Why did Kaede look like a human? His body was all human male, aside from the cetacean genitalia that was similar to the Circuli. His head and horns were clearly not human, and I realized his snake-like eyes should have been a warning to me about the function of his fangs. I hadn’t even considered it because I liked the way they framed his thin black mouth.
The reality was, Kaede was gorgeous under all that armor he wore. And there was something that attracted me to him outside of his looks. An instinctual attraction. So, I hadn’t ever seriously considered him a danger to me.
Now I knew better.
I wasn’t going to allow Kaede to try and seduce me with promises again. Unless he demonstrated he could be trusted, I would keep him at arm’s length. I was tired of allowing his words to lull me into trusting him, then his actions belying those words. He was secretive and contradictory. Is that why he always seemed guilty and surprised when I wasn’t afraid of him? Perhaps I should be. For my future and the future of my clan, I needed to be. I couldn’t afford to fall for a male who lived in the shadows.
By midday, the arousal began to cool, and I was able to make small movements and speak once more. The pain was creeping back, but it was manageable. The contractions were coming almost continuously now, and Xylo said I was finally dilating.
A massive buildup of pressure between my legs brought an end to my stewing.
“Xylo. It’s time.”
His eyes met mine.
The room went into a frenzy.
Xylo jumped into the bathtub and stood between my legs as Odelm started rubbing my shoulders. “What is happening? Tell me what you are experiencing.”
I opened my mouth to reply as I felt a pop and a sudden need to push. “Based on what you told me about delivery, I believe my water just broke,” I grunted.
I felt another contraction start. It wasn’t painful, but I could feel the downward pressure along my pelvic area.
I felt him put his hand between my legs to check my progress. He leaned over for a closer look.
“I believe you are dilated enough to start pushing now. On your next contraction, push as hard as you can.” His deep voice was laced with excitement, though I could tell he was trying to remain calm and professional.
“It is time, nestbrother?” Odelm beamed.
Xylo glanced up at both Odelm and me with a smile on his face. “Yes. We will soon be fathers.”
The contraction subsided, but the pressure remained.
“Okay. I’m ready Xylo,” I breathed out.
Xylo looked to the other healers. “Grab towels and give them to the princes. They can take the cubs as they are delivered and hand them off for inspection.”
I could feel another contraction about to start.
“Xylo! Now!”
I closed my eyes as I felt it hit. I grunted, took in a deep breath, and bore down with all my might.
Odelm held my legs open with his tentacles, whispering reassurances in my ear as I continued to push through the contraction.
I felt a slight release of pressure as the contraction ended.
“It’s a female!” Xylo announced.
The room filled with cheers and a flurry of movement.
Water splashed, equipment beeped, things shifted.
I dragged open my heavy lids in time to see Xylo hand off a furry head bundled in a towel to V’dim. He looked down at the cub in his hands and then looked at me with a smile.
“I will make sure she is taken care of. Focus on her littermates.”
I nodded, too tired to respond. The downward pressure was starting to peak once again as I felt another contraction coming. Closing my eyes, I prepared myself for the next wave.
I hissed when it hit.
Taking another deep breath, I focused and bore down. The contraction waned, leaving me panting. Of course, the males were taking more time. They must have gotten it from their sire.
“You are doing great, Selena. Almost there. You have a gorgeous daughter. There is often a gap between the delivery of the first and subsequent littermates. Don’t feel discouraged,” Xylo consoled.
Before I was able to reply with my thanks, another contraction hit. Panting, pushing hard through several more waves of contractions, I was wrung out. My eyes were glued shut and all I wanted was to sleep.
As still another contraction caused me to suck in a breath, Xylo spoke up. “My princes, I need both of you.”
“What is it?” Odelm demanded.
I focused my remaining energy on pushing, ignoring everything else. The pressure was too great. Harder than my daughter’s. Xylo wasn’t directing me to do anything, meaning that I was fine. I needed to continue pushing. I needed to be done.
I groaned, bearing down with all my might.
A flood of relief flowed through me. The pressure was gone.
I slumped against Odelm and sighed.
Xylo laughed. “They didn’t want to separate from one another. Instead of letting one go ahead of the other, they came out together with their arms around one another. You are lucky that they are so small, and your body could handle it.”
I pried open my lids with an effort and eyed Xylo. “Are you saying it’s all over? That they’re all right?”
“You still need to deliver the placenta, but that is it.”
He then glanced behind him at Chyox, who was working with the healers over something on a portable table. The princes hovered nearby, peering over their shoulders.
They were cleaning up the twins and inspecting my daughter.
Chyox confirmed, “They seem healthy. A few more tests need to be done to make sure they are completely fine. Scans state that they are perfect.”
Odelm stroked my arm. “You did it!”
“Just a little more, then we can see if you can get them to feed. If not, or if we need to supplement, I had the cooks mince the fish into a very fine paste, and there is fish oil,”
