LOGINJulianZlata gripped our son's hat until her knuckles went white, her chest heaving as she struggled to breathe."Angel. You need to rest. You gave birth five hours ago.""I'll rest when my son is in my arms." She said it without looking at me, and then she froze, receiving a mind-link. "Nadine is here."She was already moving before I could argue.Nadine stood in the corridor outside the ward with four witches of the Council around her and an iron collar at her throat. Fiorella, Jordan and Chase waited beside them — and Fiorella was holding a bundle against her shoulder.Thalia's son. Born this morning, three floors from where mine had been taken, sleeping through all of it in the arms of the woman who had begged me to let her keep him.I made myself look away."Your Majesty," Nadine said, with a nod that was almost respectful."Help me find my son and I will vouch for you to the Council," Zlata said."The Council doesn't take promises, and neither does the work." Nadine's mouth twit
ZlataI don't remember my legs going.One second I was looking at an empty box with a folded blanket still holding the shape of him, and the next I was on the tiles with no memory of getting there, and there was a sound coming out of me I had never heard a person make."Where the hell is my son?" Julian roared, and the walls actually rattled.I hadn't seen his face. That was the thought I couldn't get past. Four hours old, and I had never once seen my son's face, and someone had already taken him.Julian barked orders, and the corridor filled with running warriors. Somewhere behind me, Tessa was crying. Ivanna had both hands over her mouth. Jordan and Harley were already gone, moving.Then Julian was on the floor with me, gathering me up against his chest."We will find him," he said into my hair. "Angel. Look at me. We will find him."And underneath the tears, something colder began to rise.“Think,” Coco said.She wasn't howling. That was the frightening part. She had howled for Mav
JulianI was already running before I understood why.Zlata's pain came down the bond like a blade going in under my ribs, and I was out of the council chamber mid-sentence, taking the east stairs four at a time with Elders shouting somewhere behind me.Inside Luna's quarters, Zlata was half-conscious on the floor with Tessa, Julia, and Fiorella panicking around her."She's about to give birth!" Tessa exclaimed, grabbing my hand, digging her nails into my flesh without realising it."Impossible. She isn't due for—"The words died in my throat as I saw the puddle spreading beneath her. Liquid and blood, and far too much of it.I scooped her into my arms and ran."Zlata, wake up." She didn't react. Her eyes stayed shut, the long lashes trembling as her eyelids moved restlessly beneath them. "Angel. Look at me."Cold sweat broke across my forehead. It couldn't be. We had survived Valeria's schemes, her sister's ambush, the rogues. My queen could not die on me now. Not from this. Not from
ZlataFour months later"You're eating not for two but for four, Your Majesty," Tessa laughed, and my fork froze mid-air.I'd only had a club sandwich, a Caesar salad, and a slice of cheesecake. Not so much… well. It was a lot, considering I'd had breakfast two hours ago."Dear, ignore her. Eat as much as you want," Julia said.I sighed. Tessa, usually plump, had somehow lost weight while pregnant, and with seven weeks still to go, she looked like a woman on a magazine cover. I, on the other hand, was due in a fortnight and had the shape of a large balloon. I looked down at my swollen feet and set down a fork loaded with brownie.Julia leaned over for a glass of water, and as her collar slid, I gasped, spotting a fresh mating mark.Julia went pink. "Harley and I mated yesterday," she mumbled."Congratulations! Took you long enough," Tessa said. "The poor man was terrified you'd never accept him.""I'm a mother. I wanted to be sure Rafe was comfortable with him first.""Oh, Rafe adores
Zlata It was the day of the trial. I went out early for a walk, trying to organise my scattered thoughts. I found Julia sitting on a bench in the garden. "Julz." I sat down beside her and covered her hand with mine. "I can imagine how shocking this is. But Harley is your mate. Consider his feelings too." "Luna." She sighed. "I understand how he feels. Finding his fated mate and having her not want him." Her thumb worked at a loose thread on her skirt. "But Tim will always be in my heart, and he's Rafe's father. How do I explain to my son that a new man is taking his dad's place? And I'm not ready for a relationship myself." "Then tell Harley that. Start slowly, as friends. Introduce him to Rafe gradually and see how the boy reacts. Rafe is a lovely child, but he'll need a father figure one day, and Harley is a good man." "It's easy for you to say." It came out sharper than she meant it, and I watched her flinch at her own voice. "Forgive me, Luna. I only—" She pressed her hand
ZlataI did not go to Thalia that night. I slept in Julian's arms, went to the Royal Academy and the clinic the next day, and only after lunch did I make my way down to the dungeon.The stairs leading underground pulled up memories I had spent months trying to bury."You are in the palace, Zlata. You are safe," Coco murmured, like a lullaby, and I let out a slow breath.No smell of mould. No dripping water, the way there had been in the Glowing Moon dungeon. The air was a little heavier down here, but the flowery scent of the upper halls still reached me. I came to Thalia's cell — if it could really be called a cell. It was a comfortable room, with a bathroom, a queen-size bed, a table, an armchair, a TV, shelves of books, and even air conditioning.Thalia sat on the bed studying her nails, looking far fresher and better fed than the last time I'd seen her."Sister. You came." She sprang to her feet — and her face darkened when she saw that I hadn't stepped inside and that two guards
Aurelia I spun around. She was clutching her stomach, sobbing loudly as the china and soufflé lay scattered across the floor."You tried to poison me!" she yelled. "You're jealous that I have a pup and you wanted to kill him!"Travis, my mother, and Jordan rushed in as if they had been waiting behi
Aurelia"Alpha, the Luna was indeed in the clinic today for a check-up," the healer began, giving me a dismissive glance. "But she is not pregnant. In fact, her uterus is far too weak; she will never be able to conceive."I blinked, my heart hammering against my ribs. I could feel the soft, steady h
AureliaThe scent of antiseptic hit my nostrils, and my eyes flew open. My mother's displeased face was the first thing I saw."Finally awake?" she spat.No "How do you feel?" No "What happened?" Just words that sounded like a criminal accusation. My father stood next to her, arms folded, his expres
Aurelia"Luna, you are six weeks along."My eyes filled with tears. For weeks I had been waking to a dull ache low in my belly, and I had come to the clinic braced for bad news. Not this."The placenta has not fully attached, so the pregnancy is fragile," the healer went on, his voice turning carefu







