Isabella Hawthorne
The President's words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. "...claim it for themselves. We, the Capitol, are here to prevent that from happening." His pronouncement echoed in my skull, bouncing off the opulent walls and amplifying the confusion swirling within me. Kings scrambling? Abilities? Portents? The very concept of my unborn child holding some kind of power, let alone being coveted by mythical figures, was enough to make my head spin.
A wave of dizziness washed over me, the gilded room tilting precariously around me. My vision blurred, the plush fabric beneath me suddenly suffocating. I gasped, grabbing the edge of the table for support, my heart hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs.
"Isabella," Mayor Caldwell's voice, usually smooth as silk, now held
