ELIA

She felt ill. The look on Reth's face—worry mingled with determination, mingled with fear. He was frightened for her, but he could smell his desperation to keep her calm.

"Tell me,

" she said, swallowing hard.

"Don't leave anything out. I need to know so I can prepare and know what to look for when I get there. Tell me what the problems are, and if you have any clues, how to solve them.

"

Reth's brow pinched.

"That's the problem, Elia, we don't have the answers. That's why it's so important to go speak with the Guardians and see if they do.

"

"I believe… there are tools in your world that might find out if the baby is… not fully human?

" Aymora asked carefully.

"Yes, but unless one of your Guardians knows how to use an ultrasound, I would have to go to a doctor and if they did see something abnormal it would all be recorded and… I don't think that's what we want?

"

"No, definitely not,

" Aymora said, then glanced at Reth over her shoulder.

"This is what the tasks are for, Elia. One of the important things you'll need to do while you're there is keep yourself moving. Keep motivated. Stay strong. We have real hope that the Guardians, who will have many more records about the humans who've been to our world than we do, will have some answers for you. But if not, they may still have libraries or records for you to study. Keep yourself focused on your own health, and the cub's. Learn as much as you can. Then when I bring you back here, we can use whatever you've learned to help you here,

" Reth said slightly breathlessly.

She smiled at him, forcing herself not to show her fear, though she knew he would scent it. His worry was so close to the surface. It was so unlike him to look so uncertain. She wanted to hold him and comfort him and just… be together. But she knew they had to get through this.

"So tell me, what problems do we already know exist?

"

Aymora sighed.

"The biggest problem I have already mentioned—the cub, if it is a cub, may shift in the womb during the stress of your labor. Delivering an Anima cub from a human body is.. difficult. Especially with lions and horses.

"

"Why?

"

"Our babes tend to be quite large,

" Reth said, his voice low and rough, but a true smile on his face—until he scanned down her body and his face became grave.

"Especially for someone as small as you.

"

"Big babies, okay.

"

"Predators are also more likely to shift in the womb,

" Aymora said.

"Though not all do. And their limbs are shaped differently. Ask the Guardians if there were ever tools developed for delivering babies with limbs that bend in strange directions.

" Reth stared at her and she rolled her eyes.

"For a human.

"

Elia shuddered thinking of it. Alone, without Reth—maybe even without a doctor. What if she couldn't do it? There was a reason a woman's life expectancy centuries ago was half what it was in the modern day. She knew this. She prayed these Guardians would be able to help. But for now, she needed to be brave or her mate was going to fall apart in front of her.

She wondered if Reth realized his breath was huffing. That he was squeezing her hand so hard her fingers were losing blood flow.

"Okay,

" she said, swallowing the pinch in her throat.

"So, the first order of business when I get home is to do as much research about human-Anima pregnancies as I can. And anything that might help with the delivery.

"

"In secret,

" Brant added.

"Only with the Guardians.

"

Elia nodded, and tried to subtly pat Reth's hand. He blinked and lightened his grip. But no one missed it.

"Let's assume these people can help me find out if the baby is Anima or not—if it is, am I better to deliver here?

"

"No,

" they all said at the same time.

Elia blinked.

"At least, not unless we have things safe here, Elia,

" Reth said with a heavy sigh.

"The first priority of having you over there is to keep you safe from others. We can't do that if you're here in the middle of warzone. So… if I don't come for you before the due season, prepare the Guardians to help you.

"

"You don't sound as scared of that as I feel,

" she said, trying to smile.

He huffed again.

"I am utterly terrified, Elia. But I have confidence in you. I know you're smart enough to figure out the best way forward with whatever journey the Creator offers you. And strong enough to do this.

"

"I will help you, Elia. I would love to hear the Guardian's records on the Anima and our… bodies. It's a point of interest for me.

"

Reth's eyes cut to Gahrye and she was about to soothe him, but his look was thoughtful.

"Thank you, Gahrye,

" Reth said a moment later.

"Thank you for being willing to do this, and for your willingness to serve your Queen and your people, despite the treatment you've received. I vow to you, when we get past this war, I will begin to help the disformed integrate more fully into the tribes.

"

Gahrye ran a hand through his hair, looking touched, but skeptical.

"Thank you,

" he said finally.

"I… I don't know how you would do that. But I appreciate the thought.

"

Reth nodded and his hand slipped under the table again to rest on her thigh. She didn't even bother hiding it this time. Just put her hand over his and slide her small fingers between his large ones. He curled them up to grip her between his thick knuckles, and suddenly she was swallowing that pinch in her throat again.

But at least… at least she hadn't given in this time. At least there were still a few hours with Reth left. At least her stomach was barely even aching anymore.

Aymora's healing had done wonders. She didn't know how she was going to thank her.

Then her eyebrows popped up.

"Wait!

"