"No, I haven't lost my mind!" she stood, defiant despite the tears already forming in her eyes. "You have no idea what I had to deal with, Magnus! You don't know how it feels when every whisper feels like a dagger in your womb! When people look at you like a failed queen. They blamed me…me!...For not being able to give you an heir. I was drowning in shame. I did what I had to do. And yes, damn it, I'd do it again."
Magnus rubbed his hands down his face like he was trying to erase the moment. "Morvarkar… of all creatures in the realm, that was your solution? Not prayer?"
Ravena stepped forward. "It worked, didn't it? I got pregnant. We had Luna. And everything was fine until now. Now our daughter is mated to a vampire!"
Magnus's pacing faltered.
She pressed on, "And…" She hesitated, like the next words had thorns. "And… Alpha Kyllian."
Magnus stopped cold. "Two mates," he whispered. "She… she cannot survive that. Her soul will be torn apart."
