by Brenda Trim
Lying back, Elsie placed her feet in the stirrups when Zander made his way to her side. The moment he reached for her hand she knew he wasn’t going to make this an issue. And, she noted, the alcohol must’ve been responsible because he wasn’t as tense as he had been. Taking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves, she focused on the fact that Jace was there to take care of everything. He had the ability to heal most illness and injury with his hands, but she needed to hear that the baby was fine.
After a quick exam, Jace smiled warmly, “Good news is you’re already at seven centimeters and the labor seems to be progressing normally. It appears this delivery will be just as quick as the pregnancy. The bad news is it’s too late to offer pain medication. Are you going to be okay with that?”
“Yes, I want this to be a natural birth. Just tell me our little girl is okay,” Elsie pleaded. Zander brushed loose strands of hair away from her sweaty forehead and squeezed her hand.
“Elsie, I believe everything is fine. The baby is in the correct position, her heart rate is normal and she doesn’t seem to be under any stress. Right now I need you do your part and I’ll do mine, deal?” Jace asked, patting her on the foot.
Her response was cut off as another contraction hit and Elsie shouted, gripping Zander’s hand with all her might. The length and strength of this one had her wishing she had been able to have that pain medication, after all. None had been that intense up until that point. Once the contraction passed, Jace glanced down and said he was doing another pelvic exam.
“I know that wasn’t a pleasant, but it did the trick, Elsie. You’re fully dilated. It’s time. On the next contraction I need you to begin pushing,” Jace ordered.
Elsie had read all about childbirth, preparing for this moment. It was miraculous, and nothing like she’d ever experienced. She’d heard all the stories of women enduring thirty hours of labor only to be told they would need to have a C-section. It hadn’t even been two hours since her water broke and the baby was ready to come.
When her muscles began to constrict around her abdomen, she lifted her body off the bed, allowing Zander to support her back. Taking a deep breath, she beared down and pushed, holding as she counted to ten like Jace instructed. Holy shit, if that wasn’t the longest ten seconds of her life.
The contraction finally passed and she felt the strain from her heated face all the way to the center of her body. When her body started trembling, she released her breath and laid back on the bed, panting. Sweat poured from every pore on her skin and Cailyn offered Zander a rag. He wiped the cool cloth across her face and neck as he met her gaze, sending love and strength through their bond.
“Elsie, you’re doing great. I see the head. If you can push again, I think she’s ready to come out,” Jace stated, grabbing her attention. His hands went to her thighs, bracing her legs apart.
She could only nod in understanding. Zander helped her to a sitting position and she repeated the process. Again, the pressure felt like her insides were being ripped from her body. Pain exploded as she bit down and pushed.
“Shite, remind me the next time skirm attack to send Elsie after them. My mate’s got a grip on my hand that would pop a head from its shoulders,” Zander relayed with a mock expression of agony displayed across his face. Elsie smiled at her vampire who was such a dork sometimes; but he’d managed to briefly distract her, and for that, she was thankful.
“Yeah, you remember that the next time you go all caveman on me,” she winked, squeezing his hand tighter to punctuate her point.
Several more bouts of pushing and Elsie was spent. She wanted to take a nap and resume this later. She had nothing left to give. Praying to the Goddess to give her enough strength for one more round, she sat forward as Jace instructed her to push again. This time, the pressure relieved the pain and she pushed even harder.
“That’s it Elsie, keep pushing. She’s almost here,” Jace encouraged. In a last ditch effort, a burst of strength assailed and Elsie pushed and pushed until the sound of crying filled the room. Collapsing against Zander, Elsie nearly sobbed at the sound. Isobel’s cries were music to her ears.
Jace lifted Isobel into her line of vision and placed the baby into her arms. She was the most beautiful baby ever created and tears sprang forth as she stared into big, blue eyes.
“Why is there so much blood?” Zander barked, his large palm grasping her shoulder.
Elsie blinked heavily, looking up at her mate. Her eyes refused to stay open and slipped closed. Fatigue weighed her limbs down. She was going to rest for a while.
“A ghra, stay with me. Open your eyes. Jace what the fuck is happening?” The panic in Zander’s voice had her wanting to reassure him, but her body wouldn’t respond.
“She’s hemorrhaging,” Jace replied and Elsie felt Zander support the baby on her chest as warm hands pressed on her lower body. “Elsie, stay with us. I’m healing you right now. Open your eyes for me.”
Familiar warmth engulfed her abdomen and energy seeped into her body. She remembered the time Jace had healed her injuries after her skirm attack. That seemed like such a long time ago and her life had changed so much since then. Her eyes fluttered open and seconds later, she was staring into sapphire-blue eyes.
“There you are,” Jace murmured, drawing her attention away from Zander. “I’m going to finish healing you. After that, all you should need is some rest to feel as good as new.”
Zander leaned down and she suddenly realized he had a death grip on a fist of her hair. “Doona ever do that to me again,” he admonished before kissing her lips.
Nodding against his mouth, she returned the kiss before turning to the small bundle in her arms. Happiness flooded her system as she marveled at the perfect being before her. “We did it,” she exclaimed.
“Aye, we did,” Zander agreed, stroking one finger down Isobel’s back. “She’s beautiful like her mamai.”
“You two make gorgeous babies. She doesn’t even look like a wrinkled old lady,” Cailyn teased as she came over with a towel to clean Isobel.
As soon as her sister passed the towel over the baby’s head, Elsie could see that Isobel had a head full of jet-black hair that stood straight all around her heart-shaped face. Her tiny nose and rounded mouth were nothing short of perfection. Ten fingers and ten toes, Elsie counted. So fragile and vulnerable.
Isobel. Elsie had chosen the name because of its meaning, the Goddess is my oath. She stared in awe at the baby girl in her arms and sent a special thank you to the Goddess for blessing her with such a gift. One she would love, protect and cherish for the rest of her long life.
“Aside from the color of her hair, she looks just like you did when you were born,” her sister murmured as she sat next to her on the bed. Elsie reached over and grabbed Cailyn’s hand, noticing tears brimming in her eyes, as well. They had talked since they were schoolgirls about the day they’d have children who’d grow up together as best friends. She couldn’t help fantasize that Cailyn would join her in the ranks of motherhood so they could enjoy this experience together.
Zander leaned down and cooed, “Hello, my beautiful Isobel. Welcome to the world.” Her mate was grinning from ear to ear and she’d never seen him look prouder. Thankfully, his panic from moments earlier had been erased.
She pushed the soft blanket aside to fully appreciate the tiny being in her arms. Isobel’s skin was the palest of pinks, luminescent with a healthy glow. Her sapphire-blue eyes blinked rapidly, absorbing everything in sight like a sponge. Elsie turned her over, memorizing every inch of her perfect body. Suddenly, her eyes snagged on a mark at the base of Isobel’s neck.
The birthmark was small, no bigger than a quarter, and perfectly round. It was a few shades darker than her skin tone with a red center. “Zander, do you see what I’m seeing? What does this mean?” she gasped, eyes darting to her mate.
“For the love of the Goddess, I do see it,” he breathed, shock clear in his voice. “I doona know what it means…” he trailed off, raki
ng a hand through his hair.
The mark on Isobel’s skin was an exact image of the Triskele Amulet, including each intricate Celtic symbol that surrounded a red center. The amulet had been stolen by the archdemon and taken to Hell in hopes of freeing Lucifer. Rhys, the only Dark Warrior at Zeum with demon blood, had gone to Hell to retrieve the medallion, but when it touched his palm, it had disappeared.
No one had seen it since, and, in the aftermath, Zander had lost the ability to communicate with the Goddess. Now their child was born bearing the mark. Elation and dread consumed Elsie along with her joy and excitement over Isobel’s birth.
A loud knock grabbed Elsie’s attention. Breslin’s head appeared around the door, “Ummm, we’re dying oot here in the hallway! Can we come in and meet the little one, we heard crying,” she said, clearly about to burst with excitement. The entire compound had been brimming with energy and anticipation since Elsie announced her pregnancy and it had only worsened over time.
“Of course, we didn’t mean to keep you waiting. Come in, please,” Elsie responded, wrapping the blanket around Isobel and adjusting her weight as she propped against the pillows.
The entire household burst through the doorway, smiles beaming on their faces. Breslin led the pack, then Shae, Mack and Illianna followed suit. Illianna was the newest mate to their group, and, even though Elsie hadn’t spent much time with her, the angelic presence was a soothing comfort. Her golden wings sparkled under the lights, and instantly, Elsie felt her warmth and joy radiate throughout the room. She smiled, agreeing wholeheartedly with the Goddess’ choice for Rhys’ mate.
One thing was certain. The males in the house didn’t stand a fighting chance to reach Elsie’s side. The females were scrambling to get a glimpse of the first baby to join their family. Luckily, the men were smart enough to step aside and patiently wait their turns.
Zander stepped in at that moment, “My nighean will no’ be manhandled by dozens of germ-toting females,” he barked, taking Isobel from Elsie’s arms, holding her protectively against his chest. The Neanderthal was impossible most days, but on this one, Elsie was in full agreement. She didn’t want to pass Isobel around the entire group mere minutes after her arrival into the world.
“Of course, brathair,” Breslin added, “we just want to see her. We will each have time to hold her later,” the Vampire Princess said as she stood by Zander’s side. Breslin’s face lit up as she put her finger in Isobel’s hand and Elsie saw her tiny fist contract around the digit. Her daughter was going to give them all a run for their money. Isobel already had Breslin wrapped around her tiny finger, figuratively and emotionally.
Gerrick, Kyran, Bhric, Rhys and Orlando took stance around the outskirts of the room. The medical room wasn’t small, but with the hulking warriors and their mates, it was a little cramped. Or maybe Elsie’s protective instincts were in overdrive now. She knew her baby couldn’t be safer, but she was so small and helpless that Elsie couldn’t help but be on alert.
“El, I gotta give it to you. You done good. She’s the spitting image of you,” Orlando quipped, coming over to give her a tight bear hug.
“Thank you, O. I’m just thrilled she has Zander’s eyes,” she replied as she squeezed him back, fixated on the sight of her mate holding their precious daughter. Zander was a ruthless, powerful King, but holding Isobel, he was cooing and gentle and Elsie couldn’t help but fall more deeply in love with him.
Mack stepped up, shoving Orlando aside and looked over Zander’s shoulder. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’d say she has her Aunt Mack’s hair,” she boasted, drawing a round of laughter from the room.
She was right, Elsie thought. Mack’s black hair stood in spikes all over her head, and Isobel was in dire need of a brush at the moment. When Mack walked over to the side of the bed, Elsie saw her latest t-shirt and smiled. Mack was known for her snarky slogans and this one fit the bill. It read My Niece Can Kick Your Niece’s Ass in bold black letters on a red, fitted top.
“She has your hair indeed. I hope she inherits your take-no-shit-attitude, as well,” Elsie exclaimed, embracing Kyran’s mate.
“Aw, you’re gonna make me cry,” she fanned her face jokingly and Isobel took that moment to do the crying for her, releasing a loud wail.
“I think somebody is hungry,” Zander prompted, “and I need to get Elsie to our room so she can feed her and then get some rest.”
Just then, Nate walked into the room, “Sorry to interrupt, but I think there’s something all of you need to see.” Elsie wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but the look on his face told her it wasn’t baby gifts.
*****
Zander handed Isobel to Elsie and then gathered the two of them in his arms. He followed the dragon shifter up the stairs towards the entrance of the house. Nate stopped in front of one of the large picture windows that overlooked their property, gesturing for them to look outside. Zander’s jaw dropped and Elsie gasped in his ear.
“What the fuck!” Zander cursed, staring in disbelief.
Countless demons flanked the gate to the property. Zander knew that numerous protections were in place and it seemed to be keeping them at bay, but how they had located Zeum was beyond him. He quickly scanned the lot, searching for Kadir, but saw no one he recognized. Skirm, hellhounds and more of the lizard creatures like they’d encountered at the convenience store stood motionless along the property line. There had to be at least fifty of them, if not a hundred.
“How did they find us?” muttered Elsie, clinging to Isobel as she observed the scene. He was still holding both of them in his arms and he leaned in, kissing her cheek, trying to calm her.
“I’m no’ sure, but I intend on finding oot. Nate, how long have they been there?” he asked, turning to the majordomo.
Nate had taken Angus’ place at Zeum not that long ago, and, through trial and error (mostly error), he was coming to understand his role as the house administrator. He would never fill the large shoes of Angus, but Zander had come to like the dragon shifter.
“Not long. I was in the kitchen when an unknown presence slithered along my spine. I followed the source to the window and saw this,” he motioned towards the window, “and immediately went downstairs to tell you.”
“Want us to take them oot? We can be ready in five, brathair,” Bhric commented, clearly itching for a fight. Bhric was the powerhouse of the group and would take on the whole group without a second thought, but Zander couldn’t risk it.
“Nay, no’ yet. Call the council members and let them know what has happened. Tell them to stay away from the compound until further notice. Gerrick, you and Jace see if you can layer more protections around Zeum providing as much buffer beyond the gates as possible. I’m taking Elsie and the baby upstairs.” Zander ordered.
“Yes, Liege,” came the unanimous response as the warriors and mates dispersed.
“I will stay here to make sure nothing gets through,” Orlando barked, his green eyes flashing with rage.
Zander felt what they were all feeling, violated and under attack. That sent his protective instincts through the roof. He felt his blood boil with the need to annihilate the enemy. Zander knew Orlando would shift in a moment’s notice and charge any over-confident trespasser. Nothing would get through on the shifter’s watch.
“Aye, keep me posted, O,” he replied, turning and heading upstairs to their rooms. This was supposed to be a happy occasion, the birth of his first heir; but instead, he was carrying his mate and daughter to hide within the confines of his home.
Fuck these demons. He was tired of their shit. This needed to stop, now. Problem was, no matter how many they killed, ten more took their place. It was a never-fucking-ending cycle.
CHAPTER THREE
Elsie looked down at her baby girl nursing in her arms. She still couldn’t believe she’d been a part of creating something so wonderful. A smile crept over her face at the soft suckling noises Isobel made as she nursed. She had latched right onto Elsie’
s breast, greedily taking nourishment from her body. Suddenly, Elsie felt a prick at her nipple and then blood pooled around Isobel’s mouth.
“Zander, hurry, come quick!” she shouted. Wrapped in a towel, he burst from the bathroom, soaking wet from his shower.
“What, what’s wrong?” he asked, rushing to sit at her side. His eyes went wide for a moment and then relaxed. “I wasna sure when her fangs would appear. Vampires are born with them, but given you were once human, I didna know. Did she hurt you?”
For once, the reminder of what she had been and nearly dying didn’t elicit the horrible memories. Instead, relief and shock warred in her mind. She hadn’t even considered Isobel’s need for blood.
“No, it doesn’t hurt at all. I was just so confused when I saw the blood. Is this normal? Do babies take milk and blood from the mother’s breast?”
