It was something I’d thought about before, but doubted was possible for either of us. I wasn’t in the position to spend nine months pregnant, and who knew how the stag’s power would affect the child. Not to mention the child of the Erlking would be in incredible danger from those that wished us harm or wanted a bargaining chip. And Soren? He might’ve been less physically vulnerable, but he’d never put me in harm’s way. A child was out of the question.

Until now, that was.

“Thank the gods,” Soren said and rested one of his large hands on top of mine. His hand was warm and callused against my softer ones, and I could only stare in shock, knowing that I was pregnant in this world.

Pregnant. Whereas before, in my other life, I took herbs that stopped my menses from coming, terrifying me that I may never carry a child. Though perhaps I was grateful I’d had my monthly dose soon before Lydian decided to tear apart my village. Pregnancy and childbirth were things I’d thrown out long ago as something I would never experience.

And here I was, pregnant, carrying this human Soren’s child within me, seeing it grow inside of me. Something inside me was warm but broken all the same. By iron, you must leave this life, the voice whispered to me. I’d done it all so far. Left lives by root, by fang, and now I must by iron because others were counting on me. But a sweet dazzling smile from the human Soren made all those thoughts melt away.

“You scared us all, sweetling.” My mother brushed a lock of my hair back from my sweaty face. “It came on so sudden.”

“I fear I don’t remember much,” I said, glancing around at the people in the room. Many of them were strangers to me. Soren was Soren yet he was a stranger, the man who was most likely my brother, a stranger, Magda, a stranger. Was my mother a stranger too? Was I a stranger to even myself? The thought wiggled like a worm in my brain, unsettling me.

Magda nodded with sage wisdom. “A fever will do that to you. You’ll probably regain more of your memory as the days pass on. But for now, rest. Be loved and taken care of. It’s best for you and the babe.”

I found myself nodding when I should’ve been searching for my way out. But oh, to be loved and taken care of without the worry of assassins and monstrous creatures, without the weight of the Permafrost on my shoulders, in a simple life with simple comforts and simple love. Was it so wrong that I wanted to experience that for a few more hours?