The contraction slowly released its hold on her but no sooner did that one end did another start up again. “Nooo!” She cried. “This can’t be happening.”
“I wish I could help you,” Zane growled. He’d managed to turn to his side. He was dripping in sweat and looked far too pale.
“What can I get you, Cenwein?” Brant asked. “Something to drink? A back rub?” he cursed while looking down at Zane. “I’m just as fucking useless as you.”
“I’ll have a water.” She said between pants of breath. Not really thirsty, she just wanted to give him something to do. The one he had brought earlier was finished.
Within seconds he was back with a bottle of water which she clutched until the contraction passed. Her mouth felt dry, so she tried to open the bottle. Her hands were shaking. Hell, her whole body was shaking.
Brant took it from her, opening it in one turn. “Here.” He handed the bottle back to her. “How are you feeling?” He must’ve caught the look on her face as another contraction hit because he quickly added. “Stupid fucking question.”
“Make it stop. He can’t be born. Please, Brant.” She knew it was wrong of her to even ask but she couldn’t help herself.
The look of pain that crossed his face was too much to bear. “I’m sorry,” she ground out. “So sorry this is happening.”
“It’s not your fault.” Zane’s eyes were on her. “Like Brant said, we’re all in this together. We’re here for you and for our son. It’s going to be okay.”
Tanya bit down on her lip until she tasted blood. Her hands clutched her belly. “Oh no. No, no. God no.”
This wasn’t happening.
It wasn’t happening.
Not freaking happening.
She pushed her legs closer together, even locked her ankles. She was making the most god awful noises but didn’t give a damn.
“Is it worse?” Zane asked.
“Of course it’s fucking worse,” Brant growled.
“I have the urge to push.” Tanya sobbed, she was crying in earnest. “I don’t want to push.”
Chapter 15
It felt like all the air was sucked out of the room. Like someone had bitch slapped him. Hard.
“You heard that?” He growled into the mouthpiece of his phone.
“I did,” came Becky’s reply.
After a short pause, she didn’t say anything more. “What the fuck must I do?” His heart felt like it was hammering itself right out of his chest. Like it might explode at any damned second.
“I refuse. I won’t. No.” Tanya was writhing on the bed. The sheets tangled around her. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were set in pain. Even though her legs were together and her ankles were fucking locked, he could still see that moment where her body did what it needed to do despite her feelings in the matter.
Her eyes turned panicked and she pushed. Then she groaned and slapped her hand against the mattress. “I won’t!” she cried.
A sound of someone talking dragged his attention away from his female. It was Becky, so he put the phone back against his ear. “This is too far gone to stop.”
“I figured.”
“I’m going to talk you through this. Tanya needs to listen to her body, she can’t try and stop this it’s useless.”
“Sweetheart.” Brant tried to get Tanya’s attention but she was too busy mumbling and moaning, her hands clutched her belly. “Tanya…” Her eyes moved to his. “Becky says that you must push.”
Before he could carry on, she shook her head. “I won’t. I refuse. I can’t have him… Not now. You heard Selina. He’s too small, Brant.” Tears tracked down her cheeks and his heart literally felt like it was tearing in two. Zane made a pained noise and tried to get up again.
“Listen to me.” He cupped her jaw. “This is happening whether we like it or not. He’s coming. We need to deal with this.”
Although he could see that she wanted to deny it, she finally nodded, her eyes filled with tears.
“You can do this.” He injected all of his emotions into that one sentence trying hard to convey to her that he believed every word.
“You can,” Zane croaked. The other male’s eyes shone. Mother fuck, his lashes looked wet. Zane had just barely survived a helicopter crash. One that should’ve seen him dead and did it without shedding a single tear. Right now, he looked ready to cry a fucking river. Brant felt his own throat close and had to take several deep breaths to get himself back under control. It wouldn’t do to lose it now.
“Oh god.” His female was making deep grunting noises. “I need to push again.”
“What must I do?” Brant asked Becky.
“Tell Tanya to open her legs. I want you to keep your eyes down there and tell me everything you see.” He could hear that she was in a moving vehicle.
He maneuvered into place. “I can’t see anything…besides the obvious.” He could hear how frantic and frustrated his voice sounded. Belying how he was feeling inside.
“Stay calm. Tanya probably still has a lot of pushing ahead of her. This could take a while.” At least Becky sounded calm. It helped ground him. Somewhat. “The baby will need to descend down the birth canal before he even crowns. I might still make it on time.”
Tanya flopped back on the bed, her hand snaked out, trying to find the water bottle.
“Here.” Brant leaned over and helped her to drink.
“You’re doing great, Ysnaar,” Zane said. He still looked like a fucking mess.
By now he knew the telltale signs of a contraction. Her eyes widened and she bit down on her lip. Then she grabbed her belly and clenched her teeth. Then she pushed…hard.
“Oh fuck.” Brant scrambled for the phone.
“What is it?” Zane growled.
“What?” Tanya moaned the word between pushes and loud grunts.
“I can see the top of his head.” Brant reached out his hand but pulled it back. “I can see my son’s head.” His voice shook.
Need to pull myself to-fucking-gether.
“Okay,” Becky said.
“Not fucking okay,” he growled. “You told me this would take a long time.”
“It’s not an exact science.” Becky sounded nervous. “This is happening really fast.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” He knew he was being a dick but couldn’t stop.
“I need to push some more. Oh god.” Tanya moaned.
“This needs to slow down. Tell Tanya to fight the urge,” Becky said. “Her vagina needs a chance to stretch or she will tear badly. I don’t want her to go through that pain unnecessarily.”
“You just said that she shouldn’t fight the urge and now you’re telling me different. Which is it?”
“Tanya must fight the urge, just for the next one or two contractions. Please, just do as I say every step of the way and stop arguing. We need to work together.”
The healer was right. “You need to stop.” He growled, sounding aggressive and angry. Shit! “Stop pushing for a second, sweetheart.” Better.
“I can’t.” His female looked anguished. Her hair clung to her scalp and her bottom lip was bloody.
“Okay…tell Tanya to push but softly…as little as possible.”
He relayed the message. His female nodded, unable to talk because she was panting so hard. After another minute, she slumped back. “I don’t know if I can do this.” Tears streamed down her face.
“He’s almost here. It won’t be long now,” Zane whispered.
“But he shouldn’t be born yet.” Was her anguished response. He felt it to his core. What if his son didn’t make it?
Brant tamped down on the thought. This child had royal blood running through his veins. There was no way he wasn’t making it. “He is coming. This is happening.”
Her hand went to her belly. “Here comes another one.”
They breathed through it together. All three of them. Thank fuck Griffin and Lazarus were outside. If he really thought about it though, he di
dn’t truly care about that. His whole coven could see him right now and he couldn’t give two shits.
“Fuck.” Zane growled as he pulled himself up to a sitting position. His hand still gripped their mate’s much smaller one.
“Lie down.” Brant pointed at the mattress.
Zane shook his head. “I will not watch our son born to this world lying on my fucking back like a pussy.”
“Stop.” Tanya said the word on a sigh. Using the sheet, she wiped her forehead.
“We’re not fighting, Cenwein.” Brant rubbed her thighs. He could actually see how her belly tightened, becoming smaller and more compact as another contraction hit.
Zane shuffled closer to her side. “I’m so proud of you, Ysnaar.” He swept her hair away from her face. Brant could see how the male was sweating. How pain was etched into his every movement. If he put himself into Zane’s shoes, he would be doing the same. His respect for his partner grew. Big time.
“This is a big one.” Tanya bit back down on her lip, breaking it open again. “Oh god!” She grunted loudly as she pushed. The area showing the baby’s head widened.
For the next few contractions nothing more seemed to happen. Part of him became fearful that there was a problem while another part felt relief that this seemed to be slowing down.
“Here we go again.” Tanya gripped her thighs and pulled back. At first there was the familiar panting and grunting mixed in with the sound of her pushing and then she screamed and pulled her thighs back at the same time. The whole top of the baby’s head came out. Just slipped out!
Tanya put a hand between her legs and gasped.
“His head is half out.” The words were choked as strong emotions coursed through him.
“You’re doing great.” Zane continued to give words of encouragement. He glanced over at Brant and they locked eyes for a second.
“That’s good,” Becky said. “You need to protect her perineum…Put your hand on the piece of skin between Tanya’s vagina and her anus. Put pressure there to try and keep it from tearing.” The healer was talking quickly.
He did as she instructed.
“The head should slowly ease out over the next few contractions. Use your other hand to support the baby.”
“I can’t believe this. Oh god!” Tanya sounded like she was in awe but she still sounded a little panicked. He didn’t want her worrying. Not right now.
Zane immediately cupped her chin. “You are so fucking awesome.”
Maybe not the best choice of words but they had the desired effect. His female relaxed, she licked her lips and closed her eyes.
“Are you still there?” Becky was still talking to him.
“Sorry,” he growled. “Say that again.”
“Once his head is out you need to check that the cord is not wrapped around his neck. If it is, tell me immediately.”
Brant felt a surge of adrenaline course through him wanting to act against a perceived foe. He sucked in a lungful of air trying to calm the fuck down.
“Chances are he will be absolutely fine.”
Tanya was grunting again. She pulled her legs back and pushed. It took three more contractions and his son’s little head was out.
Un-be-fucking-lieveable!
His heart raced. “His head is out.” He barely managed a choked whisper.
When he looked over at Tanya she was smiling and crying and then worrying but Zane was there to talk her through it.
“There is nothing around his neck…at least…I can’t see anything.” Fuck! Right now he wished he’d attended classes or gone to fucking medical school. It sucked to feel so utterly helpless.
“Good. That’s good, Brant. What is the baby’s coloring like?” Becky asked.
He felt his brow crease. “What do you mean?
“Is he blue or normal, a bit pale?”
“I think he’s normal. He looks…normal”
“Good. That’s awesome.” He could hear the relief in her voice. It helped to calm him. “You’re doing a good job. We’re still twenty minutes away. I’m not going to be there in time.”
“Be careful out there,” he growled. He would never forgive himself if something happened +to them. The only consolation was that he didn’t think they would be targets. Those fuckers had specifically wanted them…the kings.
“We will be fine. Listen to me”—her voice became tense—“it’s important that…” There was the sound of static.
“You’re breaking up…Becky.” Fucking cellphone signal.
Tanya was pushing again…bearing down hard. Her face was red, her eyes were clamped shut. Leaning down, Brant pushed on the skin below where his baby’s head was protruding and supported the little one like Becky had told him. He only hoped that he was doing it right. His son’s head was turning from down to sideways.
Brant gulped down a lump in his throat as he saw the baby’s face. Eyes scrunched shut, tiny little nose. Fucking perfect! He must have made some sort of noise because Tanya asked him something.
He lifted his eyes to her.
“What? Is he okay?” Her torn up lip quivered.
“He’s perfect…so perfect.” His voice was thick with emotion but he didn’t care. Not right now.
“Just a few more pushes, sweetness. We’re nearly there.” For a moment, Zane looked unstable, like he might topple over at any second. Then he righted himself.
Tanya growled, baring her little fangs. Her shirt was pulled up over her belly, barely covering her breasts. On a loud grunt, she pulled her legs back and started pushing. One of the baby’s shoulders slowly became visible. Brant used both hands to cradle the little one, fighting temptation to pull his son free. Somehow he instinctively knew that it wasn’t the right thing to do.
“That’s it, Cenwein. He’s nearly here.” Brant could hear Becky talking but he couldn’t do anything about it.
“Lift the baby towards Tanya!” she shouted, her voice coming from somewhere on the bed, where he had dropped the phone earlier. He lifted and the other shoulder popped out, quickly followed by his whole body.
Brant made a growling noise, he was working hard to keep a handle on his emotions. Tanya was laughing and sobbing but he couldn’t take his eyes off the little person in his hands. The baby’s eyes opened just a crack and he kicked out his little legs. Brant choked out a laugh which came out sounding more like a sob. Then the little one balled up his fists and gave an almighty yell. It was deafening. It was music to his fucking ears.
“Brant…Brant…” Becky was screaming. The phone lay somewhere between his legs on the mattress. “Put the baby onto Tanya’s chest. Brant…fuck…what’s happening?”
It was only when he looked up that he realized his face was wet. He was crying…weeping was a more apt description. Years had passed since he’d last shed a tear. So long, he couldn’t even remember the last time. Not when his father had died and not even when his mother had passed. Yet here he was. Balling his eyes out. It felt like the most natural thing in the world.
When he looked up, tears were streaming down Zane’s face. Yet, it didn’t look strange in the least. Tanya was openly sobbing. His little human. Fuck his heart filled with so much love that he didn’t think he would be able to contain it.
His son…their son continued to cry. “He’s perfect.” Were his choked words as he placed the little one on his mate’s chest.
“Oh my word…” Tanya hiccupped and sniffed as she looked down. “My little boy.” Her eyes lifted to him. “He looks okay.”
“Brant…fucking hell…Brant!” Becky shouted.
Zane put his big hand over Tanya’s. “You did it,” he whispered. He still had tears rolling down his bruised, bashed up cheeks. “Our son.” His words were filled with awe.
Brant wiped his face, trying to pull himself together. He picked up the phone. “Yeah?”
Becky made a sound of relief. “Make sure he is skin to skin with Tanya.”
Zane must have heard the request because he ripped Tan
ya’s shirt and helped to pull it off of her.
“He should be on his stomach with his head to the side. Is he moving?”
“Yeah…he was stretching and kicking after he was born and he’s moving one of his arms now. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine.” Although she sounded calm, her questions still worried him. “Go to the stash of medical supplies and get the oxygen. Open the valve, hold the holes in the mask closed until the bag fills and then put the mask about two inches away from the baby’s mouth.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” Panic seized him. Just when he thought everything was going to be okay.
“Nothing. It’s just a precaution. By the sound of his earlier crying I would say he’s going to be just fine.” He could hear that she was smiling.
“Are you sure?” Was she keeping something from him?
“Yes. I’m about ten minutes away. Keep an eye out for a change in his coloring…if his lips or the tips of his fingers become blue tinged, let me know.”
“You’re freaking me out.”
“I’m doing my job, Brant. I know it all seems intimidating but trust me when I say that it’s just precautionary. A premature baby does not cry like your son just did.”
“My son…” Brant whispered. He clenched his teeth.
“Oh my god,” Tanya whispered.
Zane gave a grunt. There was a wide grin on his face.
“He’s nursing.”
“That’s great.” Becky sounded relieved. “It’s a really good sign…I can’t believe Tanya.” Becky was openly laughing. “Your mate doesn’t do things in half measures does she?”
“No she doesn’t.” Pride warmed him and filled him.
“She couldn’t just give birth like the rest of the world. Oh no.” The healer was still laughing. She sounded like she pulled herself together. “You did an amazing job…” Then the phone went dead. He was going to erect a cell phone tower close to the cabin…so fucking help him.
Mated to the Vampire Kings Page 14
