Fen.
The fire had burned low in the hearth, casting long, tired shadows over the stone walls of our chambers. Elsbeth was curled against me, her warmth grounding me, her scent calming the storm that never truly left my chest. I held her close, my arm wrapped protectively around her, my hand splayed over the swell of her belly.
My pup.
Our pup.
Gods.
The thought alone almost broke me.
I watched the flames dance across the room, their light flickering like ghosts, and I knew I couldn't keep it in any longer. Not the secrets. Not the weight. Not the truth I'd buried across a thousand lifetimes.
Her breath was slow, steady against my neck. But I felt her stir as I tightened my hold.
"Fen?" she murmured, her voice still edged with sleep.
"I need to tell you something," I whispered, lips brushing the curve of her temple.
She shifted, sleep sliding from her shoulders like silk. Her violet eyes met mine, still hazy, but alert. "What is it?"
