Chapter 123 The Pregnancy
Lira pov
Two hours until moonrise, two hours until war. I stood in the healing ward, watching Aria prepare for casualties. Her hands moved efficiently, organizing supplies that might save lives tonight.
"Lira." She didn't look up from her work, fingers sorting through dried herbs with practiced precision. "You should be resting, conserving strength for the battle."
"I can't rest." I moved to help her sort bandages, the rough linen scratchy against my palms. "Can't stop moving or I'll think too much about what's coming."
"Smart." She handed me a stack of herbs, the sharp scent of bloodroot filling my nostrils. "Denial is an excellent coping mechanism for impending doom."
I almost smiled. "Your optimism is inspiring."
"Someone has to balance your martyr complex." She finally met my eyes, golden irises reflecting the lamplight. "You're planning something stupid, I can tell."
"I'm planning to fight." I sorted the herbs by type, separating wolfsbane from meadowsweet. "That's not stupid, that's necessary."
"You're planning to put yourself on the front lines." She corrected, grabbing my wrist hard enough to make me wince. "To draw attention, to be the target they can't resist."
"How did you"
"Because I know you." She held my gaze, her grip tightening. "And because it's exactly what I'd do if I had your power and your guilt."
I pulled away gently, rubbing the red marks on my skin. "If I don't lead, others won't follow. Simple as that."
"And if you die, the revolution dies with you." She countered, her voice dropping low. "Ever think about that?"
"Every second." I admitted, the weight of it pressing on my chest. "But what choice do I have? Hide while others fight my battles? That makes me as bad as the council."
She studied me for a long moment, her healer's eyes seeing too much. Then pulled a small vial from her pocket, the glass cool and smooth.
"I need to tell you something." Her voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Before the fighting starts, before it's too late."
Dread crept up my spine, cold fingers trailing along my vertebrae. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong." She hesitated, fingers tightening around the vial. "But everything might change, depending on how you react."
"Aria." I grabbed her shoulders, feeling the tension in her muscles. "Just tell me."
She took a breath that shuddered in her chest. "I've been testing your blood, the samples from your sessions. Standard procedure to track your power levels and."
"And?" I demanded when she paused, my heart hammering against my ribs.
"And I found something." She met my eyes steadily. "You're pregnant, about a few weeks, let's say 3 weeks ."
The world stopped as sound faded. My ears rang with sudden pressure. "What?" The word came out barely a whisper, my throat tight.
"You're carrying Kael's child." She confirmed, each word deliberate. "A Moonblood heir, the first in over twenty years."
I sat down hard on a supply crate, the wood rough under my hands. My fingers automatically moved to my stomach, pressing against the flat surface. "Are you certain?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"I've tested three times." She knelt beside me, her hand warm on my knee. "There's no doubt. You're pregnant and if the council learns about this..."
"They'll kill us all." I finished numbly, fear settling in my gut. "Kill me, kill Kael, kill the baby. Eliminate the bloodline permanently."
"Yes." She squeezed my hand, her palm clammy with sweat. "Which is why I've told no one else. Not Kael, not Thomas, no one. This secret stays between us until we decide what to do with it."
"Until we decide?" I looked at her, heat rising in my chest. "There's nothing to decide because I am having this baby."
"Even if it costs you the revolution?" She challenged, her jaw set. "Even if protecting an unborn child means sacrificing everything you've been building?"
"Yes." I said without hesitation, my voice hard. "I've lost everything. Family, heritage, freedom. I won't lose this too."
She nodded slowly, understanding crossing her face. "I thought you'd say that, which brings us to the immediate problem."
"Tonight's battle." I understood, nausea rising in my throat. "If I fight, I risk miscarriage, risk losing the baby before anyone even knows it exists."
"Exactly." She stood, pacing across the stone floor, her footsteps echoing. "Early pregnancy is fragile. Add combat stress, possible injury, and the physical toll of using your powers..."
"I could lose it." I touched my stomach again, fingers trembling. "Could destroy the last piece of my bloodline before it even has a chance."
"Or you could sit this fight out." She suggested carefully, turning to face me. "Let Kael lead, let the others fight while you protect what's growing inside you."
"And abandon everyone who came here to fight beside me?" I shook my head, anger flaring hot. "That's not leadership, that's cowardice."
"That's survival." She corrected, her voice rising. "That's choosing to preserve the future instead of risking everything on one battle."
A knock interrupted us, sharp and urgent. Kael's voice came through the door, muffled by thick wood."Lira? We need to discuss defensive positions."
I looked at Aria. She shook her head slightly, her expression pleading. Not yet, don't tell him yet.
"Coming." I called back, forcing steadiness into my voice. Then quietly to Aria: "How long can I hide this?"
"Another month, maybe two." She said, her fingers twisting together. "But eventually it'll show. Your scent will change, other wolves will notice."
"So we have time." I moved toward the door, my legs unsteady. "Time to win this battle, secure our position, make ourselves strong enough that the council can't just eliminate us."
"Lira." She grabbed my arm, nails digging into my skin. "Promise me you'll be careful tonight, promise me you won't take unnecessary risks."
"I promise." I said, the lie bitter on my tongue. Then left before she could call me on it.
Kael waited in the hallway, torchlight casting shadows across his face. His expression was tense, jaw tight, focused on the coming battle.
"The perimeter is fortified." He reported, falling into step beside me. "Darion's warriors arrived early. Freya got word to six of her contacts, we have maybe seventy fighters total."