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“I was feeling lightheaded because childbirth is gross. I wasn’t prepared to watch, and you didn’t forewarn me,” I gripe as we enter the cottage-like kitchen. “I’ve had plenty to eat today.”
Will shudders. “It is gross, isn’t it? Couldn’t even watch my own kids being born, much less anyone else.”
“Right?” I agree. “Now imagine being dragged into a birth with no warning.”
“Imy,” he drawls, disapproving despite his small smile. “You didn’t tell her?”
“No.” Imryll shrugs. “She doesn’t get lightheaded when she’s in the clinic, so—”
“There is an enormous difference between a crisis situation and... and…” I fling my hands in the air. “And a not crisis.”
He squints at me. “A not crisis?”
“Yes,” I snap.
“Have some fruit, Ada,” Will kindly offers.
“Fine,” I grumble, conceding when I see the slices of grapefruit-in-disguise.
Will props his hip against the counter. “Did the neighbors get their boy?”
“They did,” Imy declares, washing his hands. “Everyone looked healthy, so I left them in Shy’s hands. But I’ll stay close for a few hours, just in case.”
“I’ve been telling her for weeks that baby was a boy,” Will says, grinning at me. “I’m glad you were there to witness history. The man has three daughters, and they desperately wanted a son.”
“It wasn’t my place—”
“Nonsense,” Will argues without letting me say my piece. “They’ll be over the moon to know our next queen was there, bringing them luck on their special day.”
I full-body shiver as I swallow. “Please tell me I won’t have to witness every birth on the island.”
“You won’t,” Imryll answers, rubbing small circles on my lower back. “I wanted to show you something positive about being a healer. We’re all impacted by the loss of loved ones and strangers alike, but we’re also fighting to bring people into the world. We’re fighting for people just like the Battlerains’ neighbors and their children and their children’s children.”
I cast a quick glare at the ceiling before sighing in defeat. “It’s sweet, but a little warning would have made it sweeter.”
“So, war, yeah?” Will asks, his tone unreadable.
“Yes.” I shake my head as I finish chewing my fruit. “I wish I could say when, but I can’t. It’s just a feeling we all have right now.”
He whistles under his breath. “Best not to tell anyone else.”
“I assumed Rin would have told you.”
“She did,” Will divulges. “But don’t tell anyone other than me.”
“I wasn’t planning on it.” I frown at the half-full bowl in my hand. “There are so many things floating around in my mind right now that I don’t even know how I would begin to tell anyone.”
He nods and changes the subject. “How’s the—”
“Don’t tell me what it’s called, Will.” I hold my hand out, palm facing him. “I’m not ready to have my food illusion shattered yet. Just let me keep this ignorance for a little while longer.”
Will snorts. “That’s what you choose to turn a blind eye to?”
“Yes,” I reply with a grimace. “I’m far too active to stop eating right now, so I don’t want to know what the food is until I can handle not eating for a week.”
“Why wouldn’t you eat?” Imryll inquires, leaning against the counter beside Will.
“Do you know what a cow is?” I ask him.
