I vaguely register that I’m shaking. Bastien appears in front of me, his mouth moving, but I can’t hear the words. I just keep staring at her.
* * *
“You absolute bastard!”
Emery’s screams echo down the hallway, and I grimace. Luc and Bastien glance over to me, both of them wincing with sympathy.
“Tough ride,” Bas offers, and I nod absently. My whole attention is focused on the door in front of me, leading to the room my soulmate just kicked me out of.
We wait for a few minutes. I can’t sit still, pacing in front of the door.
Emery, Emery, Emery.
She’s having our baby.
I’m going to be a father.
Emotion claws at my lungs even as I continue to worry. We’ve soundproofed the house as best we can, but we weren’t expecting her to go into labor early. We were supposed to move to our new home next week, where she could give birth without the risk of anyone overhearing.
Leah pulls the door open, panting. Luc and Bastien jump up as I stare at the ruby splatters covering her blue gown.
Why is she covered in blood?
“Nik,” she whispers. “Nik, you need to come now.”
Em isn’t screaming anymore.
When I push past Leah into the room, I can’t comprehend what I’m seeing.
Max turns to me, his face pale. He holds out a bundle in his arms.
I don’t take it. Staring at the bed, I stagger over and drop to my knees next to my wife.
“Em,” I whisper. “Em, sweetheart,”
I hear Max yelling at Leah to take the baby. I know I should look, but the only thing I can focus on is her.
Sweat dots her forehead as she stares at me. Her beautiful blue eyes, so full of life, look glassy and dull.
“Niko,” she breathes. “Where is he?”
“I’m here, baby. I’m here.”
I kiss her knuckles, trying not to show my panic. Looking over to Max, my heart stops.
“Max…” I choke out.
He doesn’t answer me. He’s too busy trying to stop the bleeding. I can see it dripping off the end of the bed.
Closing my eyes, I begin to pray.
Leah gently touches my shoulder, and I ignore her.
“The baby, Nikolai,” Em rasps. It pulls me from my stupor, and I finally turn to Leah.
I lay eyes on my son for the first time. A tiny face, surrounded by dark curls, stares up at me. Wide eyes, so like his mothers, capture mine as he scrunches his face up.
A fist clenches around my heart as I carefully take him into my arms.
