Hana took a step back and it felt like she was standing on top of a wet surface because a ripple occurred.
She looked down and saw her reflection looking back at her. But more than that, her belly was flat.
"My baby," she breathed. Her hand flew down to her stomach, her fingers pressing firmly against her skin, searching for the heavy, hard warmth that had dictated her every movement for the past sixteen days.
There was nothing. Just a smooth, empty belly.
Hana, who had spent her entire life calculating her survival and ruthlessly prioritizing her own life above all others, felt a sharp, hollow ache pierce her chest.
She had come to cherish the child growing inside her. It wasn't just a quest objective or a tool; it was her blood, her flesh, her absolute possession. Even with its volatile draconic traits, it belonged to her first and foremost.
