last document on his desk. He already had his coat on, and a
out the morning scan, but her throat locked up. The air i
onfirmed your appointment for nine
the room, crossing her ar
k tomorrow night." He closed the folder and set it aside. "Secur
. "I'm not planning ano
tor will send the full scan results to my pho
es. "You could ask how I'm feelin
know how you feel. The sickness is normal. Rest when you feel
ward the door. Mia tur
ill
hand resting on
then spoke softl
nod, said nothing
in it. Mia stood there for a long moment, staring at the empty sp
versations dropped to low whispers in the halls. Even Clara spoke quieter, her eyes dropping
ldn't stick. She set the book on the table and rested a hand against her stomach. The nausea kept
turned gray. Mia was still sitting b
y, her face pale, her hand
, her voice shaking. "There
p slowly. "W
ere was an attack on the road from the priva
er Mia's feet. She grabbed the back of
o the royal hospital. The doctors say he survive
t wh
up. The head injury was bad. The doctors said he's in
rested on her knees, her fingers pulling at the fabric of her dress. Th
to the hospit
g. They're waiting for the council to take charge. Queen Eleanor is
ng cold, practical, already walking out the door. He had left with a s
n controlling, distant, and cold. They had been fighting only yesterday. Yet the
her carefully. "Do you want me to br
ive me a few m
a quick nod and stepped out,
into dark. The whole palace felt unnaturally quiet arou
ide walked in, followed by Damian-William's cousin, the man who alway
center of the room, his
y. "I came the moment I heard.
Did the doctors
amage is. But the council is meeting right now. Someone has
And you think that so
e after William. The law allows for a temporary leader when the Ki
e reco
. But until then, the kingdom needs a clear hand at the wheel. I've
s at her sides. "William woul
s went cold. "The baby you're carrying is important, naturally. But being pregnant
enemy, Khelani. I'm protecting the crown. You should
ithout flinching. "
ll let you know what the council decides. The guards outside your
ithout waiting f
alive, but he couldn't protect her anymore. The palace was already shift
garden. Her reflection showed up in the glass pa
nce hadn't left
t that Damian was
n this world, Mia realized the real threa
stepping up to
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