Evaline:
I stared at River, my pulse hammering so violently I could feel it in my throat. Fear wasn't just creeping in, it was crashing over me in waves, each one heavier than the last.
What was he going to say about my child?
Had he noticed it too?
The eyes.
Those impossibly familiar eyes that had turned my joy into confusion... and fear.
My breath grew shallow, and before I could gather myself, River was suddenly there - no distance left between us. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me firmly against his chest. His warmth, his scent, his steady heartbeat... it all rushed into me through the bond, soothing my fraying edges.
"Don't panic, Little Star," he whispered, his voice a low, grounding rumble. "Trust me."
