Page 63 of Shadow's Claim

Reality snaps back with jarring suddenness. My knees buckle as solid ground materializes beneath my feet. Only Kael's quick reflexes save me from a face-first meeting with what appears to be rocky soil. His four arms create a supportive cage around my body as I gasp for breath, my vision swimming with disorienting afterimages.

"Where..." I manage between desperate gulps of air, "...are we?"

Kael's glowing eyes scan our surroundings, his massive form tensed for potential threats. "Neutral territory," he confirms, shadows extending from his midnight-black skin to probe the area around us. "Western boundary of the Shadow Dominion."

I follow his gaze, taking in our new surroundings. We stand in a barren landscape—rocky soil stretching toward distant mountains, sparse vegetation clinging to life in this harsh environment. The night sky above shows unfamiliar star patterns, suggesting we've traveled much farther than I expected.

"How did we get this far?" I ask, genuinely amazed. "The shadow transit I experienced before barely covered a few city blocks."

"The hybrid," Kael says simply, one hand gesturing to my abdomen where shadow patterns still pulse with fading purple light. His voice carries a note of wonder I've rarely heard from him. "Its abilities exceed normal parameters."

The hybrid's consciousness brushes against my mind, weaker now but still present. The shadow transit clearly drained its energy—and mine. My legs feel like overcooked noodles, and a bone-deep exhaustion makes even standing an effort.

"We need shelter," Kael continues, supporting more of my weight as I sway slightly. His upper right hand cups my elbow while his lower pair creates a supportive cradle of shadows beneath me. The touch is gentle, considerate—nothing like the calculated restraint he once used to control me. "The neutral zone has no official governance, but scavengers and nomadic groups claim territories."

Great. Out of the shadow-manipulating frying pan, into the lawless wasteland fire.

"Any particular direction we should—" My question cuts off as a sharp pain lances through my abdomen. Not the hybrid moving, but something deeper, more fundamental. A contraction.

"Nova?" Kael's voice sharpens with concern as I double over, hands clutching my swollen belly.

"That's not good," I gasp as the pain recedes, leaving behind an ominous tightness. "The shadow transit must have triggered something."

Another contraction hits before Kael can respond, this one stronger than the first. The hybrid's consciousness flares with sudden awareness, pushing against my mind with what feels like alarm—not fear exactly, but urgent recognition that something significant has changed.

"The birth," Kael says, shadows darkening around his massive form. His glowing eyes widen slightly, the purple light intensifying with what might be anticipation or anxiety—I'm still learning to read his alien expressions. "It's beginning."

"No kidding," I manage through gritted teeth as the contraction peaks then slowly fades. "Talk about terrible timing."

Kael's four arms move with coordinated purpose, two supporting me while the others manipulate shadows to better survey our surroundings. "There," he says after a moment, pointing toward what appears to be rock formations in the near distance. "Natural caves. Temporary shelter at minimum."

Another contraction begins building, sooner than it should if this is normal labor. The hybrid's consciousness pulses against my mind with increasing urgency, shadow patterns beneath my skin glowing with renewed intensity.

"Not normal," I gasp, clutching Kael's arm as we begin moving toward the caves. The feel of his midnight-black skin beneath my fingers has become strangely comforting—cool and solid, an anchor in this storm of sensation. "The hybrid is—accelerating things."

Kael's glowing eyes narrow with concern. "Shadow demon births progress differently than human ones," he explains, practically carrying me now as my legs threaten to give out. "The offspring can influence the process when survival requires it."

"Survival?" I repeat, a new fear gripping me. "Is it in danger?"

"Obscura will track the shadow transit," he says grimly. "The energy signature is distinctive, especially one this powerful. The birth must complete before pursuit reaches us."

Wonderful. Speed-running labor because magical shadow monsters are hunting us. Just another day in my incredible life.

We reach the cave entrance as another contraction hits, this one strong enough to drive me to my knees despite Kael's supportive hold. The hybrid's consciousness burns against my mind, no longer passive or suggestive but actively directing the birth process. Shadow patterns across my skin pulse in rhythmic waves that match the contractions, purple light illuminating the darkness around us.

Kael guides me deeper into the cave, finding a relatively flat area protected from the entrance. His four arms work with efficient purpose—two creating a nest-like arrangement from his own shadows, forming a surprisingly comfortable surface, while the others maintain vigilant watch toward the cave entrance.

"How fast..." I pause as another contraction steals my breath. They're coming less than a minute apart now, the hybrid driving my body toward delivery with supernatural speed. "How fast do shadow demon births usually progress?"

"Hours, not days," Kael says, helping me settle into the shadow nest. His upper right hand brushes sweat-soaked hair from my forehead, the gesture surprisingly tender. "But this is accelerated even by our standards. The hybrid senses danger."

As if confirming his assessment, the hybrid's consciousness pushes against my mind with renewed urgency. Images flash through my thoughts—Obscura's six massive arms reaching through darkness, swirling galaxies of purple fire tracking us across vast distances, shadow tendrils extending across the boundary between territories.

"They're coming," I gasp, both from another contraction and the hybrid's warning. "Obscura is coming."

Kael nods grimly, shadows gathering around his form like living armor. "I will create defenses," he says, two hands gently stroking my hair while the others begin complex manipulations of darkness. "You must focus on the birth."

Easy for him to say. The pain is unlike anything I've experienced—not just physical but something deeper, as though the hybrid's shadow nature creates unique sensations beyond normal human childbirth. Shadow patterns beneath my skin no longer just pulse but actively move, swirling and repositioning as the delivery progresses.

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