A warmth that had nothing to do with the Igniva fire spread through Eris's chest.
These people had stayed. They had waited.
Mira, fueled by relief, went into a flurry of activity... straightening the blankets, checking the cup, fussing over Eris's pillows.
The words tumbled out of her in a stream. "You need to eat something real, Your Majesty, not just the herbs. And sleep more. And not move too quickly. You must be more careful, Your Majesty. Especially now."
Mira tucked the corner of the sheet with a sharp, decisive snap. "Especially now that you're carrying a child."
The room didn't just go silent. It ceased to exist.
Everything stopped. The sound of the wind outside, the crackle of the candles, the rhythm of Eris's own breathing.
Mira's hands went still, her own words finally catching up to her. Her face went through a dozen shades of pale as she realized she had just dropped a mountain into a small room.
