“Allies. Mainly shifter allies,” Dage said. “We’ll head to our secondary headquarters for now.”
So they all could die. Tears clogged Zane’s throat, so he stopped talking.
An explosion echoed like deadly thunder behind them, heaving up red, orange, and yellow smoke. The cavern was toast, although no humans in outlying states would be harmed. Zane comforted himself by brushing his hand through Janie’s silky hair. His mate had saved millions.
She doubled over again and gasped. “The baby is coming.”
Panic ripped through his chest. “Now? He can’t be coming now.”
“He is.” Janie took several deep breaths, her eyes a wild blue. “I want to get married.”
“What?” Zane shook his head. “Now?”
She grabbed his hand, her nails digging in. “Yes. I wanted to before he came, or before I die, but everything has been so crazy. I want to get married. Now!”
Sometimes he forgot her human ways, but he’d move the fucking earth himself if it’d make her happy. “Okay.” He looked at the ground below. “We can probably find a preacher on the way.”
The king turned around and rolled his faded eyes. “I can marry you.”
“You can?” Zane asked.
“Why does everyone forget I’m the fucking king?” Dage asked Talen.
Talen shrugged, looking a thousand years old. “I almost never forget.”
Dage growled and placed a hand on Janie’s arm. “Do you take—”
“Yes,” she gasped, her face pinching in pain.
Dage frowned, concern wrinkling his brow. “Zane Kyllwood, do you take Janet Isabella Kayrs as your wife?”
“Hell, yes.” Zane patted her hand, trying to send healing vibes her way, although he lacked the strength.
Dage nodded. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Talen leaned over and shook Zane’s hand. “Welcome to the family. Again.”
Zane nodded and kissed Janie’s forehead. “Feel better?”
She smiled. Her eyes widened. Then she doubled over, vibrations of pain shooting away from her shaking body. “The baby is coming. Right now.”
Chapter 31
Janie lay back on the makeshift bed, her heart thundering. She eyed the rough stone walls of the Colorado underground facility. After it had been attacked years ago, Dage had quietly rebuilt it as a backup if necessary. “Why are we here? Another hour and we could be at the Realm hospital in Canada.”
Cara grimaced. “The demons hit the hospital at the same time as headquarters. There is no hospital.”
Cramps gripped Janie’s rib cage, and her stomach rolled. “We have to stop this.”
Her mother and Emma scrambled around the narrow room for medical supplies.
“We’ve contacted Doctor Morose,” Emma said, reaching for a blood pressure cuff. “He’s en route from Maine.”
Janie sucked in air and tried to stop the next contraction. The doctor was the best gynecologist in the Realm, having delivered babies for seven centuries. He’d agreed to move to headquarters during her eighth month—in just a few measly weeks.
But headquarters no longer existed, and it looked like she wouldn’t be pregnant much longer.
The Colorado facility wasn’t functional yet and lacked medical necessities. Her baby could not be born right now. “He’s too early. He’s way too early,” Janie gasped, the pain making her light-headed.
