Page 14 of Anger

“No. I know it. Get behind Willow and support her back,” Lanie ordered, and Jase climbed on the bed and took Willow’s weight.

Willow bore down as Maeve peered between her legs. “I’m examining you, don’t push until I okay it.”

“I need to now!” Willow growled at Maeve.

“Not yet!” Maeve replied and ducked under the blanket covering Willow’s lower half.

Willow’s stomach rippled alarmingly, and Lanie swallowed hard. Her memories of labour had never faded, but watching someone else go through it was alarming.

“Andie is on standby for an emergency, but we’re not to call her unless life-threatening,” Sela muttered.

Lanie wondered what was bothering Andie. She seemed to be losing weight and had started to isolate herself. She was clearly suffering from something but wouldn’t talk to anyone.

“You’re fully dilated. On your next push, bear down,” Maeve ordered as Lily headed into the bathroom.

Seconds later, a heart-rending scream erupted from Willow as she grunted and pushed hard.

“I’ve got the head!” Maeve announced. Willow gasped, and, moments later, pushed.

“A boy!” Maeve called triumphantly. She handed him to Lily, who immediately began checking him over.

“Maeve, I need to push again,” Willow cried.

“When you’re ready,” Maeve replied calmly.

Five minutes later, a second boy was born, and he was passed to Lily.

Further minutes ticked by, and Maeve started to look a little worried. Willow’s contractions seemed to have stopped. Jase murmured in Willow’s ear, telling her how much he loved her.

After fifteen minutes, Willow cried out, and a baby girl was welcomed.

Lanie had tears in her eyes as Jase looked swamped with love and awe.

“We need Andie,” Lily said softly.

Lanie’s head shot up with Jase, but Willow didn’t hear.

“What is it?” Jase snapped.

“Boy two is struggling, as is the girl. I don’t know why,” Lily replied and shifted into Lilith. As Lilith, her power was stronger. Maeve changed into Baba Yaga, and they began to work on the babies.

“They’re having difficulty breathing,” Sela said, and finally, Willow realised something was wrong.

Lanie watched as her brain worked furiously.

“Their father is a water god. Get them in water!” Lanie ordered.

Lilith and Baba Yaga snatched them as Lanie headed into the bathroom and started running a lukewarm bath.

“He’s shifted!” Lilith cried, holding the boy.

“Quickly,” Lanie said, and Lilith put him in the tub. Immediately, he began to breathe.

“Oh hell!” Lanie exclaimed. In front of her disbelieving eyes was a tiny merman.

“What!” Jase bellowed as Andie walked slowly in. She headed for the bathroom just as Baba Yaga placed the little girl in the water. She changed into a merbaby before everyone’s eyes.

“Someone better get this baby!” Sela shrieked, alarmed.

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