Mireille squirmed against her shoulder, making the small snuffling sound that preceded either sleep or screaming. Mira adjusted her grip without looking, the motion already instinctive.
“You’re asking me to trigger a transformation that will rewrite your biology,” I said. “It will be the most painful experience of your life.”
“I’ve given birth to triplets. I have a high bar for pain.”
“This is different.”
“Everything’s been different since I met you.” She stepped closer. “I choose you. All of you. For as long as I can have you.”
The Glowwood pulsed and the sea glinted as the kingdom held its breath.
“When?” I asked.
“After I’ve recovered fully from the birth.” She paused. “So... soon.”
“Soon.”
“Don’t say it twice. You’ll jinx it.”
“I don’t believe in jinxes.”
“You believe in fated mate bonds and interdimensional portals and magical ravens, but jinxes are where you draw the line?”
Edgar landed on the balcony railing, as if summoned by the word raven. He clicked once, head tilted, and Mira raised an eyebrow at me.
“Professional relationship,” I said.
“He came when I said his species’ name. That’s a pet, Lucian.”
“It’s a coincidence.”
“He’s leaning into your hand.”
Edgar had, in fact, sidled along the railing until his feathered head pressed against my fingers. I withdrew my hand. He followed. Mira’s laugh carried across the balcony and startled Mireille, who began the warning squirm that preceded the scream.
I took my daughter from Mira’s arms.
“Soon,” Mira repeated. Softer now, looking at the kingdom.
“Soon,” I agreed.
And this time she didn’t tell me not to say it twice.
79
— • —
Mira
The night they turned me, the Glowwood burned violet.
The transformation chamber sat beneath the castle, carved into the volcanic rock that formed Veyndral’s foundation. A stone platform stood in the center, the space around it was marked with symbols I didn’t recognize.
“Old language,” Lucian said. “Blessings for safe passage.”
Orinne had cleared me two days ago. Full recovery from the birth.
The babies were eight weeks old and thriving: Mireille had graduated from screaming when put down to screaming when Rheda put her down, which was progress. Percius still slept through everything. Solian still watched everything, and Solomon had started narrating his council work to the boystrapped to his chest because Solian cried when the narration stopped.
