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It took too long, too many contractions, but between the pulling and Von sucking enough blood out of Ezra to weaken him, Ezra finally collapsed onto the carpet. The lion let out a giant sigh that almost sounded peaceful beneath my howls of agony. The room was in absolute shambles – my desk broken when Finn had tried to knock Ezra over the head with it. There was blood everywhere, and everything was wet.
“Is he...” Danny didn’t want to say the word dead, but there was no telling how much blood Von had taken, and if Ezra could recover.
“He’s just passed out. I was drinking and pulling at the same time. He should be out for a while. If he starts to stir, we bliss him out again first thing.”
“I like the sound of that,” Danny answered. “Is everyone okay? Finn, you’re bleeding pretty badly.”
“It’s just a scratch. From a lion.” The corner of Finn’s mouth lifted. “We just wrestled a Matruculan lion and won. We actually fought with the largest Matruculan beast in Terraway, and won.”
I didn’t want to rain on their parade, especially when I saw handshakes and high-fives they desperately needed to seal their bonding moment, but contractions don’t give a crap about dude hugs. I was still on all fours, breathing through my teeth until the pain hit a crescendo I’d hoped wouldn’t be as bad as the last few. They were getting worse and more frequent, as far as I could tell. I’d only gotten to thirty-Missisippi-oh-my-crap when the next one hit.
My shriek of agony snapped them all back to the danger that was still not over. All three ran to me, trying unsuccessfully to pull me up off the floor. “I can’t!” I cried, somehow unable to move from my position on the carpet.
Von wrapped his arms around my waist. Ezra’s blood dripped from his chin into my hair as he pulled the stress from me with his hands around my belly. Danny knelt at my other side, holding me in a gentle headlock and pulling in an unsteady thrum that told me he was too hopped up on adrenaline to focus.
“What are you two doing?” Finn asked, bewildered and worried as he stood over us.
Danny hugged my head to his midsection, making me feel like a family pet while I breathed through my teeth. “She goes into labor if she doesn’t have constant pulling. A few minutes without it, and this is what happens.”
Finn swore and tore one of the sheets off the bed, cutting the edge off and wetting it in his palms. He rubbed the cool rag over my face as I panted through the pain. “It’s alright, sinta. Breathe.”
Bro moment over. Von stiffened, his voice livid. “She’s not your sinta, she’s my asawa! Check her finger, you insufferable wanker.”
Finn looked down and let out a quiet bleat of agony that tore at my heart. Then he cleared his throat and continued to mop the sweat from the nape of my neck. I couldn’t believe the depths of love that kept him in place, helping us when he could’ve easily abandoned me to have Von’s baby in the middle of my bedroom. “You’re not married yet, though. I would’ve heard. There’s still a chance for you to get scared and run out on her again, and when you do, I’ll be ready.”
Von gripped my stomach harder and yelled, “I’ll end you if you don’t stay away from my wife!”
So much for the “We just wrestled a lion together, so we’re cool” truce.
Danny’s tone was sharp. “Sod off, both of you. Can’t you see the woman you both love is in labor? Shove it off for another day.” He jerked his chin toward the hallway. “Finn, go down the hall to Mariang’s room. In the back of the closet there’s a false door. Pry it open, and you’ll find the passage to the panic room. Keep Mariang inside, but tell Boston to come here quick. I need him to pack Mariang and me a bag. If we can get October’s contractions under control, we’re moving into her house until Mariang has the baby. I’ll not go through this again.”
Finn rose and did as he was asked, stepping over the enormous snoozing lion on his way out. My contraction ebbed, letting me finally get in a breath that didn’t feel like I wanted to die. Von had the presence of mind to be gentle as he stroked my belly. “Easy, darlings.”
Danny shook his head, frustrated with himself. “I tried to bliss her out, Von. I couldn’t focus enough to pull that hard. I’m sorry. I’m still a little shaky. I mean, it’s Ezra.”
“It’s alright. We’ll get it under control.” Von held my waist, leaning over my body to bury his face in my hair. “September will be born healthy and strong. She won’t be one of those tiny preemies we reap, so help me.”
Danny shook his head. “I can do better. Ezra really threw me off my concentration. It’s no excuse. I’ll be more helpful next time.”
“A Matruculan lion in the middle of the bedroom’s no excuse to get thrown off your game? You’re too hard on yourself, Danny. It’s alright. It’s fixable.” Von let out a gust of his nerves. “I haven’t seen Ezra’s animal form in ages. Forgot how big he gets. Temper, that one.”
The guys were quiet a few beats, still coming down from the fight and the fear of me giving birth on the carpet. Danny’s panting slowed as he attempted to calm down. “You sent Boston away.”
“And I’ll not apologize for it. Mum lost one of her babies. She’ll not lose the other.”
“It wasn’t a criticism. I would’ve done the same thing, had I been thinking clearly.”
“Mariang can’t be unprotected, and I needed you here. You’re better in a fight. Boston’s been drinking too much to be all that solid with a knife.”
Danny mulled over the compliment, and while I wished he had the space to respond with “I’m so sorry I’ve been a terrible brother, Von,” another contraction hit me like a ton of bricks, making me scream as I tried to breathe through it.
“Wicked! Feel this, Danny. Her belly gets hard and starts trembling when the contraction hits.” Von moved his brother’s hand to my stomach, like I was a science experiment or something. I wanted to punch them both.
“Wicked!” Danny agreed as Mariang came back into the room with Finn.
She dropped to her knees and hugged me while I panted, wishing everyone would just get off of me already. “It’s alright, sweetie. Try and calm down. Tell my niece it’s not time to come out yet.”
Danny and Mariang both stroked my hair like I was a dog, which of course made me want to growl and snap at them. I bit my lip through my temper, but my self-control was fading fast. Finn watched my face, knowing I was ready to unleash. “Lady Mariang, can you find me some rope to bind your father with? Something that won’t hurt him, of course. Just in case he rouses.”
“Sure.” Finn helped Mariang to her feet, and she reluctantly left the room.
“Better?” Finn inquired quietly once my contraction ebbed.
“Make it stop,” I begged in a mournful tone that, had I not already reached my max capacity for emotional trauma, would’ve embarrassed me.
“How about the himila weed?” Finn suggested, moving toward the box on my dresser.
“No!” Danny was firm. “Mariang needs some of the weed, too. There are two Omen heirs to think about here.”
Finn glared at Danny. “There’ll be only one if October delivers this baby too soon.”
“No, no, Finn. Mariang and I can share it. Let me up, guys. I think I can move now. I’m getting claustrophobic. Can I get downstairs before the next one hits?”
“Sure, love. Easy now.” Von and Danny didn’t let go as they carefully lifted me to stand and led me down the hallway. The stairs were tricky, but we moved slowly and steadily together, with the brothers pulling as a team the whole time. They anchored me to the white leather couch in the living room, exhaling with palpable relief.
Finn pulled down the chenille throw from the recliner and draped it over my lap. He lifted my legs to the ottoman, his fingers lingering on my bare feet.