Moments later,

Author

It was three hours past midnight, and Mara was still wide awake.

Aria had tried rocking her. She had tried walking the corridors. She had tried every lullaby she had ever heard in this world, every soothing tone, every gentle sway she could manage. The baby just stared up at her with those big dark eyes, kicked her little feet, and giggled every time Aria paused.

"She’s not tired," Malphas said, leaning against the doorframe looking utterly defeated. "She’s energized. Like someone just gave her a cup of black coffee."

Aria shot him a look over her shoulder. "You offered her 'honey wine'. Of course she’s energized."...