“That’s wonderful,” I said sarcastically through my teeth. “Except it feels like I’m being literally split in half.”
“You’re almost there, Your Majesty. Just a bit more pushing.”
“I’ve been pushing for what feels like my entire lifetime.”
“You’re doing amazing,” Mal said. His voice was rough with emotion. “You are genuinely the strongest person I have ever met in my entire existence.”
“I’m going to kill you for getting me pregnant.”
“That seems entirely fair. I accept full responsibility.”
“If we ever have another baby, you’re the one carrying it.”
“If I had the biological capability, I would gladly do so.”
Another massive contraction, more pushing that made me see stars, and considerably more pain that I didn’t think was physically possible. I was covered in sweat from head to toe, my hair was plastered to my face and neck. I was pretty sure I’d screamed myself completely hoarse.
“I hate this,” I gasped between contractions. “I hate absolutely everything. I hate pregnancy. I hate labor. I hate whoever designed this system. I’m going to have serious words with them.”
“You can file your complaints with the gods later,” Sorcha said gently while dabbing my forehead. “Right now, focus all your energy on pushing.”
“I’m going to curse them so thoroughly. So extensively. With extremely creative language.”
“I genuinely look forward to hearing it.”
I was so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open. My body felt like it had been run over by a carriage. Then backed over again. Then run over a third time just to be thorough.
“I can’t do this anymore,” I said weakly. “I’m completely done. Someone else needs to finish this.”
“You’re almost there,” the healer said for what felt like the hundredth time. “One more really big push should do it.”
“You said that exact thing three pushes ago.”
“This time I genuinely mean it. I can see the shoulders.”
“You better… Actually mean it…” I panted through the pain, “Or I’m going to be… Extremely upset with everyone in this room.”
The next contraction hit and I pushed with absolutely everything I had left. Pushed until I saw actual stars, until I was completely certain I was going to pass out. Until there was nothing left in me.
Then suddenly there was intense pressure and then release and the most overwhelming sense of relief I’d ever experienced in my entire life.
And then silence.
Terrible, awful, terrifying silence.
My heart stopped completely. Panic flooded through every cell in my body. “Why isn’t the baby crying? What’s wrong? Is something wrong with the baby? Why is it so quiet?”
They must’ve heard my voice because in that second, the most beautiful, perfect sound I’d ever heard in my entire life filled the room. A baby crying, loud and healthy and absolutely perfect.
“It’s a boy!” the healer announced with genuine joy. “You have a son, Your Majesties!”
Tears blurred my eyes as I looked back at Mal, only to find tears already running down his cheeks. Sorcha was openly sobbing next to us, and even Aurion’s eyes looked suspiciously wet from where he still stood by the door.
The healers did various medical things with the baby, cleaning him, checking him over, making sure all his parts were where they should be. Someone was also attending to me but I barely noticed because I was desperately trying to see my son.
“Is he okay?” I asked anxiously. “Is he healthy? Does he have all his fingers and toes?”
“He’s absolutely perfect,” the healer assured me. “Ten fingers. Ten toes. Two eyes. One nose. Strong lungs as you can clearly hear. A very healthy baby boy.”
