Chapter 757: Chapter 758: How did she get past everyone?
Zyran remained by the wall, looking far too relaxed for a male standing in a room where a pregnant female might give birth soon.
Cyrus looked at Osiris again.
Osiris looked at the floor.
"I did find Kian though," Osiris said again in a smaller voice.
Cyrus said nothing.
That silence somehow felt worse than shouting.
Osiris shifted his weight and looked around the room as if hoping someone would rescue him.
Isabella would have done it, but another strange pressure moved through her lower stomach at that moment. It was not strong enough to make her cry out, but it pulled low and tight enough that her fingers curled into the fur.
Cyrus felt the change before she could speak.
He immediately turned from Osiris and placed his hand over her stomach. His anger vanished under fear and focus. "Breathe slowly."
"I am breathing," Isabella said, though her voice came out lower than before.
"Do it with me."
He breathed in slowly, and she followed him because his voice was calm now. He rubbed the side of her stomach with one hand and supported her back with the other. The pressure stayed for a few breaths, then eased again until Isabella could relax.
Ophelia’s eyes had gone wet again.
Shelia looked worried too, though she tried to keep herself steady because Isabella already had enough nervous people around her. "Does it hurt badly?"
Isabella shook her head. "It is uncomfortable. It keeps coming and leaving."
Ophelia stepped forward on instinct. "Do you need water?"
Cyrus’s eyes moved to her at once.
Ophelia stopped immediately.
Poor Ophelia looked like she had just stepped into a trap.
Isabella almost felt bad enough to behave, but only almost. "Cyrus," she said, trying not to smile, "she asked about water, not my inheritance."
Ophelia’s eyes went even wider. "I would never steal your inheritance."
Zyran looked over at once. "There is an inheritance?"
Cyrus turned his head slowly.
Zyran raised both hands with shameless speed. "I have decided I am a simple male with no interest in wealth, politics, or being thrown through a wall today."
Isabella let out a small laugh at that. Then Cyrus eyes slid to Ophelia again and Isabella saw her freeze and almost laughed again. "Cyrus. Seriously Let her breathe."
Cyrus looked back at Isabella, and only then did he seem to realize how sharp he had become toward everyone. He closed his eyes for one second and forced his body to loosen.
"She can bring water," he said.
Ophelia nodded quickly, looking so relieved that Isabella suddenly felt guilty for laughing at the situation. Shelia followed her toward the small table near the fire and helped pour warm water into a wooden cup.
While everyone was distracted, something small moved near the door.
Glimora had slipped in at some point.
The little white beast stood half hidden behind the wooden frame, her ears slightly lowered and her eyes fixed on Isabella. She looked unusually serious for a beast who normally cared most about food and winning arguments against Osiris. It was as if she understood that something important was happening and that she needed to be near Isabella.
Isabella noticed her first.
Her heart softened immediately.
Glimora waited there like she was asking for permission without making a sound. Cyrus was speaking lowly to Osiris now, probably warning him that if he ruined one more thing, the wall would truly be involved. Zyran was watching Cyrus and Osiris with mild interest. Shelia and Ophelia were handling the water. Everyone was distracted enough.
Isabella lifted her hand slightly and curled her fingers toward herself.
Come.
Glimora’s ears perked up.
Isabella mouthed carefully, "Slowly."
Glimora lowered her small body and began to sneak in.
She moved behind a low wooden stool first. Then she slipped behind the basket of folded furs. When Osiris turned his head, she froze at once and pressed herself flat to the ground with such seriousness that Isabella almost laughed out loud. The moment Osiris looked away again, Glimora hurried across the last space and reached the side of the bed.
Isabella reached down and touched her head.
Glimora immediately pressed into her palm.
All that careful sneaking disappeared the moment Isabella touched her. The little beast’s eyes softened, and her body leaned gently against the side of the bed. She did not jump up. She did not climb onto Isabella’s stomach. She only stayed close, as if she knew that Isabella needed comfort and that this time she had to be careful.
Isabella’s smile became smaller and softer.
"There you are," she whispered.
Glimora made a tiny sound and rubbed her head against Isabella’s fingers.
When Cyrus finally turned back, Glimora was already curled near Isabella’s side like she had been there all along.
Cyrus stared at the little beast.
Then he looked at Isabella.
Isabella looked back at him with a very innocent face.
"She came to check on me," Isabella said.
Cyrus clearly knew there was more to it than that, but he also saw how gently Glimora stayed beside her and how Isabella’s face had softened. So instead of scolding, he only sighed and touched Glimora’s head once.
"Stay still," he told the little beast.
Glimora closed her eyes under his touch and looked pleased with herself.
Osiris pointed at her. "How did she get past everyone?"
Zyran finally smiled. "Better than you completed your task."
Osiris looked hurt. "Why are we going back to that?"
"Because it happened recently."
Isabella let out a small laugh, and this time it did not pull too much at her stomach. The sound made the room feel less frightening for a moment.
Even Cyrus’s face softened again.
For now, the pain had eased. The experienced women were being called. Kian was handling the matter. Glimora was beside her. Her friends were near. And although the fear of birth still sat in the room, Isabella could breathe a little easier with familiar faces around her.
