The next day, the crimson sun rose over the horizon, casting a bloody glow upon the land.
Rowena stood on the grand balcony, her slender yet curvaceous figure bathed in the eerie morning light, the gentle breeze lifting the dark strands of her hair.
Her hand instinctively rested on her slightly bulging belly, feeling the faint pulse of the life growing within her. It was strange—unreal, even.
This child…
A miracle.
It took a few moments to believe what everyone told her after she woke up.
Despite everything she lost, despite the ashes of her kingdom, despite the pain that lingered like a wound that would never close—
This baby was alive.
A healthy, special and strong girl.
Something pure, something untouched by war, betrayal, or bloodshed.
For the first time in what felt like eternity, she felt something she thought she had lost—
A glimmer of hope.
But just as quickly as that warmth came, his face invaded her mind.
Asher.
