Page 77 of A Trial of the Heart

“Castor, keep watch,” Daxton ordered, shaking his head to try to right himself from the strain of his magic. “We’re in our realm, but the border is not far.”

Castor withdrew his twin blades and marched toward the river, scouting the area for any sign of trouble.

“Bring her over here,” I instructed, unfastening my cloak and preparing a comfortable makeshift bed on the mossy earth for Idris to lie down on.

“Do you have experience bringing young ones into the world, Spitfire?” Daxton asked.

“Not much,” I replied, remembering the two births Latte practically dragged me to watch. In hindsight, I cursed myself now for not allowing her to bring me to more. “But I know enough about the signs and progression of labor. This baby is likely in distress and will come faster than the twins because her body remembers childbirth.”

“It’s too early.”

“I know,” I replied with a grim look. “But there might be something I can do to stop the labor from progressing…”

“Then do it!” Adohan roared, the plea in his eyes taking root in the center of my heart. “Please.” His last words were barely a whisper as silver lines appearedaround the rims of his eyes. He was afraid. The proud high prince was terrified for Idris and his child. Through their mate bond, Adohan could sense Idris’s distress as his own. All his showboating and air of confidence was stripped to the side as he clutched his mate’s hands.

Idris’s face tightened, and I knew the contractions were getting stronger with each minute. High Fae babies grew in the womb for twelve months… She was only eight months along. For a human or shifter, delivering this early would be worrisome, but for a fae, this was utterly dangerous. She still had four months before the fetus was fully formed and ready to enter the world.

“Lay her down on her back with her feet resting above her heart.” I glanced around me, pointing to a nearby log. “Bring that over here. I’ve seen my pack’s healer try this before, and it worked to reverse the natural progression of the baby exiting the womb. We’re going to try and use gravity in our favor.”

Daxton rolled the log toward a soft moss-covered tree, helping elevate Idris’s legs and bottom while Adohan cradled his mate’s head. “This is an odd position,” Idris said between labored breaths.

“We’re trying to let nature help keep that baby inside you,” I replied.

“Clever,” Idris rasped. “I can feel the baby shifting.”

“Good.”

Without warning, I reached out my palms to place them on her hard, swollen belly. Adohan unexpectedly snarled and roughly grasped my wrist. Fire crackled in his palm as it danced across my skin, searing my flesh and causing me to scream in shock.

“Ahh!”

Daxton responded in an instant. Faster than I thought possible, he surged forward and grabbed Adohan by the throat, throwing him against the base of the tree with his hand firmly around his neck. Ice coated the flames along the forest floor as Daxton’s rage combined with his power to overshadow Adohan’s magic. Both males pulled back their lips, exposing their sharp canine teeth while releasing low, threatening growls of violence.

“Idiots,” Idris groaned. “Adohan, you paranoid, overprotective male. Skylar is trying to…” She couldn’t finish her words as another powerful contraction rolled through her womb. This time, I was close enough to see the muscles around her belly contract as blood trickled between her thighs and stained her dress.

“Not good. Right?” Idris turned her warm brown eyes to me, full of fear for her unborn child.

“Dax,” Castor yelled, rushing to his brother’s side. “Let go of Adohan! Both of you are not right in the head.” Daxton darted his gaze to Castor before returning it to his grip on Adohan’s throat. “None of this is helping Idris or the baby!”

Daxton seemed to regain his senses and released his grip on his friend. The crimson prince gasped and rubbed his throat before widely meandering around Daxton and returning to his mate’s side.

“No, it’s not good, Idris,” I whispered, and she gave me a grave look of understanding. She knew bleeding like this, paired with the contractions, was dangerous. “But I can help.”

If there was blood, that meant the baby or the womb was in distress, and there was something causing the pre-term labor. I called upon my healing magic as my palms glowed.

“Sooner would be better, Skylar,” Idris groaned again as Adohan cradled her head in his lap. “Sorry, that’s just the panic setting in.”

Gently, I pressed my hands to her stomach and allowed my healing powers to flow through me. My magic sought out the baby, sensing its distress from Idris’s womb. I allowed my magic to heal the area around the growing baby, settling the trauma and speeding the infant’s growth. The child was underdeveloped, needing more time to grow, and I was able to use my power to aid in the maturing of its lungs and ease the unborn baby’s suffering.

“There,” I gasped as I lifted my hands. “The labor should stop now, but you need to calm yourself, Idris, so the babe doesn’t feel any more distress.”

“Calm,” she panted as she rested her head against her mate. “Right. Understood.” I knew the stress of seeing Adohan at the offering, the trials, and then the audience with Minaeve and Seamus was difficult for her.

“And you should restrict your movements as much as possible, perhaps a limited type of bedrest if you can manage.”I hated advising this, but it was the only thing that made sense. Walking and stress would progress her labor. Limiting both as much as possible would help ensure the baby and the mother would be closer to full term.

Idris tilted her eyes open toward me with a grim look on her face. “That’s easier said than done, but I’ll do my best.” She affectionately rubbed her belly, with Adohan linking his hand with hers. “Looks like we will be on research duty then.”

“Not a bad place to be,” I answered with a reassuring smile. “Books can be the best company at times.”

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