Page 99 of A Trial of Two Worlds
Theo’s head bent forward, his dark tendrils of hair falling in front of his face as he followed the command of his ruler. “Yes, High Prince. As you wish.”
I glanced sideways at Daxton, whose eyes were as hard as stone. His jaw was firmly set with displeasure at the healer’s disrespect. A small part of me relished in his protective presence, but I quickly buried that glee and focused on my task.
“Look, I’m not as experienced as you are with bringing children into this world,” I said softly. “And I’m also not afraid to admit when I need help.”
Theo gazed at me with a raised brow, his expression uneasy.
“Will you help me deliver the baby and keep the mother safe?”
“That is my soul duty.”
“Good,” I said.
“Then both of you move it along and help!” Idris yelled as another contraction tore through her center. “The baby—” Idris could barely speak as she began to lose consciousness, her head falling to Adohan’s chest.
“Skylar! Get over here and fucking help her,” Zola cursed with fear.
“Idris!” Adohan roared in a blind panic. The heat of his flames spiraled around his touch, engulfing the space. “No, no, no! My love.” He cradled her head in his trembling hands, his flames encircling his mate, desperately trying to fuel her with strength. “You must fight the pull. Do not give in. Stay with me. Idris— Idris!”
“Daxton, pull those curtains and let some fresh air in here.”
Dax nodded as he combated Adohan’s flames with his ice magic, following my lead as I moved toward Idris.
Idris’s eyes thankfully fluttered open, finding Adohan.
“There you are, my love,” he sobbed, releasing a caged breath.
Theo leaped into action, positioning himself at Idris’s feet. “Do not fight the urge to push,” he encouraged.
I rushed to the healer’s side, my hands glowing with a golden hue in preparation to fix what was broken.
“The womb, I believe, is torn,” he whispered to me.
Without hesitating, I moved my hands across Idris’s belly. It felt like a stone under my palms as my magic began mending what it could.
“Gahhhhh!” Idris yelled as her contraction peaked once more.
Sensing the injury within the lining of her womb, I allowed my powers to flow into Idris, mending the torn tissue beneath the surface of her skin. Then, I searched for the baby.
“Is the baby…?” Idris rasped with a twinge of heart-wrenching fear in her voice. “Is the baby all right?”
Time slowed as the anxious parents waited for my reply, hanging on the silent seconds passing between us asI assessed the baby’s condition with my magic. It was faint, but the heartbeat was still there. I could feel the infant’s distress from being wedged in the birthing canal. Idris needed to birth the child, or else I feared my magic wouldn’t be enough to save them both.
“Idris,” I began, “this is going to be—”
“Difficult… Hard?” Idris laughed with a shaking voice, trying to sit up. “Already there. What do you suggest?”
“Let’s try an upright position,” I said, looking to the healer, who gave me a firm nod, telling me he agreed with my suggestion.
“Gravity,” Idris rasped with a side grin. “Worked last time.”
I nodded. “Exactly.”
“All right, let’s get on with it then. I’m feeling the urge to push.” Idris leaned forward with Adohan and Zola on either side, trying to help hold her up.
Theo silently moved into position below Idris as she rose to stand. Sweat pooled and dripped from her face as her brows pinched together, the lines on her forehead creased with hours of labor pains trying to bring her child into the world. Gritting her teeth, Idris groaned as she forced herself upright, bending her knees to try and widen her stance in preparation for the next contraction.
“Get ready,” Idris said as a scream tore through her. Every muscle in her body clenched as she put all her energy into pushing the babe from her womb.
