Elaris's POV
July arrived with golden mornings.
The kind that carried the warmth of summer before the sun had even climbed properly into the sky.
My due date was circled on the calendar hanging beside the refrigerator.
July 14th.
For weeks, everyone had joked that my daughter would arrive whenever she pleased.
Mrs. Harlow insisted the first babies were always stubborn.
Mrs. Lane claimed little girls liked making grand entrances.
Linnea said our princess had already inherited my habit of keeping people waiting.
I laughed every single time.
This morning...
No one was laughing.
I woke before dawn because something felt... different.
Not painful.
Not exactly.
Just different.
I remained lying on my side, staring quietly at the ceiling while one hand rested over the enormous curv
