The mont Elysia’s body went slack, the world around her erupted.
Chairs screeched. Silverware clattered to the floor. Voices overlapped, echoing too loud and too close.
She didn’t faint, not really but her vision swam, the room spinning in waves of blurred light. She heard Malvoria’s voice first, sharp and trembling. A hand on her face. Warm. Anchoring.
"Elysia. Look at . Stay with ."
"I’m here," Elysia murmured, though her voice barely broke through the storm. Her stomach pulsed tight, pressure building. A weight that was... wrong. Or too much. Or—
"Faelira!" Malvoria barked, her voice almost feral now. "Where is she?!"
"I’m coming!" The familiar voice of the elven healer rang down the corridor, and within seconds, Faelira burst into the dining hall with her robes slightly askew and her bag half-open, like she’d sprinted the whole way.
Veylira was already by Elysia’s other side, cool and controlled as always, but even she looked rattled.
Elysia’s breath ca in shallow gulps. "I’m okay—just... dizzy. It hurts. It’s not like before."
Faelira knelt without a word, pressing a glowing hand gently to Elysia’s belly. Her silver eyes narrowed, her brow tightening.
The magic swirling around her fingers glowed faint lavender calm, diagnostic.
Malvoria hovered like a storm. "Well?"
Faelira didn’t answer imdiately. She moved her hands, pressing in slow circles. Then her shoulders slumped slightly.
"There’s too much magic."
Malvoria’s expression darkened. "What?"
"The baby is drawing it from her," Faelira said calmly but firmly. "More than usual. I’ve never seen it so intense."
Elysia blinked. "Drawing... magic?"
"Yes," Faelira confird, leaning in closer. "It’s like they’re storing it. The magical channels are overactive. I think it’s affecting Elysia’s circulation—blood flow, nerve response. All the pressure she’s feeling, the tightness—it’s not standard."
Malvoria looked ready to blast a hole in the wall. "What do you an it’s not standard?! You said everything was fine this morning!"
"I said everything looked fine then," Faelira said pointedly, lifting her chin. "Magic accumulation can spike rapidly, especially this late in gestation."
"Late?" Elysia echoed, grimacing as another sharp ripple ran through her abdon. "I’m only seven months."
Faelira looked her in the eyes. "It’s a demon child. They develop faster. Most half-demons are viable by now. And this one..." She hesitated, casting a glance at Malvoria. "Well. This one seems... advanced."
There was a pause.
A heavy pause.
Then Veylira snorted. "They take after their mother."
Elysia turned her head slowly. "What?"
Veylira sighed and straightened her shoulders, folding her arms like she was about to deliver so long-overdue confession.
"Malvoria was a nace even in the womb. She tried to claw her way out two weeks early. I went into labor during a Council session and delivered her in a ceremonial bathhouse."
Malvoria blinked, scandalized. "Mother."
"You ripped the towels."
"Stop talking."
Elysia whimpered a laugh despite the ache tightening her belly. "Oh gods..."
"She bit the healer," Veylira added casually. "Little teeth. Very sharp."
"I was a baby."
"Exactly my point."
"I am still the Demon Queen, you know."
Veylira shrugged. "And your child will be the next demon whirlwind. Congratulations."
Faelira cleared her throat pointedly. "While I’m delighted by the family history, can we focus on the fact that Elysia is currently being turned into a magical battery?"
That shut them up.
Malvoria stepped forward again, her hands curling into fists. "What do we do?"
Faelira pursed her lips. "We monitor closely. Bed rest, absolutely. I can place magical dampeners around her to reduce stress, help her body adjust. But we should be prepared—labor could begin sooner than expected."
"But there’s still three months," Elysia said weakly. "I’m not ready."
"None of us are," Malvoria muttered. "Especially not ."
Elysia reached for her, and Malvoria knelt down instantly, taking her hand. Their fingers laced together.
"I’m scared," Elysia whispered.
Malvoria pressed her forehead to Elysia’s. "I am too. But you’re strong. You’ve already done more than anyone expected. And we’re going to do this together."
The baby kicked again. A strong one. Like a protest. Like a battle cry.
Veylira’s mouth twitched. "Already fighting for attention. Just like their mother."
Malvoria ignored her. "Let’s get you to bed."
As Faelira and the guards helped Elysia up, the chaos of the dining hall fell away. The dishes, the spilled tea, Lara’s stunned silence, none of it mattered now.
The corridor was quiet.
Just footsteps, hushed voices, the heartbeat of magic pulsing in the air.
Elysia leaned heavily on Malvoria. "You’ll stay with , right?"
Malvoria’s arm tightened around her waist. "You think I’d leave you now?"
"You have etings. And fortresses. And rebels."
"I’ll burn the whole kingdom down first."
Elysia smiled weakly. "That’s not responsible governance."
"I’m a demon, not a bureaucrat."
They made it back to the chambers in silence, Faelira already casting protective runes around the room. Elysia sank into the bed, breathing shallowly, the tightness in her belly fading slightly.
"She’ll be okay?" Malvoria asked softly, hovering like a worried storm cloud.
"She’s strong," Faelira said. "But she needs to rest. No more long walks in the garden. No more Celestial tea parties."
"Noted," Malvoria growled.
"Keep her warm. Keep her calm. And Malvoria..."
Malvoria looked up sharply.
"Try not to stress her out."
Malvoria gave a long, suffering sigh. "That... might be harder than the war effort."
Faelira rolled her eyes, gathered her satchel with one elegant sweep, and pointed two fingers toward Malvoria.
"No stress. That includes dramatic monologues, overprotective growling, and threats of firestorms."
"I make no promises," Malvoria grumbled.
"Then I’ll be back hourly to enforce it," Faelira shot back before sweeping from the room in a swirl of lavender robes.
The door clicked softly shut behind her.
Silence settled for a mont.
Then Malvoria groaned and dropped onto the edge of the bed beside Elysia, burying her face in her hands. "This is chaos."
Elysia, half-laying against the headboard, chuckled softly. "You think?"
Malvoria turned her head just enough to peer at her through parted fingers. "You’re laughing. That’s worrying. You almost passed out and now you’re joking."
"I’m pregnant, not cursed."
"You are carrying the most magical infant in the realm."
Elysia raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like soone’s proud."
Malvoria didn’t deny it. She leaned in, slowly, and then lowered herself down beside Elysia, wrapping her arms carefully, gently around her waist, resting her head just below Elysia’s shoulder.
Her hands moved to Elysia’s belly, cradling it instinctively.
"You scared ," Malvoria murmured.
"I scared myself."
They lay there a mont, warmth shared in silence, Malvoria’s breath against her skin, steady and grounding.
Malvoria’s voice ca again, quieter this ti. "Everything will be alright."
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