The buildings of Dragonstone City on Dragonstone thundered in the raging storm. Waves battered the seaside cliffs, throwing up white foam like a great dragon's breath. Inside Danyla's birthing room, the purple-gold flames of the dragonglass candles continued to flicker.
Patirius gazed at the daughter Danyla had borne him, tears streaming down his beautiful face.
"It's starting again..."
Danyla had barely spent two minutes doting on her little princess before she felt movement in her belly again.
Xi Yin knelt beside her, holding a bowl of medicinal broth mixed with honey in both hands. Patirius fed it to Danyla himself, spoonful by spoonful, to help her keep up her strength.
Atozath remained coiled there, the dragon's pupils narrowing as though waiting for something.
When the agony struck again, a roar almost like a dragon's erupted from Danyla's throat.
Outside the window, Atozath suddenly raised its head and let out an earthshaking roar. Dragonfire poured from its jaws, blazing a searing trail through the downpour, as though declaring war on some unseen force.
Inside the birthing room, the flames of the dragonglass candles suddenly surged. Purple-gold tongues of fire leaped to the ceiling, yet strangely set nothing alight.
"He's out! He's out! It's a prince!"
With Cao Yao's excited cheers, the second baby was finally born safely. Danyla at last breathed a sigh of relief.
But this child did not cry. He lay quietly in Herb's hands, his wet silver-white hair plastered to his scalp, his skin glowing like a pearl.
And when his eyes slowly opened,
"Oh, gods..."
Xi Yin could not help drawing a sharp breath beside them.
The baby's eyes had no pupils, only a deep expanse of indigo, like the most distant stars in the night sky. Deep within that blue, tiny golden lights drifted faintly, like