It happened in the sixth month, in the deep hours past midnight, with no warning at all.
Aria woke gasping.
The seal in her chest had gone tight, tighter than she had ever felt it, as though some unseen hand had taken the four-pointed mark and twisted. Pain bloomed sharp and sudden along her ribs. Beside her, Kael was awake instantly, the bond screaming its alarm through him before she had even managed to speak.
"Aria."
"Something's wrong." Her voice came out thin. "The seal — it's pulling. It's pulling toward—" She broke off, pressing both hands to her stomach, to the place where the child moved restlessly beneath her palms. "Toward her. I can feel it reaching."
Kael was already lifting her, already moving toward the door, shouting for Iola before he had cleared the threshold.
They
