Pearl pov
The steam from the bath still clung to my skin, the scent of herbs rising faintly from my damp hair as Cecil wrapped me in a soft robe. For the first time in weeks, the warmth of the water had soothed the ache in my muscles, loosening the knots that sleepless nights and endless worry had tied inside me.
But the moment I stepped back into the room, a sudden, sharp pain twisted low in my stomach.
I gasped, clutching at myself, doubling over as the air rushed from my lungs. “Cecil…” My voice was broken, strangled.
She darted to my side, alarm flaring in her eyes, but before she could say anything I staggered to the bed, collapsing onto it, the pain rolling through me like waves of fire. My fingers dug into the blankets until my knuckles burned. I could barely breathe.
And then
