Page 190 of Finch

“I need you to perform an ECV while I administer magic to numb father and child.”

The door opened again and Finch cursed internally. What now? There was already far too

much chaos as it was, and the more bodies in the room, the worse it would get. He wanted,

very badly, to tell everyone who wasn’t necessary to go the hell away.

“Is there anything I can do?” asked Calvin Drake.

“Hold your son’s other hand,” Everard barked. Calvin trotted over to the bed and did so, and

had Finch not been on high alert over what Everard had said to Harrison, he might have found

it nice.

“Okay, Finch,” Harrison began. “I’m going to be putting some pressure on you so we can get

the baby into the position he or she needs to be in. It’s not going to feel great, but I promise it

won’t last for long. I’m going to make this as quick as possible, so please bear with me.”

Harrison laid his hands on Finch’s distended belly and pushed. Even with Everard’s numbing

magic, the pain was intense. Involuntary tears streamed down Finch’s face. Hugh wiped them

away ineffectually with his shirt sleeve until Calvin produced a snowy handkerchief and

presented it to his son-in-law.

“You can do the honors,” Calvin said to Hugh as he held Finch’s hand in both of his. To Finch,

he said, “You can do this, child. I have faith in you.”

It was strange, but also good, to have a father in his life for the first time. Finch knew Calvin

was trying, in his gentle way, to make up for missing his childhood. It was hard shedding years

of resentment, but Finch was also trying, and the two were slowly growing closer. He only

wished they weren’t growing closer now, when he was in the midst of the greatest pain of his

life.

“Steady,” Everard said, speaking to his mate as he pushed on Finch’s abdomen. “I can see

movement. Come on, now. Come on.”

One last jolt of pain tore through Finch, and he screamed. For a moment, the world was dark,

and when he opened his eyes again, his fingernails were dug into Calvin and Hugh’s hands.

Neither dragon tried to pull away.

“It’s done,” Everard said. “I can now safely deliver the babe.”

Finch gasped and sank onto the mattress. He tried not to think about what Everard was doing

between his legs, but it was hard not to. Even with his healing magic, Finch felt his hands and

---