**One month later**

Rays of sunlight stole their way into the room as she glanced toward the corner, where her son lay quietly in his cradle.

Raya let out a soft sigh of relief and returned to her light makeup. Thank the Goddess he’d fallen asleep. Now she could focus all her attention on getting ready for the ceremony.

A soft knock at the door pulled her attention, as her eyes settled on Arian. She had seen him earlier at breakfast, and that was it.

“I was wondering where you were,” she said with a smile.

He closed the door behind him with a heavy expression. “I went for a...