Chapter Fifteen:

The sunrise painted the sky in hues of bruised purple and angry orange, a fitting reflection of Elara’s mood. She had spent the night weeping, silent tears tracing paths down her cheeks into the pillow, leaving damp stains that mirrored the ache in her heart. Morning sickness had joined the party, a bilious wave of nausea that left her weak and trembling. Her face was swollen, her normally bright eyes puffy and red-rimmed, and her usually sleek black hair was a tangled mess. Pregnancy, even in its mid stage, was proving to be a relentless assault on her already fragile spirit.

The house l felt suffocating. The scent of dust motes dancing in the weak sunlight only heightened her fatigue. She tried to tidy, to at least clear the breakfast dishes, but the effort sent a fresh wave of nausea cra……