(Dual POV — Talia / Lucian)
They didn’t linger.
Lucian reached her just after dawn—no fanfare, no words wasted. One moment, Talia stood at the edge of the trees, breathing steady, fire quiet in her veins. The next, the bond snapped taut, and there he was—mud on his boots, duster torn, eyes burning with relief and restraint.
Lucian didn’t ask if she was ready.
He knew.
He took her face in his hands, forehead pressed to hers, grounding them both. “You’re whole,” he said quietly. The kiss they shared was deep, lingering, and passionate. But that was all the time they had to share. Lucian bent to her baby bump and placed his palms over each child, intuitively knowing where his children lay in the womb. They each responded. Talia knew they were sharing a mind link.
He stood back up and j
