Fenric’s arms were around before my head even hit the pillows. He tucked against his chest, his large hands acting like a solid anchor while the rest of the world felt like it was spinning down a whirlpool.
Tell this isn’t happening.
"Fifty days?" Noah’s voice rose, his tail performing a frantic, anxious twitch. "That’s less than two months! I haven’t even finished the nursery expansion!"
"And I haven’t even started the security detail for the water-access points," Fenric added, his red eyes wide with a rare flash of genuine panic.
I stared at the ceiling, my fingers digging into the furs. Thirty-three days. I had thirty-three days until whatever was currently demanding sea-berries decided to make its grand entrance. My mind raced through a ntal blueprint of the palace—we needed a specialized birthing pool, we needed healers who understood aquatic physiology, and I definitely needed a lot more of those translucent blue berries.
"Thalor," I wheezed, looking over at the rman who was still staring at my stomach with a look of pure worship. "Fifty days? Are you serious? I’ve been working with tilines this whole ti and what you just ntioned is a catastrophic deadline!"
"The sea is a dangerous place, Arinya," Thalor explained softly, his hand never leaving the swell of my belly. "Our young must be born strong and fast to survive the currents. They develop rapidly. It is the gift of the deep."
"It’s a gift that’s going to turn into a balloon by next Tuesday!" I barked, though the fear was slowly being replaced by that familiar, stubborn determination.
I looked at the four of them—my husbands, my protectors, and now, the panicked fathers-to-be. The ’War of Nerves’ was truly dead. Now, we were in a race against a fifty-day biological clock. Make that thirty-three-day biological clock.
"Alright, change of plans," I said, sitting up straight despite the protest from my waist. "Noah, forget the ’stalking’ lessons for a minute. I need you to coordinate with the sheep tribe. We need waterproof swaddling, and we need it yesterday. Robin needs to know that the sea-silk is now a priority one project."
Noah nodded, his wolf ears pinning back in focus. "On it, Boss."
"Damar," I turned to the serpent. "The marketplace stays on track, but I want the forge focused on sothing else. We need a specialized drainage system for the nursery pool. If these babies need water, they’re getting the cleanest, most filtered water in the West Way."
Damar nodded, his eyes sharp and warm at the sa ti. "It will be done, Ari."
For soone who hated Thalor, he seed to be the proudest.
Maybe it was because he didn’t get to sit through my previous pregnancy completely. This ti, it would be different. He would be by my side no matter what.
"And Fenric," I looked at the Tiger who was still holding . "You’re in charge of the beavers. No more mining accidents. I need the birthing chamber finished in ten days. Stone-lined, heated floors, and a direct line to the spring. I’ll have the blueprints ready, so there are no hiccups."
Fenric squeezed my shoulder, his red eyes glowing with a calm, steady light. "I will supervise the digging myself. No one will sleep until the Queen’s chamber is ready."
I looked at Thalor, who was still looking a bit dazed. "And you. You’re the consultant. You’re going to tell us everything about the ’Sea-Born’. If I’m going to be a mother to a little rmaid or rman, I’m not going in blind."
Thalor leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "You will be the greatest mother the sea has ever known, Arinya."
Yeah, yeah, and then you can add the tag Sea-mother to my na while you’re at it.
I sighed and leaned back, feeling the weight of the little life—or lives—inside . Thirty-three days. It was going to be a hell of a month.
"Soone bring more fish," I muttered, closing my eyes. "I think I’m going to need a lot more protein."
The news of the fifty-day tiline had turned the palace into a high-speed construction site. While the boys were busy running around like their tails were on fire, I was busy trying to keep my lunch down.
It was day two since the ’Great Realization,’ and I was currently hunched over a stone basin, gasping for air. The morning sickness had hit like a physical blow.
Anything that wasn’t a sea berry or a piece of grilled fish slled like rotting garbage to . Even the scent of Fenric’s favorite forest-herb soap made want to hurl.
"Take it away, I don’t want it." I gasped, cleaning my mouth with the back of my palm.
Seriously, it was even worse than the last morning sickness.
At least the last ti I could bathe with my scented soap, but now everything slls so bad and makes my stomach twist uncomfortably.
They watched with concern, but I tried to smile, telling them I was fine.
It was just a month left, right? The morning sickness will subside at so point, so I’ll just do my best to put up with it for now.
Then, in the afternoon, during one more haul, Thalor, who had gone out to get more berries, ca back with words I wished I had dread.
"Arinya?" Thalor’s voice was hesitant as he walked into the room, looking a bit sheepish. "I have... news. From the sea."
I wiped my mouth and looked up, my eyes narrowed. I felt sick.
"If you’re going to tell the babies are coming in twenty days instead of thirty, I will actually bite you, Thalor."
He winced, stepping closer to offer a cool cloth.
"No, nothing like that. But I did go back to the reefs today to speak with the elders about... well, your condition. I needed to know the best way to support a land-female carrying a royal sea-heir."
I took the cloth, pressing it to my forehead. "And?"
"And... I might have ntioned that you are already showing," he murmured, avoiding my gaze. "My father, the King... he didn’t take the news quietly. He was supposed to arrive in twelve days with the tribute, but once he heard his grandchild was developing so quickly, he decided that was too long to wait."
I froze. "What are you saying, Thalor?"
"They’ll be here in five days, Arinya," he said quickly. "The whole delegation."
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