’m scared for my baby. For whatever is happening.”
The fear in her eyes cuts through me. I reach out and grip her shoulder. “It’s going to be fine. Lucian will keep you safe.”
“All this stress is not good for your health,” Selene says sharply, withdrawing her magic. Her expression is stern. “If you keep this up, I’m going to advise bed rest until you deliver.”
Astra’s head whips toward her, eyes flashing. “Don’t you dare.”
Selene pinches her cheek like she’s a misbehaving child. “Then, you should behave and think happy thoughts. Positivity is good for the baby.”
“You try to be positive when the world is close to being destroyed,” Astra mutters, but there’s less heat in her tone now.
Selene shakes her head and turns those sharp, healer eyes on me. “How are you and Kieran doing?”
Heat floods my face immediately. “He’s wonderful.”
“Must be.” Selene’s grin is knowing. “You look happy.” She reaches out her hand. “When was the last time you had a checkup?”
“Don’t start…”
But she’s already running her magic over me, her silver glow cascading across my skin. I roll my eyes and catch Astra chuckling despite her worry. The magic feels warm, searching, probing deeper than I’m comfortable with.
All of a sudden, Selene’s eyes widen. Her hand jerks back, but her expression is pure excitement. “Daciana, you’re expecting!”
My mind goes blank. “Expecting what?”
“A child, doofus,” Astra giggles.
My hands fly to my stomach, pressing against the flat plane there. “How can that be?”
Selene and Astra exchange a look. Astra’s smile turns sly. “If you need to ask how to make a baby, what exactly do you think you’ve been doing with Kieran?”
The heat in my face intensifies. “I—That’s not—” But beneath the embarrassment, a cold sensation is creeping in. A tendril of worry that wraps around my heart and squeezes. “Selene, how far along am I?”
“Maybe four weeks?” She tilts her head. “Hard to say exactly this early, but yes, around a month.”
A month.
One month pregnant.
Three months until the curse kills me.
The thought crashes through me like ice water. I’ll be four months along when I die. If I die. My hand presses harder against my stomach, as if I can protect this tiny life that I didn’t even know existed until a minute ago.
No.
I won’t die. I refuse to die. This baby—Kieran’s baby, our baby—deserves to live. I’ll break this curse, defeat the necromancer, burn down the entire world if I have to, but I will not let this child die with me.
My resolve hardens until it is unbreakable.
