I still wasn't Mistral's biggest fan, and I didn't know what his point was in coming here to grill me—when I was having contractions, no less—but I waited with strained patience to hear why he dragged himself all the way to my doorstep.
"Oh, just give it to him," Mistral told Santino.
Santino put the wicker basket down on the ground. It was full of silky, sky-blue down feathers.
Quinn gasped while I stared at them in disbelief.
"Are these yours?" I asked Mistral, even though I already knew the answer.
He nodded stiffly. "Just take them. There's enough for a whole nest."
I took the basket, confused but grateful. "Thank you?"
Mistral was already turning around to leave, but I wasn't done with him yet. I handed the basket to Quinn and told him to take it to the bedroom. After he left, I told Mistral I wanted to speak with him alone. He shooed Santino away so we could talk privately.
"Not that I don't appreciate this gift, but can I ask you why you didn't bless Quinn?" I asked.
Mistral hesitated, then sighed. "Because I couldn't. I don't have that kind of power."
"What?"
Grimacing, Mistral ducked his head. "I could never give Quinn a pair of wings," he said quietly. "I only agreed to it so you would help me. I know the feathers aren't much of an apology, but... there it is."
I was too dumbfounded to respond. I wasn't even angry at him. Just disappointed. Maybe the old Farley would've been pissed off and yelled at him, but what was the point? Mistral looked swamped with guilt and he was actively trying to make it up to me.
"Thank you for the feathers," I said. "I'll put them to good use."
Mistral fiddled with his talons. "Sorry. I know Quinn really wanted to fly."
I smiled slightly. "It's all right."
I decided not to tell him Quinn was getting help from the very spirit Mistral wanted us to protect him from.
"That was nice of him, huh?" Quinn asked as I returned to the bedroom.
"Yeah." I dumped the basket on the bed, scattering the beautiful blue feathers among the blankets. Seeing the feathers triggered my nesting instinct into full gear. I got on the bed, adjusting everything until it was just right.
A contraction tore through me. I gritted my teeth, hissing through the pain.
The egg was coming.
"I'm here," Quinn said softly. "Tell me anything you need."
I grumbled and turned around this way and that, never quite getting comfortable. I didn't need him to do anything except maybe coax the egg to come out faster, like a damned egg whisperer.
Another pulse of pain. I breathed out deeply. I felt it stretching me from the inside, breaching me slowly.
"You're doing great," Quinn said soothingly. My eyes were clenched shut but I was aware of him smoothing back my hair, damp from sweat. "Keep going."
It didn't feel like I was doing great, but Ididfeel the egg slowly coming out of me, so I didn't complain about it. Still, Quinn's doting attention felt good. It was a pleasant distraction from having to push a bowling ball out of my fucking body.
I sucked in a deep breath and pushed hard. My heart raced as pain pulsed through my body in waves. It felt like I was pushing as hard as humanly possible and this giant egg still refused to enter the world.
"Come theFUCKon!" I snarled loud enough to rock the building.
The egg fell. It dropped without fanfare, just a softthumpon the bed.
Quinn and I stared at it, then burst out in relieved laughter. He was holding me since my frame still trembled from exertion.
