“L-labor?”
“Yes, labor, you know, egg laying time,” I growled, sucking in a breath and letting it out slowly before I wound up hollering athim. “So do us both a favor, go get the birthing blankets and for the love of all that’s holy, call the High Priestess and tell her to come get these eggs out of me!”
“On it,” he said, carefully climbing from the nest. “Uhhh, which do you want me to do first?”
Stammering as another pain hit, I grimaced, pressed my face into the blanket fluff, and growled out, “Pick one!”
There should have been a video camera set up in here. It would have captured my mate scooping up the birthing blankets only to realize that he couldn’t spread them out because I was laying in the way. He stood there for a moment, looking from me to the blankets and back again, before setting them down beside the nest so he could scoop me up and carefully move me out of the way. By the time he had the birthing blankets covering the nest, Upalo appeared in the doorway, took one look at me and rushed to my side.
“Is it time?” He asked.
“It better be,” I said. “If this is just a preview, I’d like to go ahead and cancel my subscription please.”
“I’m afraid this is one of those things that comes with a no cancelation policy,” Upalo replied.
How I still managed to snicker was anyone’s guess, but it wasn’t comfortable. “No making me laugh!”
“Do you need anything? A cool cloth? Ice chips?”
“How about you keep the ice chips handy for the next time my mate decides to stick an egg in me. Make sure you have a bucket full too and pour them directly on his cock!”
“Ha, I’m already ahead,” Odem declared as he got me situated back in the nest, him on one side of me, Upalo on the other.
With the two most important people in my life beside me, I knew everything would turn out okay.
“Raven is on the way,” Odem said. “I’ve let everyone know what’s going on and they are all excited for us and can’t wait to see the eggs.”
“As long as they wait until after they, and I, are cleaned up and presentable,” I declared. “Otherwise, I will have to charge admission to anyone seeing me looking like a hot mess.”
It took me a moment of breathing and reminding myself that this would end with two beautiful eggs to cherish and lavish affection on, before I could finish my statement.
“Present company excluded.” Looking at my brother I met his gaze. “You are staying, right?”
“Of course I will. Nothing would bring me more joy than to hold your hand while you bring my nieces into the world.”
“Then we’ll always be connected,” I moaned.
“We already are,” he said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “There wasn’t one day when we were apart that I didn’t think about you, worry about you, and feel like I was letting you down by not being there.”
“You’re here now,” I said. “Which is perfect timing in my booooook!”
Howling, I gripped both their hands, my dragon offering more advice about breathing while I kicked my feet.
“We had better be close to the grand finale!” I declared.
“Well, how about I take a look and we’ll see,” Raven declared, a brilliant smile on her face as she stepped into the room.
“Yes, please and thank you,” I said.
Gone were the days when I didn’t want her anywhere near me. I was so happy to see her right now I’d have kissed her on the cheek if I could reach her.
“Oh yes, I’d say you are ready for act one,” she declared. “I can see a white tip already starting to emerge. Odem, I need you to slide behind your mate and support him through this next part.Upalo, you just keep holding his hand and encouraging him and we’ll soon meet the first little one.”
“I am so. Ready. For that. Part.” I panted. My dragon steadily encouraged me to breathe through the pain each time a contraction hit.
Fueled by the memories my dragon had shared with me, of the things I’d endured just to be here today, I breathe, breathe, breathed and pushed the moment Raven told me to.
“That’s it, that’s a good one, now take a moment and rest, breathe, and gather your strength for the next one,” she encouraged.
