Dawn had barely broken when Liora slipped out of their chambers, leaving Riven still asleep. The pregnancy weighed on her mind like a secret flame—warm, but demanding. She needed to test her limits before the changes became impossible to hide.
The training grounds behind Shadowveil Keep were quiet except for the rhythmic thud of practice blades and the occasional growl of shifting wolves. Liora joined a group of elite warriors for sparring, choosing light staff work over full-contact bouts. At first, everything felt normal. Her lunar-curse flowed smoothly as she disarmed an opponent with a spinning strike.
Then the wave hit.
A sudden, vicious wave of nausea rolled through her. Her vision blurred at the edges, and a sharp fatigue settled into her bones despite a full night’s rest. She st
