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Leon lowered himself into the chair Livia had brought. Caius stayed beside the membrane, and I looked at each station in turn before loosening my hand from the stone.

“Elowen’s bleeding is controlled, and her blood pressure is improving, but she remains critically ill and requires intensive treatment. Your elder daughter is responding well, although she still needs help breathing. We restored your younger daughter’s heartbeat, and it has remained steady since, but her condition is critical. Both children will require intensive neonatal care.”

“Are they out of danger?” Alaric asked.

“Not yet, my lord. But they are responding to treatment.”

“Will there be lasting injury?” Caius asked.

“We cannot tell yet. Their responses are not entirely what we expected, and Elowen’s hormonal readings have risen far beyond levels we have seen. We can treat the complications, but we cannot yet predict what will follow.”

“Did the attack cause it?” I asked.

“It placed her under severe strain, but her readings were changing before today. I cannot tell you that the attack caused the underlying condition.” He glanced back into the room. “I have requested specialist reviews. They can examine the data without crowding her.”

“Send every request through me,” Lucien said.

Leon stood. “When can we be with her?”

“As soon as we can safely admit you. She needs help breathing and uninterrupted access for treatment. We are preparing for at least seventy-two hours of intensive support, including sedation.”

“Three days before she wakes?”

“Possibly longer. We must be able to reduce her support safely.”

“May we go in to see the girls?” Caius asked.

“If they continue to settle, we may be able to arrange brief contact within twelve hours. My team will guide you.”

Caius nodded and returned to watching them. The lights above Elowen had been lowered, and fresh coverings concealed her body. She lay six metres away, her face now visible beyond Thaddeus’s shoulder. I could have crossed that distance before anyone finished telling me to stop, but I would do nothing to jeopardise her recovery, however much I needed to be beside her.

“When will you be able to tell me that she is going to survive?”

“When I believe it to be true.”

Beyond him, Elowen lay unconscious. The last words my Omega had spoken to me were that I was a liar and she hated me, and if I lost her, they would be the last words I ever heard from her.

Chapter 38

Elowen

Iopened my eyes to find Alaric beside me. “Hello, General.”

My sleepy smile faded as I studied him. Dark shadows sat under his grey eyes, and he looked so tired.

“A new light to you, my heart.” He squeezed my hand and leaned down to kiss my forehead.

I tried to sit up when he pulled away, but I felt so weak that I barely managed to lift my shoulders.

“Careful, my heart.” He helped me settle against the cushions.

“Can I have some water?”

“Of course.”

I tried to hold the cup he gave me, then let him take over when my hand kept shaking. I’m so tired. When I’d finished drinking, I leaned into his chest and breathed in his fresh scent.

“What time is it?”