Page 84 of Cooper

Sandor says something to the doctor, who yells at someone else, and a wheelchair appears like magic.

“Will you come with me?” Lucianna asks me.

It’s an odd request considering we’re not that close, but I nod before I can stop myself.

“I don’t want her in—” Pieter begins.

“But I do.” She cuts him off, and he snaps his mouth shut angrily.

“Fine. Then what do you even need me for?” He turns and stalks out the door.

“Do you want me to get him?” I ask her worriedly.

She rolls her eyes. “Why? He’s of no use to me in delivery.”

“All right.” I look to Sandor. “Is it all right if I go with my sister? Do you need me tonight?”

He shakes his head. “Go. Text me or Cooper when you need a ride to the inn. We’re all going to get some rest.” He pauses with a faint smile. “Except maybe you.”

I chuckle. “I’ll be all right.”

* * *

Lucianna’sin labor most of the night, and her newborn daughter comes into the world just after three in the morning. A perfect angel with a shock of dark hair and pink little lips. She’s tiny and perfect, and it’s a little awe-inspiring to watch her be born. I’ve seen labor on TV and there were some videos in college, but the real thing is both a lot more terrifying and a lot more fascinating.

I don’t know how I feel about ever giving birth but it’s an emotional moment for both my sister and me.

“Thank you for staying,” she whispers as she cuddles the baby once they’ve both been cleaned up.

“Of course.”

“No, really. It means a lot to me. I know we haven’t been close but Pieter… well, he’s gone back to his old ways.”

I frown. “He’s hitting you.”

She looks away but I note the barely perceptible nod.

“God dammit.” I’m going to kill him.

Maybe not me personally, but someone a lot bigger and stronger and scarier is going to pay him a visit. I don’t care if it pisses off my family.

“Do you want to come to Hiskale?” I ask her.

“What will I do?” she whispers. “How will I work with two babies?”

“What if…” I don’t know if what I’m thinking is even possible, but there has to be a way for her to have childcare if she gets a job at the palace, right? I don’t know how to make that happen until I talk to Sandor, though. “Give me a day to make some inquiries,” I say finally. “I might have a solution.”

Her eyes fill with tears. “Really?”

“I can’t promise anything, but yes, I’m going to try. I might be able to get you a job. And we’ll figure out childcare. For now, I’m going to send one of my colleagues to scare him, okay? So he won’t hit you for a while and we have time to come up with a plan. Is that okay?”

She nods, swiping at her eyes. “Thank you. I’m sorry about the things I’ve said over the last few years. I was just so…jealous.”

“I know. I just wish you’d spoken up before you had the babies so I could get you out of there. Now it’s more complicated, but we’ll figure something out.”

“Natalia?” I hear Cooper calling to me from the hallway. I’d texted him that I needed a ride and what room we were in.

“I have someone I want you to meet,” I whisper to Lucianna. “And be nice!”

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