Liam pushed himself to his feet. “Soph and I will give you some space. You think about what I said, okay, Charlie?”
“Okay,” I mumbled. Ava’s parents started down the hall, exchanging quiet whispers I couldn’t hear.
Oberi nuzzled his nose into my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my face into his warm fur. Only when Liam and Sophia’s footsteps had faded down the hall and I was alone with my Familiar did the tears begin to flow. Sobs rocked my body as I dragged Oberi closer, clutching him so tightly as if he were my only lifeline.
Charlie, Oberi practically whispered.
I responded telepathically, because I couldn’t bring myself to speak. I don’t understand how this is happening. If this had happened in another timeline where the Warden never got the keys, maybe things would be different. But I don’t know how to welcome a baby into this world when I’m just going to lose him. We’re all going to lose each other. I just… wish there was more time to figure this out.
Oberi gave a shudder. Charlie, I’m so sorry.
The way he said it made me pause, because I sensed guilt in his tone— as if Oberi himself had done something to steal our time away.
Then I realized… “You knew, didn’t you?” I said aloud, pulling away. “Familiars can sense when women are pregnant. Why didn’t you tell us? We could’ve had more time to prepare.”
I wanted to tell you both, but things kept getting in the way, Oberi pleaded. I could sense that Ava was pregnant, but I could also tell that the baby— not to mention Ava’s body— was weak. The spirit inside the child wasn’t strong. I didn’t believe it would survive the first few weeks. I thought Ava was going to have a miscarriage, and I didn’t want to upset everyone with the news until it actually happened, because so much was going on. We were on the run, then we just got to Ilamanthe, then you two had this big wedding. I tried to tell you after the wedding in my own way, but we rushed into getting the vampire key, then moved on to the camps shortly after.
You threw us into that fountain on our wedding night to try to get us to make heirs, I reminded him. Why would you do that if you already knew Ava was pregnant?
You guys were unsure about becoming parents, and I knew it would happen eventually, with this baby or another. I was just trying to warm you up to the idea. Oberi nuzzled his wet nose into my shoulder. Then you two were so upset once Cassiel died. Ava was getting further along, and I knew at this point the child would survive, so I pushed myself to say something. But by the time I was ready to, you pulled that coup, and Ava tried to end the world. Then the divorce papers happened, and I didn’t know what to do.
Oberi whimpered. I wanted the two of you to mend things, and knew the chances of that happening were low if I dropped this kind of news. I was hoping you and Ava would get to a better, more stable place, and then I could tell you that this baby was coming. I tried to tell you both by insisting Ava give you those baby clothes over Christmas. But things just kept getting worse between you two… and between us. I couldn’t tell either of you. Not when everything between us all is wrecked like this.
My chest tightened. He was right. Everything kept getting worse, no matter how hard I fought to fix it.
I tried to tell Ava, but she couldn’t hear me after the bond was broken, and she didn’t understand what I was trying to say, Oberi continued. You were the only one who could hear me, Charlie, and you kept blowing me off. I tried to bring this up, but all I ever heard was, Not now, Oberi. There just wasn’t enough time. The baby’s here early… and I missed my opportunity to say anything at all.
Oberi sounded as broken as I felt. I should’ve been mad at him, but he was right. We’d had an insane time since we’d left the Institute, and there hadn’t been a spare moment that would’ve been a good time to drop a bomb like this.
And now that we were out of time… I didn’t want to spend the rest of it hating him.
I scratched Oberi behind the ears. “You’re right. The baby’s here. I don’t want us to miss any more opportunities. Can you take me to him?”
Oberi nodded, and I stood on shaky feet as he led me down the hall. I felt like I was floating all the way to the NICU.
“Your highness.” I heard Eldin’s voice. She stood outside the door, guarding our baby. She must’ve heard Ava was in trouble, came to help, then stationed herself here. “There is a doctor inside tending to the new heir.”
“Who is it?” I asked. “I don’t want anyone in this room I wouldn’t trust with my life.” I didn’t have a lot of sway as prince anymore, but this was my kid, and it was my job to protect him.
“Her name is Doctor Onyx Foxe,” Eldin said. “She was sent by the Demigod Guardians themselves. She’s a neonatal doctor and a midwife, as well as the witch representative within the United Supernatural Union. She’s the most qualified individual in Ilamanthe to care for your child. Marcus’ parents recommended her. She took care of him when he was born early.”
That eased my wariness, though only slightly. I entered the room, and Oberi followed.
Doctor Foxe stepped aside. “He’s doing well, your highness. You may have a moment with him.”
“Can I… touch him?” I asked.
“You may, though there are several tubes and wires. He has a feeding tube, an IV, and is hooked up to a ventilator, so be careful when you insert your hands into the incubator. There are gloves nearby that you can use— still, wash your hands first. He’s very small, and we can’t take any chances.”
I nodded. “I can do that.”
“The incubator is meant to mimic the womb. He won’t be able to leave it for another two months, but you should be able to hold him for short periods in a day or two.”
Hold him. It sounded wonderful. My hands shuddered at my sides. I’ll be okay, I told myself.
The door clicked shut behind me as Onyx left. For a second, I wanted to turn around and run— to pretend like none of this was happening, because I wasn’t even sure I wanted it to be real.
Then the most delicate, precious squeak met my ears, and everything I’d ever known dissolved and rebuilt itself in a single moment. An explosion erupted in the middle of my life, blasting all the walls I’d ever built to pieces in a split second. At the same moment it all imploded, something miraculous replaced it.
