4: 4
I couldn't stop shaking.
Even so, I did what Tilda told me. That night, once the whole house was asleep, I crept to the memorial tablet and searched underneath it.
In less than a minute, I found my own birth-fate chart tucked beneath it.
The realization hit me like a strike of lightning.
I thought back to the matchmaking mixer six months ago, how Zion Gilbert had been cool and indifferent to everyone at first.
Only when he learned my birth date did his eyes suddenly come alive.
After that, he chased me relentlessly, doting on me, fussing over every little thing, giving in to my every whim.
Under his romantic, tender pursuit, I walked into marriage with him before I knew it.
I used to marvel at it all, wondering how I'd gotten so lucky to stumble on a family this good.
So it had all been planned from the start.
But there was no time to grieve. I fired off a message to Tilda right away.
"What do I do? If I run now, is there still time?"
Tilda answered almost instantly. "No."
"The fetal-feeding curse is already bound to the flesh and blood in your womb. Leave now, and you die. No question."
"If you want to live, you have to break the fetal-feeding trap. If you trust me, I can help you."
Like a drowning woman clutching the last straw, I nodded, dazed.
Right now, what else could I do but believe her?
Following Tilda's instructions, I immediately swapped my chart for Selina Donaldson's birth-fate chart.
Then I acted as though nothing had happened and went back to bed.
The next morning my mother-in-law brought in another bowl of goose broth. "Mia, eat it while it's hot."
When my fingers touched the bottom of the bowl, I ran my thumb over it without thinking, and sure enough, I felt a raised bump.
I forced myself to stay calm, and the moment she turned to ladle more soup, I quietly tilted the bowl up.
One look, and my heart clenched hard.
Carved into the bottom of the bowl was the exact same pattern as the one on my belly.
Was this the fetal-feeding sigil Tilda had told me about?
Cold sweat soaked my back in an instant, and I no longer doubted a single word she'd said.
But I didn't dare show any fear.
I forced it down and, under her watchful eyes, made myself scoop up a spoonful of the steamed egg.
Before it even reached my mouth, my mother-in-law's face changed all at once and she shot to her feet.
"Mia Henson, what have you done!"
I flinched. Had she found out?
"Mom, what... what's wrong? I didn't do anything!"
But she just stared at me, her face dark, her eyes fixed on me and refusing to let go.
She pulled out her phone and called my husband right away.
"Get back here now. She knows!"
My legs went weak. I stumbled back in a panic and fled into my room.
Just then Tilda called.
"Selina's soul couldn't beat the fetal-feeding curse. It's enraged now, and it's about to strike back!"
Panic took me. "Then what do I do?"
Tilda dropped her voice low. "At this point, let me borrow your body and face it myself!"
While I was still hesitating, bang, bang, bang. My mother-in-law was pounding on the door outside, hysterical.
"Mia Henson, open the door! Open it now!"
Panic swallowed me whole.
Without a second thought I did exactly as Tilda said, cutting my finger to draw the sigil and chant.
"By my blood as covenant, enter and take your seat!"
I chanted it over and over, and a violent, wrenching pain tore through my belly.
Something was thrashing wildly inside me, the pain so bad it drove cold sweat down my skin.
Just as my mind was slipping further and further away, Zion Gilbert's voice came from beyond the door, frantic, almost a scream.
"Mia! Stop! One more time and you really will die!"
