Page 337 of Born of Blood and Ash

My lips flattened. “Everything is fine,” I said for whatfelt like the hundredth time in the last twenty minutes. “I just wanted to askyou something in private that has nothing to do with the Primalsor the meeting.”

Curiosity etched into her features, and she sat on one ofthe long, crimson-hued couches. “I’m all ears.”

I opened my mouth, but I wasn’t sure how to ask the questionwithout coming right out with it. “What I’m going to ask is going to soundreally random,” I began, passing the rolling ladder, my stomach twisting intoknots. I glanced at the portraits of Ash’s parents and then quickly averted myattention. Why had I chosen this space out of all the many, many emptychambers? Sadness dusted it and everything in it.

“Sera?” Aios’s brow creased. “Ithink I prefer the unsettlingly large smile over this.”

I frowned. “What is my face doing now?”

“You look rather…panic-stricken.”

Well, I was starting to feel rather panic-stricken now thatI didn’t have the meeting to distract me.

I walked behind the couch across from Aiosand willed my nerves to settle. I didn’t need Ash picking up on my emotions.“In the mortal realm, there were these older women who worshipped at Maia’sTemples and were often sought for specific reasons.”

A lock of red hair cascaded down her arm as she cocked herhead to the side. “I know of whom you speak. The Matrons.”

“Yes. Them.” I made another pass behind the couch. “Theywere able to answer certain questions. How? I don’t know. But I assume theywere taught by Maia or gods from her Court.”

The crease between Aios’s browsspread to her forehead. “You would be correct.” She tipped forward, watchingme. “Why are you asking questions about this?”

My heart thudded. “I’m not even sure—I mean, I am. What Iwant to know doesn’t have anything to do with them.” Pressure started to buildin my chest, causing me to draw in a deeper breath. Stopping, I grasped theback of the couch. Keep it together. The last thing I needed was forAsh to run out of the throne room in search of me. “Are you able to tell ifsomeone is with child?”

Aios’s lips parted. They moved,but I didn’t hear any sound. It could’ve been the blood pounding in my earsbecause, all of a sudden, sound came rushing back. “Surely, you don’t mean…?”She hesitated as if saying the words aloud would make them real and she had toprepare herself. “Do you think you’re with child?”

“What?” I laughed—or screeched like a large bird of prey.“No.”

Aios stared at me. “Then why areyou asking?”

“Because…” I dropped my forehead onto the back cushion andgroaned. “Obviously, I’m asking for myself. And, honestly, I’m probably justoverreacting. But you see, I’ve been nauseous lately, and I think I’m late.” Myfingers pressed into the cushion as something occurred to me. “I’ve been reallyemotional, too. I want to cry over everything and anything, and that isn’t me.And I’m actually really late. That could simply be because of stress. A lot hashappened.” Forcing myself to lift my head, I looked over at Aios.“Are you able to tell me if I’m overreacting?”

Aios’s mouth snapped shut, and sheblinked rapidly. “I can.”

My heart felt like it fell onto the floor. “Then you know?”

“Yes. No.” She gave me a quick shake of her head. “I mean, Idon’t know simply by looking at you, but you were right when you said a lot hashappened. You’ve been through a lot of stress, both physical and emotional.That can do all manner of things to the body.”

Beneath my fingers, the backing of the couch creaked. “Iknow.”

“And it’s doubtful you would begin feeling symptoms sosoon.”

I wanted so badly to believe that. “But it isn’t that soon.”

“It’s fairly difficult for Primalsto conceive. Plus, you just Ascended into Primalhood,Sera. You were mortal before then. You would not have been able to conceive.”

“Yeah, see, that’s what I thought, but how mortal was I withPrimal embers inside me? How mortal was I after taking Nyktos’sblood?” I said. “Which I did more than once before the Ascension.”

Aios’s chest rose sharply againstthe delicate lacing of her bodice. “I…I didn’t think about that. There’s no oneelse like you. I suppose it could be possible, but…”

“I had this dream, or maybe it was a vision, while instasis—” I closed my eyes for a heartbeat. “I saw two cubs.”

“What?” she exclaimed.

“I saw my nota form, and then I saw two smallerversions of her,” I said.

“Two?” Aios whispered.

“Two.”

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