Nyx’s eyes were blank, but his brows pulled together slightly. “When your light comes out of the child, you could use your affinity to make it brighter, to hide the shadows.”
She nodded firmly. She would do anything to keep the child safe. A tear slid down her cheek as she realized she would truly have to face this alone.
“Thank you,” she whispered. She still struggled to understand what Nyx had to gain in this. What price would she have to pay?
“Good luck, Evelina.” He turned, already walking away.
“Why help me?”
Nyx paused, his back to her. He looked over his shoulder, his midnight eye landing on her briefly. “Because I didn’t do it right the first time.”
Eighty
Evelina
Evelina fought back her nerves,knowing what had to happen today. She would tell the council she was pregnant and that a human was the father. Not Daimon.
She wished she could shout to the entire realm that he was the father. But there was more than that to think about. They had to protect their child, both from the cruelty of the world and from the Goddess of Vengeance.
She had called Lawrence to today’s council meeting, prepping him out in the corridor for their questions. But there was only so much to say. They had to lie as best they could, and hope it was good enough. The council had filed in already, casting curious—or, perhaps, threatening—glances his way.
“We don’t see humans much anymore. You’ll have to forgive us,” Annora said to Lawrence, shooting Seretha a pointed look.
Evelina glanced at the Undine council head, a feral smile stretched across her sharply angled face.
“And less often seated beside the fae queen herself,” Seretha said with a smooth cadence of derision and charm.
“Queen Evelina has made me feel very fortunate to be in Penyth,” Lawrence said quietly. He wouldn’t look directlyat Seretha.
Evelina was struggling to find the words to begin this conversation. She could feel the eyes of the council on her, wondering why she had called them here and brought a human with her. She knew what she had to do, but in this moment, all she wanted to do was throw the whole plan out the window.
“Is…everything all right?” Iris asked slowly.
No, it was very muchnotall right. But this was happening now whether Evelina wanted it to or not.
She got to her feet. Lawrence was by her side immediately, helping her up.
“I’m with child.” She said it quickly, like ripping a bandage off.
Iris’s eyes widened. So did the others’. They waited for more, but when none came, Cyprian prodded, “And the father…”
Seretha hissed at him, baring her teeth. “Does it matter right now, Cyprian?”
He shrugged. It was what they were all likely thinking. “Itwillmatter when the kingdom finds out. I don’t mean to be insensitive, Evelina. But the kingdom will want to know.”
Iris’s eyes dropped down to Evelina’s stomach. “The child is strong. I can feel it.”
Evelina’s hands began to shake. Iris was talented with her mind-influencing affinity, one of the strongest she had ever seen. Evelina hadn’t considered the possibility of her feeling something different within the child.
Lawrence placed a steadying hand on her arm.
Iris’s head turned slowly to him. Her green eyes blazed, her lips twisting in disgust.
“It’s me,” Lawrence said quietly.
Evelina felt a dagger twist in her chest. The final crack in her heart broke entirely.
“Say that again, boy,” Cyprian demanded.
