PART II

Chapter 17 Ticking Time

I wake to the dim room, to the bright startled green of Karim’s eyes inches from mine.

“Ah, you’re back! Did you find her?”

“Yes. She’s alive — by Ladoga. And Karim…” I search his eyes. “Asdar said there isn’t much time.”

For a moment neither of us moves, the glow fading from my skin, his gaze the only thing anchoring me to the present.

Sticky and shell-shocked, I seek solace in the shower. As water washes the golden trace from my skin I keep turning his words over: not much time left. Surely I have months — a whole trimester — before my due date. So what did he mean?

Karim’s knock comes soft at the door.

“Can I do anything?”

“Yes. Please… join me.”

The full chapter — what happens in the steam, one trip to the moon, and finally drifting into sleep with nothing heavy in her heart — is available unabridged on Ream.

© 2026 CYcrds | I.Ph. de Lange