The dawn’s light barely touched the dim bedroom. It was difficult to tell exactly when night had fallen—it had passed in the blink of an eye.
Though she had just given birth, Liliette was thankfully not feverish. According to Nerva, she was experiencing far fewer aftereffects than most new mothers. It was likely due to the divine power that had long suffused her body and the unique constitution of the child she had borne.
Vlad sat propped against the headboard, his eyes fixed on Liliette’s sleeping face. She lay beside him, breathing evenly, completely at peace. Quietly, he brushed a loose strand of hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. She didn’t stir.
“Liliette,” he whispered.
