The moment they stepped through the portal, the swirling vortex of crimson and violet collapsed behind them, leaving behind only the dim, golden glow of candlelight.
Maya barely had time to register the familiar scent of jasmine and burning embers, the signature fragrance of her mother’s chambers, before her legs buckled beneath her. She crumbled onto the soft, richly woven rug, her body too drained to support itself any longer.
Beside her, Anya collapsed as well, breathing heavily, her hands still trembling from the escape, as she protected her pregnant belly.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke. The weight of exhaustion pressed down on them, and Maya let her forehead rest against the cool floor, trying to steady her erratic heartbeat. Her entire body ached, her veins still hummin
