Elien;

I thought talking to Queen Selthia would completely rid my heart of its worry.

The conversation, and me finally opening up to someone about everything, did take some of the edge off... but not all of it.

Now, there’s a new string of fear that has formed. I should be glad... that Queen Selthia knows everything and has promised to protect me. I mean... I have her, I have Koda, and I have Zephan. That should be more than enough...

But still... that look in her eyes when she told me to keep the necklace close... It was almost as if she wasn’t sure that all I have now would be enough to protect me.

As I walk further away from her chambers, my hand drifts to my stomach. I stare down at it, and my mind wanders. My belly has started protruding... and we’ve started gaining weight.

I let myself indulge in the warmth of these thoughts when Elian’s gentle voice spills into my mind like gentle moonlight into the dark.

’Can you keep control of our body tonight? And maybe tomorrow morning as well?" He whispers, and I pause.

"Elian, are you scared?" I ask, almost in a tease, but it doesn’t work. All I sense is his worry instead of amusement.

Is my sense of humour that stunted?? I can never seem to make anyone smile or laugh when I want to.

"Of course, I’m scared, Elien. I keep picturing the way that commander lost control, and you certainly can’t tell me you didn’t see the hesitance in Queen Selthia’s eyes. Even she isn’t convinced of our safety." Elian replies, and my steps slow as I listen.

"Listen. A lot is going on. But I don’t want to hurt the baby. Worry is bad for pregnancy, so please... just stay in charge." He adds, and I damn near scoff.

"You think I’m not worried?" I ask in amusement, and he responds immediately.

"You’re handling it better than I would. I’d have been a pacing, fidgeting mess by now, and our baby—" He begins to ramble, but I cut him off.

"It’s okay, Elian. You can rest. I’ll take care of us... However, if Koda starts getting touchy in the middle of the night, I’m dragging you back out here." I reply, and finally, that gets me a soft chuckle from him.

I’m halfway around the second bend when something grabs me by my arm.

My heart drops instantly, and my body responds in panic. Already twisting and preparing to attack whoever just grabbed me. However, as I’m yanked sideways into the narrow space between two stone pillars, I see who just yanked me like I weigh nothing.

"Asa!?" I call in disbelief, and she quickly holds a finger to her lips.

"Keep your voice down."

I raise a brow as she lets go of me, with her eyes scanning my face like she’s checking for something. There’s no playfulness in her expression. Neither is there the usual ease.

There’s just focus... and urgency that I have never seen on her face.

I let out a breath and drop my guard, as I dust imaginary wrinkles off my robe.

"What were you thinking, grabbing a pregnant man like that!? I was about to hit you!" I scold, glancing toward the corridor before looking back at her.

"That would’ve been embarrassing for both of us," I add, but she doesn’t smile.

That’s when it clicks properly in my mind. Something is wrong.

"A-Asa... did something happen?" I can’t help but question, and instead, she responds to my question with a question.

"Did you see what happened on the training field this evening?" she asks, and I pause.

I nod once slowly, unsure of what’s happening.

"Yeah," I reply, and her jaw tightens.

"Good." She replies, and my brows crease.

Good?? Why is it good that I saw it? It’s the main reason Elian has been panicky... I really don’t think I needed to see that. And why is she looking at me like she’s measuring what to say next?? Like she’s deciding how much I can handle.

"Will you please stop looking at me like I’m something your words can break and tell me what this is all about?" I demand, and she raises a brow.

Shit. That isn’t something Elian would say— Especially not in that tone.

Her eyes flicker as she stares at me, but she doesn’t argue. Instead, she lets out a breath.

"I wasn’t sure earlier," She begins quietly, and I fold my arms over my chest as I listen.

"I felt something... off. Like a disturbance. But I couldn’t place it." She adds, and I lean back slightly against the wall, watching her.

"And now?" I ask. Her gaze locks onto mine, and her voice drops into what’s almost a whisper.

"Now I’m sure." She says, and I feel Elián shift inside me.

"There’s something in Nagari," She whispers further, and I raise a brow.

"Something dark." She adds, and my heart skips. How does she know that?? 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

My expression doesn’t change, but something inside me sharpens. Because I know she’s a witch. She told me so herself... but is being a simple witch all it takes to sense a demon like Balinar? Or is there more to her than I see?

"Define ’dark,’" I say, and she lets out an exasperated breath.

"I mean something wrong, Elian. Not just dangerous. Not just powerful. Something wrong. Something that doesn’t belong here." She replies, and I swallow as I listen.

"I felt it earlier," she continues. "But tonight confirmed it. What happened on that field wasn’t natural. That wasn’t a man losing control. That was something pushing him. Something... took control of him." She goes on, and my jaw tightens as the image flashes back— the blood, the confusion... the way everything went from normal to chaos in a breath.

"...Okay?" I ask more quietly this time, because I need to understand what she’s on about.

I know this is Balinar’s handwork, but I want to hear what she thinks... or knows.

"Now I know it’s not random." She says, and my heart skips as her brown eyes flick up to hold my gaze.

"Whatever this thing is... It’s coming for you." She whispers, and I feel Elian shiver inside me.

"For me?" I repeat, slower—wondering how she knows this, and she nods once.