Page 54 of Used By the Unicorn

I never thought about babies sleeping or waking inside their mother’s stomach. That my baby sleeps has my mind spiraling and my heart welling with too much emotion to process.

Boaz lays a hand on Stirling’s shoulder. “I should have given more.”

Stirling shakes his head. “It’s not that.”

I’m incredibly grateful to him at that moment that he doesn’t tell Boaz I wasn’t drinking the alicorn. That now feels like the most arrogant thing in the world. My only excuse is the guilt I felt for accepting something that special.

Pretty pathetic excuse, really.

Stirling strips off and climbs into the water with me while Boaz makes a call to Sapphy and Knight. I’m incredibly grateful to be able to sink my head back against Stirling’s firm shoulder and close my eyes. It doesn’t make the worry go away, though. Just chases it back into the shadows a little, ready to pounce when the nurse comes back with two more naiads in tow.

A tall, older naiad with bright blue skin and deep golden eyes sits on the edge of the hot tub. “Let’s take a look at this little one, then.” Her voice is as warm as her eyes.

I try to sit, but she reaches down. “No need to move, my sweet. Relax.”

I hold as still as I can, even holding my breath when she slips her hands around my bump and closes her eyes.

She doesn’t have to speak. When she opens them, her golden eyes have faded to a dull gray and there’s so much sadness there I already know.

“I’m sorry, love. It’s not good news.”

I nod. “Tell me.”

She sighs, wiping her hands on her long white apron. “His life force is so weak I can’t be sure it’s even truly there. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between mother and baby, particularly when the mother has no inherent magic.”

“He’s human, too! Does that make a difference? Is that why you can’t feel him?”

Her brows crease. “It could be why the spark is so weak, but it should be stronger than this. I’m sorry, my sweet, but I’m not sure there’s much we can do. Our magic only aids baby’s arrival. It doesn’t bring them back.” She casts a meaningful look at Stirling.

“Is there any danger to Jade?” he asks.

“Not yet. If the baby has died and she doesn’t birth it, there's a danger of infection. There’s a small danger of birth complications even with a stillbirth, but that is something we can help with.”

He nods. Placing a kiss on my head, he lifts me off his lap, looking around for Boaz. “Stay with her?”

“Where are you going?” I try to pull myself out of the pool, but Boaz climbs in and quickly pulls me into his lap.

Stirling leans over and kisses my forehead. “There’s something I have to do. But I promise it’s going to be alright. Do you trust me?”

Then I remember. “I kept the alicorn! It’s at home. Can I drink it now? Will it help?”

“It will.” Boaz’s voice is more tender than I’ve ever heard it. “Stirling’s right. It’s going to be OK.”

I relax back into his arms and let out a long breath. “Thank you.”

Boaz strokes my hair. “We have you, Jade. It’s going to be alright.”

TWENTY THREE

Stirling

I take a last look back at Jade, nestled in Boaz’s arms in the hot tub. I hate leaving her, even for the short time it will take me to get home and return, but this might be the only chance we have to save the baby. I draw the elder naiad aside with me on my way out of the grove.

“How much will it take?” I keep my voice low, reluctant for Jade to hear.

She didn’t take it when I offered it before, and I’m terrified she’ll reject my gift if she knows how much it will cost me this time.

The older female’s indigo brows crease. “Not even alicorn may be enough now.” She lays her hand on my arm softly.

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