The certainty in his eyes was my salvation. This was why we were a team, the three of us. When one faltered, another stepped up. And right now, Koa’s steadiness was exactly what I needed. My hands stopped shaking. My mind cleared. Calm descended over me. I nodded once, decision made. Zane would manage. Seri needed me more.
“Ko, position behind her. Back against the wall. She’ll brace hers against your chest.” I waited only until he was in place. “Seri, you’re doing beautifully. With the next contraction, I want you to push.”
“What do you need?” Zane finally managed to drag himself away from the bathtub and crawled toward me on all fours.
“Hold her legs.”
“Legs? Like, which parts— How do I—”
“Just… Here.” I guided his shaking hands to Seri’s knees. His skin felt corpse-cold.
“Head!” he squealed. “Bat’s bones, it’s ahead!”
“Seri, push when you feel the urge to,” I commanded, ignoring him. “Out, not up.”
I could do this. Iwoulddo this.
#
Koa
As Zane ran to get the emergency baby kit and Casimir lost his mind over security measures, I stayed by Seri’s side and choked back my own fear to calm hers.
“Breathe with me,” I murmured, demonstrating the pattern we’d practiced for months. “In through your nose, out through your mouth.”
She nodded, her gray eyes locking onto mine with such trust it made my chest ache. Another contraction seized her, and her fingers clamped around mine with surprising strength.
“You’re doing great,” I assured her, brushing damp curls from her forehead. “Fierce, brave, sweet girl.”
That earned me a weak laugh, cut short by another contraction. This one seemed to roll directly into the next with barely a pause between them. I’d read enough of Cas’ books to know this wasn’t following the standard timeline. First babies usually took their time, but ours seemed determined to make a spectacular entrance with minimal warning.
“You can do this,” I told Seri, maintaining eye contact. “You’re the strongest person I know.”
“Hurts, Koko,” she whispered between pants. “Hurts so much.”
That devastated me. I was a warrior, trained from childhood to battle any threat, yet I was powerless against her pain. I couldn’t fight this for her. Couldn’t take it from her. Could only witness her courage and offer what small comfort my presence provided.
“I know, beloved, but you’re doing it. You’re bringing our baby into the world. Let’s breathe together. Like waves. In… out. Steady.”
Another contraction rippled through her, stronger than the last. Her back arched, her face contorted, and a low, animalistic sound escaped her.
Thank the night, Cas was back. The gun in his waistband snagged my eye. Ridiculous and so very Casimir. Then Zane ran in with the emergency baby kit, and Cas rolled up Seri’s nightgown to see how far along she was. Zane took one glance and lunged for the bathtub while Cas crouched like a statue, panicked lightning in his eyes.
“Casimir,” I rumbled, “either help me with Seri or prevent Zane from choking on his own vomit.”
That was all it took. With one curt nod, he was the commander again, all confidence as he directed me on how to position behind her. I scuttled into place as fast as I could, then I guided Seri until her back rested against my chest, my knees up on either side of her in case she wanted to push her hands against them. I rested my back against the bathroom wall, creating a solid support for her.
As Zane dragged himself away from the tub, Cas showed him how to hold her legs, and I wrapped my arms around her from behind, one hand splayed across her swollen belly where I could feel the hardness of another contraction building. Her head fell back against my shoulder, her breath coming in short, sharp pants.
“I’ve got you,” I whispered against her ear. “I won’t let go.”
Then, “Head!” Zane shouted. “Bat’s bones, it’s ahead!”
I rolled my eyes, but the contraction hit, and this time Seri bore down with it.
“You’re amazing, beloved. So strong, so brave.”
“Scared, Koko.”
