The morning of the Council meeting arrives with crystalline clarity.
I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I rehearsed responses to imagined attacks, refined arguments, and worried about everything that could go wrong. By the time dawn breaks, I've been awake for hours, staring at the ceiling and trying to calm my racing heart.
The baby doesn't help. Morning sickness has arrived with a vengeance, sending me to the bathroom twice before the sun is fully up. Margot warned me this might happen—stress exacerbates early pregnancy symptoms.
I'm brushing my teeth for the third time when Asher appears in the bathroom doorway, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Mama, why are you awake so early?"
"Couldn't sleep, baby. Too much on my mind." I rinse my mouth, forcing a smile. "But I'm okay."
