Athena’s POV
“Push, Athena! One more—just one more!”
The healer’s voice rang out, but it sounded so far away. Everything was a blur—my vision, my thoughts, my body. Pain roared through me like a wildfire, burning every inch of my flesh, leaving nothing behind but agony and silence.
I was tired. So tired.
But then I heard it–a cry. A sharp, high-pitched sound that pierced through the pain, cutting straight into my soul. My baby. My child was here.
I slumped back against the bed, breath shallow, limbs trembling, and eyes barely able to stay open.
The room spun, and all I could hear was the flurry of movement—the nurse wrapping the baby, the healer checking my pulse, voices rushing above me.
But all I wanted was one thing.
“Is… is the baby okay?” I managed to whisper.
A gentle hand touched my shoulder. “He’s perfect,” a soft voice replied. “You did it.”
I wanted to smile. I wanted to hold him.
But everything went black.
I didn’t know how long I was out. Minutes? Hours?
When I opened my eyes again, the room was dim, and the pain had dulled into a deep ache. I couldn’t feel my legs, and I was too weak to move my arms.
But I was alive.
Barely.
My throat was dry. I tried to speak, but nothing came out.
Then I heard his voice.
Varianth.
“Careful… support his head.”
I blinked, slowly turning my head toward the sound.
He was there. Sitting in the chair beside my bed. Holding a bundle in his arms.
My baby.
Our baby.
He looked down at the child as if he were holding the moon itself. His brows were furrowed, his face unreadable, his hands—usually steady and sure—trembled slightly.
I watched silently.
“He’s strong,” Varianth murmured, almost to himself. “So small, but already stubborn. He wouldn’t stop crying until he was wrapped in this.”
He nodded toward the blanket. It was the one Emma had given me.
“I didn’t know babies could look like this,” he continued. “He… he looks like me.”
My heart squeezed.
He noticed.
I opened my mouth. “Varianth…”
He looked up quickly, eyes wide when he saw I was awake.
“Athena.”
I tried to smile. “He’s yours.”