*Saoirse*
I watched out the window, wondering if we would soon see another unexpected weather event. The royal twins had come too soon, tearing into the world with the storm's fury. My daughter, Adelaide, tiny and fierce, was fighting her own battle within the gleaming walls of the Healing Center’s incubator.
"Shh, little one," I whispered through the glass, my finger tracing a path along its cool surface where her hand lay inside. "Your mama's here."
"Her spirit is strong, Saoirse." Rhys' voice, warm and steady, broke through the clinical silence of the room. He stood by my side, his presence a solid comfort.
"I know," I replied, my eyes not leaving the sight of Adelaide. Her chest rose and fell with a rhythm that held all of Egoren's hope. "But I feel so helpless, Rhys. She's so small."
He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close. "She has the best care, love. And she has us. We're a family. We'll get through this together."
