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“Just after midday.”

“Have you got a day off?”

“My duties have been covered.”

“Oh. Lovely.” I must’ve fallen asleep again, because when I opened my eyes, Lucien was sitting on my other side. Leon sat by my feet with Caius beside him. Even Darius was here, standing by the door with his arms folded. All five looked exhausted, and more than one needed a shave.

“You’re all here.”

“Yes, sweetheart.” Leon drew the blanket around my feet. “We are.”

I smiled at him and put a hand on my belly to greet the girls. My bump felt smaller… way smaller. I moved my hand, searching for the familiar curve.

“Alaric?”

His hand settled over mine. “The girls have been born, my heart. Both are alive, and they’re here with us.”

I looked at him, then down at myself. There should have been a foot beneath my ribs or someone pressing against my bladder. I waited for movement and felt nothing.

“But I haven’t—” I couldn’t finish; I couldn’t even breathe. “Where?”

Caius moved off the nest and returned with the small, rounded woven cot we’d chosen for our babies. I tried to see over its edge, but I couldn’t sit any higher.

“I want to see them.”

“Of course, my heart.”

Caius detached the cot from its base and carefully set it beside my left knee. Two babies lay in the middle, wearing pink onesies and matching hats, their hands covered in tiny mittens. My hand shook as I pulled the pink blanket a little higher.

“My babies,” I whispered.

“Yes, my darling. They’re here,” Lucien said beside me.

I put my hand on the edge of the cot. “Hello.” One of them moved her mouth under a clear mask. “Oh, my precious ones. You’re both so little.”

“This is our older daughter,” Alaric said, gently stroking the baby on the left. “And this is our youngest.” His hand moved to the baby wearing the mask.

“Why is she wearing that? Is there something wrong?”

“She still needs help breathing, but she’s improving. Her sister is managing without that support now. Both remain under close observation.”

“But they’re getting better?”

“Yes, my heart.”

I watched the little mask as she breathed. “How long have they been here?”

He stroked my hand before answering. “Nine days.”

My fingers tightened around his. “Nine days?” I looked back at him. “I’ve been asleep for nine days?”

“Thaddeus kept you sedated while you needed intensive treatment. His team has been reducing the sedation gradually, and you’ve woken briefly before, though you may not remember.”

I didn’t. I looked at the girls again, trying to find nine days in their tiny faces.

“Have they been on their own?”

“No, sweetheart.” Leon moved beside the cot. “One of us has been with each of them whenever the physicians permitted it. They’ve heard your voice too.”