Roman sat slumped in the armchair by the fire, his elbows resting on his knees, fingers tangled together as if trying to physically hold his thoughts in place. The flames danced across the room, warm and golden, but the warmth didn’t reach him. His mind was a disaster, as thoughts of Desiree, their unborn child, and the prophecy tangled together like a knot he couldn’t untangle.

Desiree stepped into the room cautiously, her bare feet quiet on the floor. She had been watching him for hours, ...