The road back to the palace felt longer than normal, even though nothing had changed and the road was still the same.

Lyra rode beside Kieran, her cloak tight around her as she breathed in Forestlands cold air

It didn’t hurt or burn, it just felt normal and that felt like progress.

Her hand was resting on her stomach, it was now a habit, her fingers was in her cloak as the horse moved under her. Kieran rode beside her, steady and silently reassuring her without being possessive.

...