Chapter 4

A low thrum began deep in her belly, a tightening that was more sensation than pain, at first. It was a subtle shift, a gathering of forces she’d felt before, but this time, it carried a different weight. It pulsed, a slow, deliberate clench that pulled her muscles inward. She took a breath, trying to steady herself, the faint scent of lavender from the diffuser doing little to calm the rising tide. The room seemed to hold its breath with her, the ticking of the clock on the mantelpiece suddenly amplified. Then, the pressure intensified, a wave rolling through her, and she gasped, her knuckles white where she gripped the armrest of the chair. It peaked, a fierce, insistent squeeze, before slowly, blessedly, receding, leaving her trembling and breathless in its wake.