ADELINEThe first thing I felt as I rose back into consciousness was the warmth of a hand on mine. My eyes fluttered open, and the bright lights of the infirmary made me wince. Everything felt heavy, as if my limbs were made of lead. I groaned as I looked around, wondering where I was. Then, the memory of the ritual hit me like a wave; the pain, the screaming, and the fire that had tried to tear me apart. I gasped at that, my hand flying straight to my stomach. "Your baby is fine, Adeline. Breathe. Just breathe,” a voice assured me.I turned around to see Bessie sitting beside me. She looked tired, but she gave me a small, reassuring smile. Muttering a string of prayers, I let out a long breath I didn't know I was holding, the rapid beating of my heart gradually slowing down. I was okay. My baby was okay."But how?" I asked Bessie. "I remember the oracle... he wouldn't stop. He just kept going. So how did I make it out alive?”“It was the King who stopped him," Bessie said. “He sa
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