Evelina dropped her head into her hands, her tears flowing steadily now. She didn’t want to face the truth, couldn’t say it out loud.
It was all too much, thinking about the possibility of having Daimon’s child but not having Daimon.
Annora stayed quiet, letting her gather herself.
Finally, Evelina nodded. She opened her mouth, but nothingcame out. A tear slid down her cheek and she squeezed her eyes shut.
Annora must’ve seen the pain in her eyes, the overwhelm. She placed a hand over Evelina’s and said, “There’s only one way to know for certain. I’ll get Gloriana.”
She slipped out of the room, leaving Evelina to her thoughts. Her thoughts raced with fear of what would happen if she was pregnant. But a piece of her trembled—not from grief, but from joy at the possibility of it. To have a child with Daimon was a dream she had long ago given up. It felt as if her emotions had been cleaved into two, her joy warring with her fear.
She wished she could talk to Daimon. He would know what to do. But he wasn’t here.
How would she explain it? To everyone, to Leda? Even if they could accept there was no father in the picture, there would be no hiding the child was severed from the father’s Essence at the blessing ceremony.
It was a tradition the entire council would be present for. If she demanded things to change, it would raise too many questions, leaving people to think her child wasn’t blessed by Eurydice.
Daimon’s mother had been killed when the midwife saw what Nyx’s Essence did to the child. If she were to conceive a child with someone also bound to that darkness…there would be no stopping it.
The council wouldn’t understand.
All they would see was a child of a monster.
Annora returned with Gloriana, a handful of tinctures in a basket in her arms. Gloriana bustled over, looking her over from head to toe.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
Evelina chewed on her lip. “Tired.”
Gloriana hummed and set the basket down. “As a healer, you know it’s a simple test to keep it discreet.” She removed the lids from the jars she brought. “Sleep with this bundle beneath yourpillow tonight. If it’s blooming with flowers in the morning, then you are with child.”
Annora walked over to Evelina, setting a hand on her shoulder. “How does that mean she’s pregnant?”
Gloriana held up the bundle. “The stems have been cut from their roots, making it impossible for a flower to bud. When a Woodland is with child, her Essence will immediately begin to draw on nature to strengthen her body. Even without trying, her body will begin to do all that it can to keep the baby safe and healthy.”
Annora took the bundle of cut stems from her, examining it.
“They’ve been dipped in a fertility tonic,” Gloriana continued. “The flowers only form when a Woodland’s Essence is behaving in that way. You will know by first light.”
Annora passed the bundle to Evelina, her eyes curious.
“Thank you,” Evelina said to Gloriana. There was no one else she would trust to prepare the test for her.
“I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you,” Gloriana said gently.
Once she left, Annora sat down on the bed beside Evelina.
“Do you want me to stay tonight?” she asked gently.
Evelina nodded, her body numb as she stared at the bundle, one she had prescribed and crafted dozens of times for others. She crawled into bed, setting the stems beneath her pillow as instructed.
Never had she thought this a possibility. She was only thankful she didn’t have to do it alone.
She fell asleep first, Annora stroking her hair, and awoke to dawn’s creeping light.
Annora was sound asleep beside her. Evelina took a deep breath and slowly pulled the bundle from beneath the pillow. Her breath caught as she looked down at it.
At the end of the stems, tiny little flowers bloomed.
