“Three. Me, Eden, and Hara. She’s going to need a boost.”
He got her the care package, and she nodded and headed up the road toward the palace.
She suspected that the other two would be behind her in a few minutes, but it wasn’t like she could escape them. It was an island.
The walk was nice, and she sipped at her coffee as she walked toward the palace. The place was lit up, and a lot of locals were clogging the entrances. Rache said, “Excuse me, or I start kicking.”
There was a laugh from upstairs. Eden’s floating voice said, “Get up here, Rache.”
The crowd parted, and Rache sipped her coffee and headed inside. She crossed the room, walked past Kekoa, and up the stairs. Alohi was next to him and fretting. Rache snorted and continued to the room, where Narro held the door for her. “She’s been waiting for you.”
Rached walked in, and Eden said, “We need the straps on the ceiling.”
Haravin was grinning and sweaty, slowly dancing against Eden. “As soon as this guy is out of me, I want that pastry.”
Rache looked around, found cross joists, and created the web panels. She hung from them and nodded. “We are good over here. It will hold.”
Eden walked back with her and said, “Can you do support?”
Rache walked behind Haravin and slid her arms under her friend’s arms. Haravin was sweaty and exhausted but determined. Rache held her as she dropped into a squat while Eden lay on her side. She grinned. “He’s on the way. Do what you need to, Hara.”
Rache focused on being support as Hara rocked, leaned, and sweated through the next few minutes. Suddenly, she gasped, and Eden moved fast, catching and bringing the baby to Haravin’s breast.
The squinting eyes looked at Rache over his mother’s shoulder. Rache looked at him and saw the even breathing. Eden waited for the cord to stop pulsing and tied it off at the baby and asked, “Rache, I don’t suppose you have...”
Rache leaned forward and snipped her claws, cutting through the human tissue. The placenta was set aside after being checked for completion, and Rache smiled. “Eden can hold the baby, and we will get you a clean gown and a shower. Not necessarily in that order.”
Haravin grinned and handed the baby over. “No one holds him until I am out.”
Rache got her friend into the pack shower and took care of her. “As soon as you are settled, Eden is going to be sent for a nap.”
Haravin chuckled. “You are staying?”
“I am. You will hold him, Kekoa will hold him, and if Alohi makes a move toward him, I will pierce far more than his ear or just web him to the wall.”
Haravin wobbled a laugh-cry. “I am so glad you two were here for me.”
“It was our pleasure. Seriously. This is a huge moment for you. You have a baby.” Rache grinned and wrapped Haravin in a drying cloth before working on her hair.
In six minutes, Haravin was dressed in a fresh dress with an absorbent pad and installed in the pack bed with the baby in her arms.
Eden had the placenta wrapped up in cloth, and Rache walked over to the door. She opened it and said, “Kekoa, you have weirdly strong genetics. You can meet him now.”
He bolted toward her, and she let him into the room but stepped outside and stopped Alohi.
She said, “You are part of their pack, but you are an uncle, not a parent. This moment is for them, and you will have your own with Narro at your side.”
Alohi stiffened and said, “I am the pack omega. I am Kekoa’s omega.”
Rache put her hand on his shoulder. “And I am the arachnid omega. I do not have a place inside until invited. It is not my baby.”
Alohi blinked. “Oh.”
“They need time to bond, and your instincts are not particularly interested in sharing Kekoa. He and his son need to form a connection before you fight for attention against an infant. Haravin will share with you, but you will give them this moment, or I will web you to that wall and leave you there.” She smiled and looked at him, letting her eyes black over.
He cringed and said, “Can I wait here?”
“Of course. I will wait with you.”
