Evelina would owe Lawrence for her entire immortal life. Evelina from the past, the brave healer, might have stood upagainst them all and shielded him with her gift of light. Run away, far away from here.
But Leda was here. And she had a half-human child on the way. It wouldn’t be safe for the child in either land, but she had to hope she could protect her here, as the queen bound to this land.
A queen who could not deny her council.
“I’m sorry,” she breathed.
Lawrence’s eyes widened as Cyprian stepped forward.
“Come with me,” Lawrence pleaded. “We can go to Crea together.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks. “You know I can’t,” she whispered.
Lawrence screamed as Cyprian dragged him out of the throne room. His cries echoed in Evelina’s ears long after he was gone.
Eighty-One
Evelina
The pregnancy was far moredifficult than it had been withLeda. Evelina felt more ofeverything—nausea, exhaustion, pain. There was a newfound weakness growing in her every day. She was breathless from simple activities; even walking from her chambers to the throne room had become taxing.
And of course, people’s judgment didn’t help either. As opposed to her pregnancy with Leda, no one seemed eager to hear the baby kick or coo praises at her belly. They looked at it with fear.
Explaining to Leda was harder than anyone else, the flash of betrayal in her eyes piercing Evelina so deeply that she would remember it forever. But Leda was loyal and stood by Evelina’s side every day, even if she seemed unwilling. It eased the pain of doing this without Daimon, but it didn’t erase it. Nothing could erase that heartache.
Evelina didn’t know how she would have their child without him. They could never meet, not if they wanted to keep the baby safe. He would never know if it was a girl or boy, never see them grow into an adult or discover what magic they might possess.
She began to realize how much thoseHarvest Moons had meant to her, even those many fruitless years only catching glimpses of him through that shadowy haze. Then, she at least still had a piece of him left, a chance of seeing him again.
Now she had none.
The evening was a beautiful, temperate June night, moonlight streaming in through the window of Evelina’s room.
“Mother, you should lie down,” Leda pleaded. “Gloriana told you to take it easy.”
Evelina shifted on her feet, pacing in front of the window. “This is taking it easy,” she mumbled. In truth, she was restless, her fear of not being able to hide the babe’s shadows haunting her the closer to full-term she got. The baby could come any day now.
Leda sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. “At least sit down. You’re stressing me out.”
Evelina propped a hand on her back and waved off Leda with the other.
Water rushed from between her legs, followed by a clenching deep in her swollen belly. She bent forward, breathing deeply in and out.
“Leda,” she rasped.
Leda spun around, eyes wide when she saw the liquid on the floor. “The baby is coming,” she gasped.
Evelina nodded and stood back up, rubbing a hand over her stomach. Leda rushed over to her, trying to lead her to the bed. Evelina shook her head, squeezing her eyes closed as the first wave came.
“Get Gloriana and Annora,” she said through gritted teeth.
“I’m not leaving you.”
Evelina paced the room, one hand on her back and the other still over her stomach. “Unless you want to deliver your sibling, you have to go get them.”
Leda hesitated. Evelina screamed, the next wave stronger than the last. That was all it took for Leda to bolt from theroom. Evelina braced her hands on the back of a wooden chair, breathing as deeply as she could.
“Your father and I love you so very much,” she whispered. “One day, I’ll find a way to tell you the truth. I promise.”
