Page 159 of Born for Silk

“Thank you.” I smile, my cheeks flushing. I disagree, but I refrain from admitting that. A goddess is graceful, airy, and enchanting.

I wobble and pant, even sweat.

I can see why my studies left out this part of the pregnancy journey.

But I am lucky.

I have Meaningful Purpose.

And love.

A perfect gust of wind moves my mauve dress around my body, cooling me and awakening playful bumps along my skin.

Rome comes up behind me; his height lords over me. He circles a thick arm around my waist, slides his palm beneath my belly, and takes the weight of his heir in one large hand.

I swear my spine literally sighs.

“Better, sweet creature?” His otherworldly stature presses to my back, and I slump against him, my head resting just below his chest.

“I love the roses, my king.” I smile softly at the blooming garden, petals unfurling, their posy scent lifting. “But why are we out here?”

“I have someone to show you.” His voice slides to the side as he says, “Both of you. I wanted to wait until he was back to his usual self.”

Through the gentle rustling of trees, I hear a screech, the thrilling sound creating tangible waves in the atmosphere. They reach inside me and snatch air straight from my lungs, leaving me gasping.

“It can’t be…”

My pulse kicks into a rhythm that’s anything but regular when massive black wings rise from behind the limestone building ahead like waves bursting from a steady blue sea.

The majestic eagle soars toward me. Happiness and confusion cripple me to the point where I am speechless.

“What? How?” I shake my head, remembering that detached absence in his gaze. “But I saw his eyes. They were open and lifeless, and his legs were curled… He was dead. Upside-down.”

“It might have appeared that his eyes were open, but that’s his nictitating membrane, little creature.” Rome steps in front of me, casting me in his shadow. “His eyes were closed. At least one of his eyelids was.” He feeds his hand between the curtain of my hair and neck, gripping me, reassuring me. “I couldn’t feel his breath” The memory darkens his gaze. “I could hardly feel my own.”

Showing off for me, Odio soars above my head, twirling and screeching through the haze, the fierce waves of his voice deafening. Disappearing into the red distance, only to reappear, opening up the sky like a black lightning bolt.

Yes, handsome boy, you’re very scary.

I know what I saw… “But?—”

“The Trade still use Gene Therapies, Aster,” Tuscany says, capturing my attention with that terrifying declaration.

Therapies?

She means engineering.

Suddenly Ana’s use of the word treatments echoes in my ears. “Bu- But engineering is illegal. It has been for…” I don’t know why I bother questioning it. Am I that naïve? The knowledge is there in text and the technology is available and centralised by The Trade. Of course they use it to save lives…

Hopefully, that’s its only Purpose.

Tuscany turns to face me. “Its use is strictly controlled.” Lovely, straight, honey-coloured hair dances across her eyes as she looks up at her brother. “Rome, I want to go on a campaign to visit The Cradle. I want to visit the Trades and thank them for their service. To meet the children in the nurseries and listen to stories. To be a queen and mother, as I was born for. Born For Marble.”

Her demand dissects the conversation.

And I am quite pleased it does.

“You waited until Aster was here to ask me this?” Rome’s brows tighten above his blue gaze. “I thought you would retire thi?—”

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