“Her breathing’s still stable,” Zach muttered to himself, pacing at the foot of the bed. His eyes flicked back to Vera, her chest rising and falling evenly. He had never been one to panic, but today felt different. There was something about hearing the heartbeat of their child that had stirred something deeper in him—a kind of protectiveness that ran far beyond what he had ever known.
He sat back down beside Vera, his fingers brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “Wake up, Vera,” he whispered. “We need you.”
But no response. Her eyes remained closed, her body still in the realm of sleep.
The door creaked open, and one of the healers stepped in, her gaze shifting from Zach to Vera. “Your Majesty,” she greeted quietly, not wanting to disturb the quiet atmosphere. “Any change?”
Za
