by Lisa Oliver
“Keep going,” he gasped when Ra slowed during his climax. “Fuck me through it.”
His need unabated, Seth’s spirits soared under Ra’s avid attention. It felt like weeks since Ra had taken him like this, although Seth’s logical mind knew it was only a matter of days. But as Ra rocked and moaned, sweet babbling falling from his lips, Seth held himself firm under the delicious onslaught. The combination of power and restraint flowing from his mate kept Seth’s cock hard and he cried out as another orgasm hit him unawares.
“Fuck, Seth,” Ra grunted as Seth’s body held him hostage. With a roar, Ra climaxed, his teeth nipping along Seth’s nape as Seth welcomed the warmth flooding his insides. His arms resting on the door, Ra bracketed him completely. “I’m never letting you go,” Ra muttered, still hazy from the afterglow. Seth heard the words and knew he should ask about them, but his brain still hadn’t come back online. I’ll ask him why he said that later, he promised himself.
Chapter Thirty-One
Ra rubbed Seth’s feet, his fingers picking out the swelling around his mate’s slender ankles. Six days they’d been hiding out in the cabin and barring their mating, it was the best damn six days of Ra’s life. But Farriday’s words in his head wouldn’t shut up and as much as it tore him apart inside, Ra knew he had to do the right thing.
“Babe, I think we should probably head back today,” he said keeping his voice calm.
“You’re worried about my ankles,” Seth grinned at him. “Don’t be. I just overdid it on the hike yesterday, I’m sure they’ll go down in a few hours. Face it, I’m the size of a house, a bit of swelling around the ankles isn’t a big deal.”
“You know what Farriday said sweetness. We can’t afford to take any risks. I don’t want to lose you or the babies,” Ra focused on Seth’s feet. He couldn’t look at his mate’s trusting face, not that it was easy to see anyway. Even propped up on pillows Seth’s belly was the predominant feature on the bed.
Seth sighed. “I loved this place as a kid and now sharing it with you, it’s been heaven. Promise me,” he struggled up on his elbows and Ra leaned over to help him. “Promise me we’ll bring our kids here next year and spend a week as a family.”
“I promise.” The words stuck like stodgy oatmeal in Ra’s mouth but he forced them out. “The kids are going to love it here.”
“I think they’re keen to look at it now,” Seth winced. “Damn, one of them has got a great kick.”
“Are you having pains?” Farriday said despite Seth not having the equipment to give birth naturally, he would still get contractions. It was nature’s way of signaling the babies were ready to be born.
“A few,” Seth huffed at the curls falling over his face. “It’s hard to tell if it’s one of the little blobs pinching a nerve or the real thing. Hurts, though.”
That settled it. As much as Ra didn’t want to face what was coming, he wasn’t going to let his mate be in pain longer than necessary. “You stay there,” he said roughly. “I’ll call the Doc and let him know we’ll be there in an hour.”
The fact that Seth didn’t argue with him spoke volumes. Ra hurriedly packed their few belongings and straightened out the kitchen before stepping out on the porch to make his call.
“I think it’s time,” he said when Farriday answered.
“Fuck,” Farriday swore harshly. “I haven’t been able to find a fae prepared to come to a shifter town. Damn lot of them are snottier than fucking royalty.”
“It can’t be helped.” Ra already knew finding a willing fae was a long shot. “Seth’s having pains and his ankles are swollen from yesterday.”
“Bring him straight here,” Farriday said. Then he added, “For what it’s worth, I’m truly sorry and I swear I will do all I can to pull Seth through this. It’s just, with magic….”
“Yeah, I know. Be there in about forty minutes.” Ra disconnected the call and typed out a quick text. Simon’s cuffs not only stopped magic, they could prevent a shifter from shifting. Ra’s tiger was already edgy. He wasn’t going to have his children’s first hour bathed in bloodshed. Simon wouldn’t come until called, but he’d be lurking at Cam’s waiting, cuffs in hand.
Looking around the tranquil grounds, he whispered a brief prayer. “Don’t take Seth away from me. Not like this, please.” The wind ruffled the water and Ra hoped that was a sign the Fates were listening. His heart heavy, he went back inside to collect his mate.
*****
“They’re definitely ready to come out,” Farriday straightened his back, putting his stethoscope in his pocket. “Their heart rates are a little fast, which is to be expected during birth, but the sooner we get them out of those cramped surroundings the better.”
“Yeah, my lungs will appreciate it, they’re feeling a little bruised,” Seth managed a smile. Ra barely said a word on the trip into the doctors. He figured his poor tiger was suffering from nerves. Going from mated couple one minute to full-fledged family in the next wasn’t easy.
“Did I tell you? Liam’s been texting me all week with pictures of what they’ve done with the nursery,” he beamed at his mate. “There are so many cuddly toys in there, we’ll be lucky to find somewhere to put the babies.”
“Yeah, I did warn the guys not to go too overboard but Liam’s not the type to listen.”
Seth laughed and patted Ra’s arm, then pulled him closer. “I’m glad the curtain’s up,” he said, indicating the fabric covering his stomach, supported on a small frame which spanned the bed. “I’m not sure I’m ready to see my insides.”
“You’ll be fine, sweet one,” Ra said soothingly, but Seth could see his mate was really anxious. He looked over at Farriday and nodded that he was ready to begin. Maybe Ra wouldn’t feel so bad when he had a baby in his arms.
“Seth, I’m making the incision now,” Farriday said firmly. “You might feel some discomfort, but the injections I’ve given you will stop any real pain. I have to work fast because the drugs won’t last in your system.”
“Go for it, Doc,” Seth said, determined to be a rock for his worried mate. He watched as Farriday busied himself on the covered part of his abdomen, squeezing Ra’s hand hard. “Isn’t it exciting,” he grinned.
Ra’s face was pale and sweat was pouring down the side of his face. “Don’t look,” Seth whispered, knowing any mate would be troubled by watching their loved ones cut open. “Focus on me.”
Instead, Ra buried his face in Seth’s curls. Seth awkwardly put his arm around so he could stroke Ra’s hair, shushing him softly as Ra’s whole body shook. “It’s going to be all right,” he whispered, glad Ra couldn’t see his wince as he felt like someone was tugging on his insides.
Farriday winked at him over the curtain and then said, “Baby number one, it’s a boy and I’d say this one is a tiger. Ra, you want to take him please?”
Ra’s head shot up and Seth could see his hands trembling as he reached for the squirming mess wrapped in a towel. “Let me see,” Seth begged. “Oh wow, he’s beautiful and look at his hair. He’s just like you.” Ra was stunned speechless, that was clear. He carefully ran his finger over the baby’s button nose. “This is Michael, yeah?”
Ra nodded, probably still overcome. Seth could feel his own tears running down his cheeks.
“Number two,” Farriday announced, fiddling about with another towel. “Another boy, congratulations. Not sure what this one is, but I’m sure we’ll find out in time. Ra, grab hold, please. I need my hands for baby number three.”
The Doctor and Ra shared a glare Seth didn’t understand, but after a moment’s hesitation, Ra took the bundle in his other arm. “He’s going to be blond, just like you,” Ra whispered, holding the baby up slightly so Seth could see.
Seth nodded, his eyes blurred with tears of happiness, his mind permanently imprinted with the image of Ra with two of his newborn sons in his arms. “One more to go,” he said, doing his best to smile. This one wasn’t in a hurry to leave the warmth of his insides and Seth winc
ed as Farriday tugged on something.
“Are you okay?” Ra looked so worried and all Seth wanted to do was reassure his mate. But there was a burning in his gut, it seemed to be spreading.
“Doc, something doesn’t seem right here,” he yelled.
“I’m working on it,” Farriday grunted, at least Seth thought that’s what he said, but he didn’t know because he suddenly felt as though someone had stuck a spear from the top of his head to his ass and he screamed.
*****
“Ra, get back,” Farriday said urgently, pushing him towards the door.
“What’s happening, where’s the third baby?” Ra hated this. He knew he had to protect his sons but Seth was writhing on the bed in agony. “For the love of god, make it stop!”
“I can’t,” Farriday looked as shocked as he felt. “The baby won’t come. It’s as though they know Seth will die once they’re born. I felt it. The magic pushed me back.”
“You can’t leave him like this!” Ra roared, angrily handing over his two silent sons. Their eyes were wide open, he noticed; Michael had amber eyes, the other one’s eyes were bright blue and they were focused on Ra in a way he didn’t think possible in babies.
“I’m going to save him,” he told the babies helplessly although he had no fucking clue what he was doing. “I don’t want to lose him either.”
Turning away, Ra strode back to the bed. Seth’s mouth was wide open in a silent scream, his body arched off the bed. The frame was on the floor and Ra’s stomach lurched at the sight of the slit across his abdomen. “What do I do?” he yelled at Farriday.
“Put your hands inside, you’ll feel a bulge like a water balloon,” Farriday instructed.
“Inside. Inside,” Ra muttered. “In all the ways I wanted to be inside my mate, this was not one of them.” He pushed his hands through the blood and stuff he couldn’t even identify, finding the bulge Farriday mentioned easily. “I’ve got it. Now what?”
“You need to break the membranes. If you take out the whole thing, Seth’ll never have children again.”
“Good!” Ra grunted. “I’m sorry, sweetness, but if you want more children, I swear we’ll adopt a football team. But I am not seeing you go through this again. Come on, baby, come to Papa.” Praying he wasn’t ripping anything he shouldn’t, Ra pulled. The moment the wriggling bulge broke free of Seth’s body, Seth slumped back on the hard mattress; his eyes closed, his lips blue.
“Break the membranes,” Farriday said urgently.
“But Seth….”
“Break them now, damn it, the baby needs to breathe. Do you think Seth went through all this just to have this one die on him?”
Muttering under his breath, because in that moment Ra didn’t give a toss what the baby needed, he unsheathed one of his claws and ripped the membranes apart. Then he gasped because the most beautiful face in the world stared up at him. His daughter. Uncaring of the mess he was leaving on the floor, Ra quickly swiped his hands, now claw free, over the little girl’s body, feeling the rise and fall of her chest as she took her first breaths. She stared at Ra intently; Ra knew he was looking at an old soul behind those dark eyes.
“I will love you for life,” he whispered, “but I have to tend to your father. He carried you so lovingly and if I don’t help him he won’t get to see you grow up.” Ra’s tiger already told him Seth was gone.
The little girl frowned and then in a move that should not belong to a newborn she stretched out her arms to where Seth was lying on the bed, her chubby fists opening and closing.
“Put her on Seth’s chest, quickly,” Farriday said quietly.
“Seth’s not breathing,” Ra replied unwilling to use the D word until he had no choice.
“I know, do it. It won’t hurt the baby, but this one’s fae, you just never know.”
“Bring him back to me, princess,” he said, his voice rough as he laid the tiny girl on Seth’s chest.
*****
All Seth could see was white. This isn’t right. I’m at the doctor's, giving birth. His hand went to his stomach and then passed through it. Oh no, no, no, no, no, no. My poor babies and Ra. Oh no, not my poor brave Ra. I can’t be, I can’t be, how the hell did this happen? It was supposed to be a routine operation.
“Your little girl’s magic and yours were entwined. When Ra pulled her from your body, it overloaded your system,” a kindly voice said and Seth turned. Well, he thought he did, but he couldn’t feel his feet. A man, not unlike his biological father appeared through the mist, but unlike his father, this man had a lovely smile.
“So I’m dead. This is death?” Seth was sure his heart was breaking, but as he couldn’t feel that organ either there was no way of knowing. He just knew he was drenched in overwhelming sadness.
“Not dead, as such, no,” the kindly man said. “More in limbo.”
“I can’t afford to be in limbo,” Seth yelled. “I’ve left a heartbroken mate and three children down there, over there or wherever. Ra can’t cope with this on his own. His tiger will leave him and he’ll die. My kids will be orphans.”
“We’re just waiting for someone,” the man said and his smile got wider as a stream of lights cut through the mist. “Ah, here she is. Annabelle, you are looking as lovely as ever, my dear.”
A tall, slender woman appeared, so beautiful she made Seth gasp. “Who are you?” He asked, feeling his mouth drop open.
“Your daughter, Annabelle,” the woman said. “Of course, I don’t look like this at the moment, but I assure you, this is my true form.”
“You’re Fae, you both are.” Seth was awed by the light that seemed to emanate from the pair of heavenly beings. Then he frowned. “But if you’re here and I’m here, does this mean you didn’t make it through the birth either? Are the boys okay?”
“My brothers are fine; getting a bit impatient, what with Papa storming around the room, but the doctor is doing his best to keep him calm.”
“I wish I could have told him I loved him one more time,” Seth said sadly.
“You’ll have plenty of time for that,” Annabelle said softly. “Now take my hand.”
“I don’t appear to have much in the way of hands,” Seth reached out towards Annabelle as best he could.
“That’s why we have to hurry. The longer we linger the harder it will be to pull you back,” Annabelle said. “Now focus on me, just me. Clear your mind of anything else.”
What mind? Seth thought but he focused on Annabelle, trying not to think about his boys and mate.
“That’s good, now brace yourself.” Before Seth could blink he felt as though every atom in his body exploded. For a second all he was conscious of was light and stars. Sparkly stuff, he thought before just as suddenly all the stars flew back together.
“There,” Annabelle said with a satisfied smile. “Now your magic is free and we can go back.”
“I don’t understand.” Seth looked down at his body. He was glowing and when he touched his flat stomach he felt real skin this time.
“Papa didn’t tell you, but giving birth to a Fae child requires magic. My grandfather told him so.” It took Seth a moment to realize she was talking about his biological father. “Unfortunately, that same horrid person bound your magic when you were born. Without it, you would die during childbirth.”
“He hated me that much?” Seth didn’t know why he was shocked. The Fae hadn’t said a nice word to him during their brief meeting.
“He was a very confused individual,” the kindly man said softly. “He should have rebelled against his father, but he didn’t have the balls. He married a woman who hates him and won’t have anything to do with him. His death was a release, I tell you. A blessed release.”
“We have to go back,” Annabelle touched Seth’s hand. “Just know that Papa knew about your possible death all along. But when Granddad told him the only way he’d release your magic was for you two to agree to give me up at birth, sweet Papa knew you wouldn’t go for it.”
&n
bsp; “He’s right, I wouldn’t; especially not to a man who dumped me under a tree.”
“Papa’s been hurting since that day,” Annabelle said sadly. “Knowing that you were excited about our birth, knowing that same birth could mean your death. It’s been really hard on him.”
Seth could well imagine and he vowed if he had a chance, and from Annabelle’s words it sounded like he might, he’d do his best to let his mate know how much he was loved for the rest of his life. But then a thought struck him.
“How did you know?” He asked. “About what the Fae said to Ra, I mean. I wasn’t allowed in the room when Ra dealt with my sperm donor.”
Annabelle’s laughter bounced off the mist. “You didn’t think I spent all my time trapped in that body of yours, did you? Those brothers of mine have sharp heels and big feet. I was watching Papa with Granddad room that day and besides, Papa talked about his fears and worries with his friends a lot before the wedding. My uncles are wonderful people.”
Seth felt a smile tug his lips. He could only imagine how crowded things got in his belly, especially during the last few days and Annabelle was right, Ra’s friends, his club, gang, pack, herd or whatever you wanted to call it, was pretty special.
“Are you going to be happy, trapped in a little body, dependent on others for your needs for a while?” he said, eying the confident woman cautiously.
“It’s the circle of life. I’ll grow up soon enough,” Annabelle laughed again. “You should know, your magic will take a bit of getting used to, but if you just remember that what you think is what you get, you should be fine. I won’t be much help until I’m older, but as you’re not prone to wicked thoughts very often you shouldn’t get into too much trouble.”
“Will I still be able to shift?” His rabbit was anxious and got scared at every little thing but Seth missed hopping around on all fours during his pregnancy.
