I felt a slight release of pressure as the contraction ended.
“It’s a female!” Xylo announced.
The room filled with cheers and a flurry of movement.
Water splashed, equipment beeped, things shifted.
I dragged open my heavy lids in time to see Xylo hand off a furry head bundled in a towel to V’dim. He looked down at the cub in his hands and then looked at me with a smile.
“I will make sure she is taken care of. Focus on her littermates.”
I nodded, too tired to respond. The downward pressure was starting to peak once again as I felt another contraction coming. Closing my eyes, I prepared myself for the next wave.
I hissed when it hit.
Taking another deep breath, I focused and bore down. The contraction waned, leaving me panting. Of course, the males were taking more time. They must have gotten it from their sire.
“You are doing great, Selena. Almost there. You have a gorgeous daughter. There is often a gap between the delivery of the first and subsequent littermates. Don’t feel discouraged,” Xylo consoled.
Before I was able to reply with my thanks, another contraction hit. Panting, pushing hard through several morewaves of contractions, I was wrung out. My eyes were glued shut and all I wanted was to sleep.
As still another contraction caused me to suck in a breath, Xylo spoke up. “My princes, I need both of you.”
“What is it?” Odelm demanded.
I focused my remaining energy on pushing, ignoring everything else. The pressure was too great. Harder than my daughter’s. Xylo wasn’t directing me to do anything, meaning that I was fine. I needed to continue pushing. I needed to be done.
I groaned, bearing down with all my might.
A flood of relief flowed through me. The pressure was gone.
I slumped against Odelm and sighed.
Xylo laughed. “They didn’t want to separate from one another. Instead of letting one go ahead of the other, they came out together with their arms around one another. You are lucky that they are so small, and your body could handle it.”
I pried open my lids with an effort and eyed Xylo. “Are you saying it’s all over? That they’re all right?”
“You still need to deliver the placenta, but that is it.”
He then glanced behind him at Chyox, who was working with the healers over something on a portable table. The princes hovered nearby, peering over their shoulders.
They were cleaning up the twins and inspecting my daughter.
Chyox confirmed, “They seem healthy. A few more tests need to be done to make sure they are completely fine. Scans state that they are perfect.”
Odelm stroked my arm. “You did it!”
“Just a little more, then we can see if you can get them to feed. If not, or if we need to supplement, I had the cooks mince the fish into a very fine paste, and there is fish oil,”Xylo soothed, and as he noticed another contraction beginning, said, “I need you to start pushing when you are ready. I will try to help, but we must get the placenta out before we can check you out, clean you up, and move you to the nestbed.”
“My cubs?” I gasped, my lips dry.
Odelm said something to the princes and a moment later held out a cup of tea for me to sip. I nodded gratefully.
Xylo smiled and continued, “Yes, we should be done inspecting and cleaning them up by then and will give them to you to feed. Then Odelm and I will not leave your side until you are ready for us to do so. We will make sure you and the cubs are fed and taken care of.”
“We agreed to stay around and help out,” Chyox chimed in from the table behind Xylo. “It has been a long time since we have been in the presence of newborns. This is a historic moment, and we want to do our part. That is, if it is okay with you, Selena. You are the nestqueen and this is your clan.”
I gaped at him, surprised by his offer. And by his asking my permission. The others had never treated me different because I was human, but Chyox always acted like I was going to attack him at any moment.
