Power Awakened (The Feral Book 2)

by Charlene Hartnady

“Good, because you’re going to have a hard time getting rid of me.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “You should try to get some sleep, unless you want something to eat. I can try to rustle something up for you. Maybe a couple of pop tarts or some banana toast?”

  “No, I am pretty tired. Just stay and hold my hand.”

  Cadon nodded. “Let me pull up a chair. I think you’ll find I have amazing hand-holding skills.”

  She nodded, a smile toying with the edges of her own lips.

  “After you nap, I’m finding you something to eat. Pop tarts or toast…whatever your pregnant heart desires.”

  Kerry whimpered in her sleep.

  It was nothing. His female was fine. Within seconds her chest was rising and falling again in a relaxed fashion.

  Cadon pushed out a breath, leaning back in his chair. Yes, she was going to be okay. He was just being paranoid…and with good reason.

  Thankfully, her face became placid, completely relaxed. Kerry had fallen asleep within minutes of closing her eyes and had been sleeping soundly for three hours since. With each minute that passed, he relaxed more. He stopped grinding his teeth, he felt each of his muscles slowly release. He was able to start to breathe again.

  Kerry sat up in the bed, eyes wide, hands grabbing at her belly. She groaned, the sound filled with pain.

  “What is it? What?” Cadon jumped up from his chair, which fell back with a clang.

  “It feels like a contraction.” Her face was twisted in pain. “I had them before. I—” She sucked in a deep breath. “Noooooo!” she groaned. “I think it is one. It must be…call someone.” She turned to the controller. “Push the red button!” she yelled. Hands still splayed on her stomach, which was impossibly small.

  Cadon did as she said, putting his finger through the device with a crunch. “Help!” he shouted, seconds later when no one arrived. “Help us!” he yelled as he pushed open the door to the hallway.

  The same female from earlier was running towards him, she burst through the door. “My female is in pain,” he growled. “Help her!”

  The female put her hand on Kerry’s stomach, looking at one of the machines. “It’s a big one,” she announced. “Breathe, honey.”

  “I don’t want to breathe!” Kerry wailed. “This shouldn’t be happening.”

  “You need to breathe. In and out, and in and out.”

  Kerry moaned while doing what the older female instructed.

  “I already paged Doctor Jenkins, she’ll be here in a few minutes.” The female tried to reassure Kerry.

  “This shouldn’t be happening. Why is this happening?” Kerry’s eyes were wide, her voice strained.

  “Hang in there, sweetheart,” the female reassured. “Let’s wait and see what the doctor has to say before jumping to any conclusions.

  Kerry nodded, her face still strained. She finally fell back, breathing heavily. Cadon stood by her side. “Yes, that’s good advice.” He put a hand on her shoulder.

  The healer crashed through the door, her face was impassive but her eyes held concern. She was pulling rubber gloves onto her hands.

  “A contraction?” she asked.

  Kerry nodded, her eyes filled with tears. “It was the worst one I’ve had so far.” She chewed her lower lip, her breathing elevated. She was a ball of anxiety and he couldn’t blame her.

  The older female nodded and gave a couple of figures he couldn’t understand. Cadon knew it was related to her birthing pains, as she pointed at the monitor that showed those.

  The healer grabbed a file hanging on the end of Kerry’s bed and flipped through it. “You’re on the maximum dose of nifedipine.” At least that was what he thought he heard her say. “It’s only been,” she made a humming noise, “going on six hours since you had the steroids. Let’s hope this was—”

  Kerry’s eyes widened and she gripped her belly. “It’s happening again! It…” Tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “Okay.” The healer sucked in a deep breath. “It looks like you might have gone back into labor.”

  “Do something,” Kerry groaned. “Please stop this.”

  “Please.” Cadon held Kerry’s hand. “Why is this happening?” he tried not to shout. The healers were only doing their jobs.

  “We don’t know,” the healer replied. “The fetal heartrate is normal. Your baby is doing well.”

  “Except at this rate, I’m going to have him now!” Kerry yelled through clenched teeth. She was buckling over from the pain.

  “Let me re-scan to check that the abruption hasn’t worsened.” The healer lifted Kerry’s gown and squirted some gel onto her. She used the same device she’d used before to see into Kerry’s stomach.

  His female was still breathing heavily.

  The healer was focusing on the machine, her hand moving an inch this way and an inch that way. She made a humming noise. “It looks the same. No bleeds. Everything looks fine.”

  “Why then?” Cadon tried not to growl.

  “Kerry has been through a major trauma. It was a severe shock to her system. I’ve seen expectant moms go through worse and no labor. I’ve also seen full-blown labor from much less. We can’t always predict these things. Nature is fickle.”

  “What are you going to do?” Cadon growled this time. “There has to be something.”

  The healer flinched.

  “I’m sorry.” He put up a hand. “I know you’re trying, but…”

  “It’s a stressful situation, I understand,” the healer said. “We’ve given you everything we can…” She turned back to Kerry before flipping through the chart some more. “At least when it comes to Tocolytics.” Again, one of those words he didn’t understand. “I don’t think it would work, but I can try progesterone?”

  “Anything…please.” Kerry had started breathing heavily again. “It’s another one. Please just make it stop.”

  “Help her!” Cadon snarled.

  The healer threw a couple of orders at the older female who nodded and disappeared.

  “This is a last-ditch effort. You need to understand that this baby is more than likely coming, no matter what we do.”

  “No,” Kerry sobbed.

  “I’m afraid so. I told you just this morning that he would be viable if he was born now.” She raised her brows and pushed out a breath. “Didn’t think he would be though. I’d like to check your cervical dilation.”

  He didn’t know what that meant. The older female returned. She was holding a tray, which she offered to the healer. “Okay, let’s try the progesterone.” She picked up a device that had a needle and pulled some liquid into it. It was human medication. Then the healer pulled the blankets away and injected Kerry on the side of her ass.

  Kerry was breathing heavily as she came down from another birthing pain. She didn’t even seem to notice what the healer had just done.

  “Okay then,” the healer murmured. “Let’s do this while you’re between contractions. Open your legs.”

  Kerry did as she said.

  The healer lifted the sheet and moved between Kerry’s splayed thighs. “Deep breath.”

  Kerry complied, wincing.

  The healer stood up, removing the gloves and throwing them in a nearby bin. “You’re about a centimeter dilated, which isn’t too bad at this stage. I don’t want to give you false hope, but I’ve seen women stop dilating. I’ve seen labor stop entirely and a normal pregnancy ensue. It can happen. However, in your case, I doubt it very much. I think this baby is coming.”

  “No.” Kerry shook her head. “Don’t say that.”

  “We have to be realistic. I think the best we can hope for is that the labor is slow. Every hour will help develop your baby’s lungs.” She looked from Kerry to him and then back again. “I’m going to head out on my rounds, I’ll be back—”

  “Don’t leave.” Cadon narrowed his eyes. “My female needs you.”

  “I assure you, Mr…” she looked at him pointedly.

  “Cadon, you can ca
ll me Cadon.”

  “There is nothing I can do for Kerry right now. Hopefully the drugs work. We’re monitoring the contractions and more importantly, we’re monitoring the fetus to make sure he’s okay. We need to pray that the drugs work, otherwise, we need to wait until it’s time to deliver. I’ll check in frequently and Anne,” she gestured to the older female, “will be in even more often. You can use the call button as well.”

  Kerry was breathing heavily, her face a mask of pain.

  “Another one?” he asked.

  She nodded, holding her belly in both hands.

  “I broke the call thingy. I was panicking,” he said.

  “You can shout, like you did before,” the female he now knew as Anne said, with a smile. “They heard you all the way in the next ward earlier.”

  “I will inform neonatal that there is a pending emergency, but we won’t have them on alert just yet.” She patted Kerry’s arm.

  Kerry nodded, huffing and puffing.

  Cadon watched them leave. Anne turned at the door. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

  He nodded, looking down at Kerry as soon as she moved off. “What can I do?”

  Kerry shook her head. “Nothing.” She moaned.

  He waited it out. Before too long, her breathing eased and she fell back against the pillows.

  Cadon wasn’t sure what he should do. His first instinct was to leave. He wanted to fetch one of the others. Another male of his kind, one who still had power and was willing to use it. He suspected Leukos would not allow it though. The male was in full panic mode over all that was happening. He wasn’t thinking clearly. Given a day or two, things might be different…or worse, depending on what happened with Ekon. He ran a hand through his hair. Right now, Ekon, Leukos, all of them could go to hell. He only cared about his female and the baby.

  His son.

  He’d already come to love the baby just as much as if he was his own flesh and blood.

  “What is it?” Kerry asked, you look like you are trying to make up your mind about something.

  This female knew him well. “I’m trying to decide whether to make the trip to my home. To Feral territory.”

  “You can’t leave me.” She sounded panicked. “You said you would stay.” Her voice sounded desperate, her face looked pale.

  He gripped her hand, swallowing thickly. “I want to try to bring someone back. Worth, one of the others, I don’t care. Someone with power who is willing to expend some of it.”

  “How long would—” Her eyes widened, and she grit her teeth. “It’s another one. I wish this would stop.”

  He watched as she worked through it, feeling helpless as a newborn whelp.

  She finally fell back, breathing heavily. “How long would you be gone?”

  “Several hours.” Everything in him clenched at the thought of leaving her so long. Every cell inside him rebelled at the mere thought. “Between three and four, if all goes well.”

  “Why if all goes well?”

  “I have no idea how Ekon ‒ either king for that matter ‒ will react to this whole reawakening thing. They have always been a bit brash. They are very similar, being that they’re twins. Also, Leukos might not even allow me to take someone back, but I have to risk it.” It was his turn to sound desperate. “I don’t want to leave you though.”

  “He might be born before you get back. I don’t know that you should risk it.”

  “I think I must.” Unless…he had to try. “I will try to heal you myself first.”

  “You said your power was gone. You said you used it all.”

  “I did.” He nodded. “It’s worth a try though.”

  Kerry nodded. “I can feel a tightening in my belly. It’s the start of another one.”

  Cadon breathed in deeply, trying to center himself. Healing was easy. Pulling the power from within, never a problem. You just called on it and it was there, buzzing and bubbling beneath the surface. A well. Unfortunately, wells dried up. His had. He could feel nothing. Not a damned thing. Hence the breathing and the centering. He put his hands on her, deciding to focus on her stomach. He squeezed his eyes shut and willed it to happen. Willed the healing to burst forth.

  Nothing.

  He tried several times. And then several more times. By now, she was in the middle of her pains, her face contorting. Cadon wished he could help her. He’d never wanted anything more, but sometimes wishing for something and getting it were not one and the same.

  “It’s okay.” It was only when she clasped his forearm that he realized she was finished with the birthing pain and waiting on him.

  His throat felt like it was closing. “I have to go,” he choked out the words. “I will bring someone back. I must at all cost. If I miss the birth, then he will put a healing hand on the baby.”

  “Will it work?” A tear tracked down her cheek.

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged, feeling his own eyes sting. “I hope so, but I can’t say for sure. We have to try though.”

  She nodded. “Yes. I think so too.”

  Cadon kissed her sweet lips. “I’ll be back.” He turned and walked from the room. Come hell or brimstone fires, he would make good on his promise. Let either of the kings try to stop him.

  Chapter 27

  Two hours and thirty-two minutes later…

  “Another big push,” Doctor Jenkins advised. “Just one more.”

  “You can do this.” Susan added. Her sister’s face was a mask of concern.

  Kerry felt like shaking her head. Like screaming the word out loud. As if doing so would alter the outcome. She. Did. Not. Want. This. Her body had other ideas.

  Her belly was tight. Since her active labor had started, there was less pain, but only if she obeyed and pushed. If she bore down, there was a strange sense of relief. Like scratching a terrible itch. To ignore her body was to suffer. At this point though, her child crowning, ignoring it was an impossibility.

  The door burst open and Cadon walked in.

  “Thank god!” she groaned. “I thought you were going to miss it.” She panted.

  Zaire followed in behind him.

  “Only one other family member permitted.” Doctor Jenkins said, looking at Zaire.

  Kerry was panting, sweat dripped off her brow. “Susan.” She gasped. “Thank you for being here but I need you to leave.”

  “What? Why?” she frowned.

  “I can’t explain things right now. I love you.” Susan groaned, clasping a hand to her belly. “Please, I need them here. I…” she groaned some more. She desperately needed to push.

  Susan didn’t look convinced, but she nodded anyway. “Okay. I love you.” She said. “You can do this. I’ll be in the waiting area.”

  Kerry nodded, gritting her teeth. “My brother and I are very close.” She said, looking in Zaire’s direction. “He and Susan aren’t talking.” No one really seemed interested, so she forced herself to drop it.

  “I brought your brother,” he announced. “I know how close you guys are.”

  “Thank you! Glad you could make it, Zaire.” She needed to push.

  Zaire nodded.

  “You stay over there, please,” Doctor Jenkins instructed, looking at Zaire.

  Even though she was panting, the need to push was becoming overwhelming. Kerry grit her teeth and gave in. Cadon took her hand. Her other fisted the sheet. She felt perspiration dripping from her brow.

  She could see Doctor Engels and his team, waiting in the wings, ready to take her tiny gasping baby from her and to attach him to a multitude of machines where he would spend the next few weeks, months even, fighting for his very existence.

  Zaire paced on the far side of the room. Ready to heal her son when he was born. Would it work? So far it hadn’t. The thought was washed from her mind as the need to push became unbearable.

  She had no choice in the matter. Kerry bore down. Her teeth were clenched. She groaned, the sound deep. She felt her son being born. One minute there was extreme
pressure and the next it was gone. She shouted as it happened.

  Doctor Jenkins nodded to her Obstetrician, Doctor Engels.

  “Is he okay?” Cadon yelled, letting her hand go.

  Kerry was breathing heavily. Pulling herself onto her elbows, ignoring her body’s protest. Ignoring all the aches and pains.

  Doctor Engels rushed over. He got to work right away. It looked like he was suctioning. There was a slurping noise.

  “Please,” she moaned the word.

  Then there was a gasping noise and a tiny squeak. Her son was alive. He was still alive. Zaire stepped forward, but the nurse, Anne, put a hand on his chest. “Please stand to the side. Let the doctors do their job.”

  “Please let me see him,” she asked, trying to see what they were doing.

  There was so much activity. She thought she heard another squeak. “Let my female see her son,” Cadon growled.

  Doctor Engels ignored them. He kept on working for another half a minute. It could have been less than that because each second felt like a lifetime. Then he held up her son.

  Kerry gasped at how beautiful he was. Tiny, incredibly so. Although Doctor Engels used two hands, he could have just as easily have used one. He was perfect in every other aspect. One little foot gave a tiny kick and she sobbed, tears coursing down her cheeks. His skin looked paper thin and he was gasping.

  “He is in respiratory distress,” Doctor Engels announced, taking him to the incubator they had ready.

  Kerry wanted to shout to him to bring her son back. Every instinct told her to go to him, to be with him. She even tried to get out of bed. Doctor Jenkins pushed her back, her eyes soft and filled with pity. “Doctor Engels is one of the best in the country. Your son is in good hands.”

  Cadon squeezed her hand. “Zaire and I will stay with our son. We’ll do what needs to be done.”

  “Immediate family only,” Anne said, lifting her brows.

  Doctor Engels was working hard, together with two other doctors, one at each side. He attached what looked like a hose, to her son’s nose. “His breathing is shallow, his heartrate elevated.”

  “What does that mean?” Kerry shouted.