78. Bye, For Now.

*Rune*

Father holds up two bottles in front of me, stopping me in my pacing. "Come drink with me."

I wish to refuse, but panicking and pacing frantically outside the room does nothing to reduce Astrid's screams.

It is all I can do to not lose my mind.

"Make that three," Ronan Blackwood chimes in, snatching my bottle before my fingers can even grip it. "Four, perhaps."

I let out a ragged sigh. "Astrid--"

"Will have your head for drinking while she delivers your child, but I assure you, you do not want to be in that room with her right now." Ronan pulls down the collar of his regal jacket, revealing an old scar across his neck. "This was her mother's gift to me when I thought to ease her of *the pain* by staying by her side."

Father snickers, leading us to his receiving chambers. "Zephyr..." He shakes his head, voice trailing off into silent laughter.

Minutes span out into hours, and the slow burn of the alcohol in my throat has become somewhat soothing, lulling me and hazing my thoughts