Although he had a mother and a sister, she supposed he hadn’t been exposed to the hardships of womanhood. Araes shuffled to the door, his back straight and fists curled. Save for a handful of times, he’d stayed by her side since they’d arrived in Aquilae. She didn’t mind, however. He was the only familiar face in a realm of strangers—her brother included.
“I’ll be alright, Lieutenant Araes. It will only be a moment,” Tethys said, letting her head rest back on the goose feather pillow. Nora’s two assistants drew the heavy velvet curtains before exiting the room, Araes trailing behind them.
“Whenever you’re ready, Goddess,” Nora said.
“Let’s just get this over with,” she replied, taking a longsteady breath.
Nora began her exam, her voice guiding Tethys through the procedure with each step. The goddess wiggled her toes and swallowed her discomfort, staring at the gilded ceiling above her.
She thought of the ivy mural in her bedchambers then. Of the countless nights she watched its entwined leaves and emerald buds. Of all the destruction and death birthed from the rebel’s bombing, she was at least grateful she never had to lay her eyes upon the wretched artwork again.
When the exam was finished, Nora tapped Tethys on her knee and placed the instrument on the sterile linens laid out beside her.
“Everything normal?” Tethys asked as she smoothed her nightgown down in place. Her body still ached slightly from the fall. Even the slightest shift in weight sent dull throbs through her muscles. She knew with time they’d fade, but too many bones required repairs. Too many joints now cracked with movement. Without her magic, that pain might always remain.
“No internal injuries I see, but…” Nora trailed off, her brow furrowed with cautious apprehension.
“But what?” Tethys shifted against the headboard, shielding herself for the worst.
“Well, there’s um…” Nora retrieved her notebook from the bedside table and scribbled a few notes. “There’s some distinct coloring and shape changes consistent with early pregnancy. Visually, I’d say you’re maybe six or seven weeks, but without proper testing I can’t be certain.”
Tethys’s entire body froze.
“That’s not possible. I take a contraceptive and it’s been weeks since I’ve even seen my husband, I—there’s just no way.” Tethys felt like she’d been held underwater. Nora’s words were muffled and distant as she reiterated the diagnosis once more.
“This may be bold of me to ask, Goddess, but have youhad other partners?”
Tethys’s response escaped her. The room faded into nothing as her skin went numb and her bones turned to stone. Pregnant? The contraceptive she took routinely after Procyon’s visits was incredibly effective, but Nora’s question lingered. She hadn’t taken the contraceptive with Araes, because she hadn’t needed to. He was a mortal, and only immortal life was capable of growing in her womb.
“To confirm, I’d like to run a few more tests. Then, if I’m correct in my thinking, we’ll discuss your options.” Nora smiled sadly, her typical clinical expression shifting into one of understanding and compassion.
A voice Tethys hadn’t thought of for months resurfaced.A boy. Born of both mortal and divine blood.Her golden haired boy. One she thought was merely fiction. A defense mechanism sent from the deepest pits of her psyche when she broke beyond repair. She risked a glance at her abdomen. Nothing felt different or strange. Her head spun, refusing to comprehend the truth piecing itself together before her.
“Here.” Nora produced a small glass vial from her bag. “I’ll need a sample to test. The results are nearly instant. I can test it here without notifying any of the midwives on our staff.”
Tethys swallowed, reaching for the glass. She was going to be sick. Lately, reality threw too many punches, and this felt like the final blow. She held her breath as she excused herself to the washroom and collected the sample.
She couldn’t force her eyes to focus as she stared at the reflection in the nickel mirror. Her face was so familiar, yet so foreign all at once. Motherhood loomed over her shoulder often, but never did she think it would come to fruition.
She swallowed again, bracing herself against the standing porcelain sink. This world was cold and dark and dangerous. How could she possibly bring a babe into a lifeon the brink of war? Eos above, let Nora be wrong.
Twenty minutes later, Nora’s test produced results. Tethys’s lungs refused to pull in new breath. Her feet rooted to the floorboards, straining against the weight of the air, of the world, of the future. Nora retrieved the small medical probe she’d let rest in the vile. Tethys couldn’t bear to watch the healer’s expression as she read the results, so she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Goddess…” Tethys’s stomach lurched. She didn’t need Nora to confirm the results. Judging by the healer’s tone, she already knew. “It’s positive, I’m afraid.”
A gentle hand touched hers and led her back to her bedside.
“There are options, my lady. Most of which are discrete. I’d like you to know that no matter your decision, you have my wholehearted support. The wonders of modern healing practices have given women their own choice. Their own freedom. I’ll destroy these results before others in my practice can see them.” Nora’s words should have been reassuring, and yet, they floated in the air like leaves carried in a breeze—fleeting and meaningless.
“Thank you, Nora,” Tethys replied, her tone flat and near catatonic.
The world spun too fast, and Tethys’s grip on the comforter was the only lifeline keeping her from flying off into the heavens beyond.
“I’ll leave the draught just here if you decide to terminate the pregnancy,” Nora said, placing a jar on the opposite table. “I’m sure you need time; however, I’d like to schedule a follow-up visit in about two weeks. Regardless of your decision.”
“Thank you, Nora,” Tethys said again.
All thought, all speech, all movement no longer was her own.
