Liv turned to him, her eyes wet yet calm.
"If I let myself be afraid," she said softly, "I wouldn't be able to get out of bed each morning."
Jay stopped.
Silence filled the room.
He sat down again, closer this time, then knelt beside the bed. His large, warm hand covered Liv's cold one.
"I'm afraid," he admitted at last. "More afraid than when my entire clan stood on the brink of ruin."
Liv swallowed.
"Jay…"
"I don't care about prophecies," he went on, his voice heavy. "I don't care about mages, the law of cause and effect, or whatever they call fate."
He lowered his head, his forehead resting against Liv's hand.
"I care about you."
Liv's tears fell soundlessly.
"I know," she whispered. "That's why I'm trying to stay alive."
Jay lifted his head, looking at Liv's belly, then back to her face.
"And this baby?" he asked quietly. "Is he… taking something from you?"
Liv didn't answer right away.
