Amalia and Jael had claimed one of the oldest alcoves in the Shadowmere library—the kind built directly into the mountain, where the stone still hummed faintly with warded memory. They sat on the floor amid towers of ancient volumes, Amalia’s back resting against the wall, her heavy belly curved beneath a pile of half-closed grimoires.She was glowing in that dangerous way first-time mothers did—radiant, soft, and oddly reckless.“My goddess,” she breathed, turning a page with reverent delight. “This is some of the best reading I’ve ever encountered. Kaela was bad. I love her.”She giggled.Jael, stretched beside her with another thick volume braced against his knee, grunted in agreement, entirely absorbed in a separate chronicle of the same wolf’s exploits. His brow was furrowed, jaw tight with concentration.Amalia suddenly inhaled sharply.Jael looked up instantly. “What is it, love? The pup? Do you need a back rub?”She burst into laughter at the concern—soft, delighted, unguarded
Last Updated : 2026-01-16 Read more