“Do what?” he said, shaking himself out of his stupor.
“Across the bond. Share her pain.”
Ward turned inward and began to shake. All his wedding finery clanked with trembling metal.
I rushed over to hold him up until he slumped into the chair Evie had left vacant.
“How can they do this?” Ward’s strangled voice barely made it out of his throat.
“Get him some water or something,” I told Noth.
“Bossy now that you’re mated, wolf.” But Noth trudged off to the back room to find the well.
Evie heaved, legs shaking as Fallon, Maggie and a bit of Old Magic held her up.
“One, two, three and then push. Then it will all be over.”
“Ithink this is just the start,” Maggie mumbled over her sister’s head.
But Fallon had that look in her eye. The one that said nothing was going to get in her way. Her magic filled the room. I tasted milk and honey on the back of my tongue.
Noth handed me the well dipper and Ward gratefully gulped down the cold water.
“Hold her, Elf,” Fallon barked and she dropped to the floor between Evie’s legs.
Noth complied, but probably just to clasp Maggie’s hand behind Evie’s back.
“One! Two! Three!” Fallon shouted.
Evie bore down and Fallon worked her magic through our bond as a tiny life slipped into her waiting arms.
“It’s over?” Evie slurred her words.
The wail that followed roused everyone.
“Did you do that?” Maggie asked.
Fallon shrugged. “I just cook food, Mags.”
Each of our magics clashed to produce a bower, a bed, a blanket from a sigil, and dragonborne fire from the stone floor. I rolled a collapsed Ward into the bed as Maggie helped Evie finish the birth and clean up. Carrying Evie to the bed, Noth arranged her against a dazed Ward and Fallon stood with the baby in her arms just a second too long.
“Welcome to the Harrowlands, little one.” She placed the baby on Evie’s chest and stepped back.
A rush of pride filled me. Our lives would be so full with all of this surrounding us. Fallon and Maggie cooed over the new addition.
Noth nudged my shoulder. “You should take her.”
“She’s enjoying her time with them.”
His smile softened his severe features. “It’s your wedding day. It’s okay to be a little mean, Declan.”
Honey did look tired and her hunger reached through the bond, rumbling my stomach. I touched my cape pin.
“Let’s let them get some rest, Honey.” I nodded to Evie and Ward and gestured around us. “You can stay here as long as you need. We’ll have food sent up and the Old Magic will keep you safe.”
Fallon walked over, as dreamy as I’d ever seen her. “I did it.”
I kissed her forehead. “You did.” All of it, like the Queen she was. “Can we finish our wedding now?”
