Chapter 139

SERAPHINA The night felt very long. I lay in bed, staring at the dark ceiling, my hands never stopping stroking my rounded belly. Our baby moved occasionally—little kicks that usually made me smile. But tonight, every movement only reminded me of the uncertainty hanging over our heads. Another child. Maybe. Those words spun around in my head like a painful mantra. A soft knock on the door startled me. I knew who it was even before the deep voice spoke. “Sera? May I come in?” Kaelos. His voice was hoarse, tired, filled with the same emotions I felt. I paused, part of me wanting to say no, wanting to make him feel a fraction of the pain I felt. But another part—the part that still loved him with all my heart—couldn't refuse him. “Come in,” I whispered finally. The door opened slowly, and Kaelos stepped inside. Even in the dark, I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands were clenched at his sides. He looked like a man who hadn't slept in days. “I couldn't sleep,” he said