Epilogue
Erich
I was going to kill my brother.
It would cause a scandal, and Gus would have to take over the crown until little Julien was of age, but Swena would be just fine.
Everyone said that a quick trip wasn’t going to be a big deal, even though my husband was eight and a half months pregnant. First babies took their time. What was the likelihood that he would go into labor early? It would be fine. A quick overnight trip to a neighboring country was no big deal.
Yet here I was getting the phone call that I dreaded.
“Erich, you need to relax. I told you, it’s fake contractions. They’re not even real. Everyone has them when they’re pregnant.” Jaq’s words did nothing to soothe the panic that raced through my veins.
“I should be there for you. I haven’t left your side in months, and I hate being apart. The bed is empty.” The whining in my voice rivaled that of my little nephews. It would be embarrassing if I actually cared right now. But all I cared about was getting home to my husband, preferably before he had our child.
“Yeah. I did not have that problem.”
“Oh?” I said. “Did you enjoy not having anyone in your bed?”
Lately, sleep had been quite difficult for him. All I wanted to do was cuddle and hold him when he was uncomfortable, which was the farthest thing from what he wanted. I understood, but cuddling was all I knew. Every alpha instinct I had told me to hold and comfort and cuddle him, as if my touch could cure his back pain.
In reality, my dear husband wanted to be as far away from human contact as possible.
“No, the boys decided to have a sleepover at Uncle Erich’s, since you weren’t here, and I couldn’t say no, so we brought the TV into the bedroom and had snacks and stayed up late. Well, their version of staying up late. Actually, I might have fallen asleepbefore them. Don’t tell Thomas. I’m pretty sure they found the chocolate after I fell asleep. I don’t remember letting them have any, but I found candy wrappers this morning.”
I laughed. “Well, I’m glad you had fun.”
“Honestly, the lack of sleep and not having enough water is probably what is causing the fake contractions. It’s really no big deal. I promise.”
I sighed. I would be home in less than two hours. I was simply waiting for the plane to be ready. The moment I touched down on Swena soil I would feel better. “You’re sure everything’s fine?”
“Yes, I promise.”
“All right. I trust you. I sup—”
Jaq let out a hiss of surprise, followed by a string of curses.
My heart rate spiked, and blood rushed in my ears, the sound deafening.
“What? What is it? Is everything okay? Is it another one of those contractions?” I shouted into my phone as if that was going to help anything.
“You’ll be home in two hours, right? Right?” he said. His voice was panicky now, like mine had been just moments ago, and he panted as if he were running a marathon.
“Why?” I asked the question, but I already knew. These contractions had gone from fake to real.
“Well, this probably isn’t fake labor. In fact, I’m definitely having this baby today, or at least within the next twenty-four hours. My water just broke.”
Fuck.
I knew what that meant. We’d gone to all the labor classes and met with the doctors together. Even though all of my brothers had children, and labor shouldn’t have been a new concept to me, I had a ton of questions for the doctors.
Once the water had were broken, the baby was going to be delivered within twenty-four hours, either naturally or via C-section.
“I’m on my way. Is Thomas there? Or my dad?”
“Yes. They’re here. I have to go, Erich. Get home, please.”
“I will!”
