POV Zion
I stood in front of my mirror before dawn, barely recognizing myself. Where I used to be strong and broad-shouldered, now I looked thin and empty. My face was pale, my cheeks hollow. Dark circles shadowed my eyes. The nightly energy sharing was eating me up faster than I had expected.
My hands shook as I tried to button my shirt. Simple tasks that once took no effort now required concentration and rest. I had to pause twice just to finish dressing.
But it was worth every moment of weakness to see Kali healthy and glowing with our child.
"Your Majesty?" James came into my study. I could smell his worry rolling off him in waves. His usual confident posture was replaced by careful watching, like he expected me to collapse.
"I'll be there for the council meeting," I said, though standing took more effort than it used to. My legs felt unsteady, and I had to grip the edge of my desk for support.
"The Southern trade talks are stuck," James said carefully. "The delegates seem worried about the kingdom's stability. They've noticed changes in how you act during meetings."
I wasn't surprised. Keeping up my public image got harder every day. Last night's sharing had been longer and more draining than ever. Kali had needed so much strength to keep our child growing properly.
"What kind of changes?" I asked.
"You seem tired during discussions. Sometimes you lose track of conversations. Yesterday, you forgot Councilor Drake's name twice."
The words stung because they were true. My mind felt foggy all the time now, struggling to process information that used to come easily.
"Tell them the King is focused on making sure his heir is healthy," I said. "Any ruler would be protective during such an important time."
After he left, I made my way slowly to my secret meeting with Healer Morwyn. These weekly meetings had become my lifeline, the only place where I could be honest about what was happening to my body.
The walk took twice as long as it should have. I had to stop three times to rest, leaning against walls while I caught my breath.
"You're getting worse faster," Morwyn said without introduction as I entered. Her experienced hands moved over my arms, checking pulse points that got weaker each week.
"How much time do I have?" I asked directly.
"At this rate, you won't live to see the birth," she said honestly. "The energy demands are increasing too quickly. Your body can't sustain this level of drain for three more months."
The words hit me, but I had expected them. I could feel my strength leaving me each night, flowing into Kali to keep our child alive.
"Then we find a way to make the energy sharing work better," I said, though I could hear desperation in my voice.
"Your Majesty," she said gently, "there might not be enough efficiency in the world to change this outcome. The old books are clear about supernatural babies. They need enormous sacrifice from their parents."
"Then I'll sacrifice enormously," I said firmly. "Kali and our child must live. That can't be changed."
Morwyn was quiet for a long moment, studying my face. "Have you considered that she might want a living husband more than a heroic memory? That raising your child alone might be harder than any physical pain?"
I had thought about it. The image of Kali alone and sad, trying to rule a kingdom while raising our child, haunted every quiet moment.
"The curse will kill me at thirty anyway," I said finally. "At least this way, my death means something. Our child will be free from the curse forever."
"I've been researching day and night," Morwyn said. "There are mentions in the oldest texts of life force transfer rituals. Ways to redirect the energy flow at the moment of birth."
"Tell me about them."
"They're dangerous and untested. The rituals require perfect timing and enormous magical preparation. Even then, the success rate is unknown."
"But there's a chance?"
"A small one. But Your Majesty, the ritual would require you to give even more energy than the normal birth process. It might save Queen Kali, but it would certainly kill you."
I felt something settle in my chest. "Then we prepare for the ritual. If there's any chance to save her and our child, we take it."
Later that morning, I went to the council meeting, being very careful to seem strong when I felt weak. But the strain was becoming impossible to hide.
"Your Majesty," Councilor Drake said during a discussion about grain distribution, "you seem distracted. Perhaps we should delay these decisions until you're feeling more focused?"
The comment stung because it was true. My mind felt foggy all the time now. I had forgotten his name twice already today.
"I'm perfectly able to handle kingdom business," I said, though I had to work hard to remember what we had been discussing.
After the meeting, I walked slowly back to our chambers. Each step required conscious effort. My legs felt heavy, and my breathing was shallow.
I found Kali resting on our bed, and the difference between us was becoming shocking. Where I got weaker each day, she glowed with health and energy. Her skin was bright, her hair thick and shiny.
"How was the council meeting?" she asked, sitting up carefully.
"Good," I lied, though I could see she wasn't fooled.
"How do you feel?" I asked, settling carefully beside her.
"Strong," she said, but I heard guilt in her voice. "Sometimes I feel like I have too much energy, like I could run through the whole palace without getting tired."
I knew that energy came from me, given night after night through our bond. But seeing her healthy and bright made every moment of weakness worth it.
"That's good," I said, pulling her close. "Our child needs you strong."
As evening came, I prepared myself for another night of giving whatever I had left. We were now seven months into this pregnancy that was slowly killing me to keep them both alive.