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When Arundelle awoke, she was being carried. Artham’s wings were wrapped around her, feathers tickling her nose and making her sneeze. He halted.

“Arundelle?” he asked, the panic clear in his voice. A moment later she was on the ground, with Artham’s wings behind his back and the clear blue sky above. Until it was blocked by the head of her crazy blue-eyed white-haired husband. “Are you okay?”

Arundelle nodded as calmly as she could. Her hand went unconsciously to her slightly protruding stomach as a grimace flitted across her lips. She would not lose this baby. She couldn’t bear any more loss. “Where are we going, Artham?”

He took her hand, his thumb rubbing it as he often did. “A Hollish woman offered to house us with her family. She has two sons and a daughter, but no husband that I know of. We were out of options.”

Arundelle nodded again, this time more weakly.

“Can you walk?” Artham asked. His blue eyes sparkled with caring concern.

With another nod, forced herself to her feet, Artham’s arm around her shoulders. Dizziness took over her head for a second as darkness closed in, but it soon cleared and she forced herself to take a few steps, then a few more, and a few more, focusing on the muddy ground in front of her as Artham led her.

“Mama.” Leeli’s soft voice drifted from somewhere behind Arundelle. “Is Aunt Arundelle going to be okay?”

Arundelle didn’t hear Nia’s answer. All she knew was Artham’s support, the baby in her womb, and the need to put one foot in front of the other.

One step at a time.