Page 21 of From the Edge

Rowan smiled. “You don’t say.”

Mik blinked as she peeped over Win’s shoulder. “What am I seeing?”

Win pointed. “This is her core, and these are the spells she’s cast on herself. The part of her brain that processes magic is split into different zones.”

Rowan blinked. “You can see my brain?”

Win gestured. “Come over and take a look.”

Rowan walked around the table and looked. “Oh, pretty. I look like a Christmas tree decorated by a drunk.”

Win paused. “There are some similarities. This is amazing. You are a composite of magic. Different pieces for different purposes.”

Rowan smiled. “Are you going to tell them?”

“It is for you to say.”

Regis was wary. “What?”

“I copy magic styles with different cores. My control is inexact, but I am getting better.” She returned to her seat. “So now I am a little bit mage and a little bit witch. Did you notice the cabinets?”

Win gasped. “The house is alive.”

“The house is alive. It wasn’t during the attacks, but when both Aspen and Mell needed to be concealed, it was my first change. Changing myself was the next step.”

The healer walked into the kitchen with long strides. “She’s in labour.”

Rowan winced. “Delightful. Well, she has her mate; she should be fine.”

The healer looked at her. “She’s asking for you.”

Rowan looked at him. “How long do I have?”

“Her body is moving fast. The two ladies with her are not equipped to handle a woman in labour.”

Regis blinked. “I am heading up there.”

Arwell smiled. “I will be up soon as well.”

Rowan groaned, put her teacup down, and stalked out of the kitchen and through the house to the stairs. There were stairs off the kitchen, but she liked the sprint up the big stairs. She walked in and looked at the two mages who looked slightly unwell. “Ladies, dismissed if you want to be. The others are in the kitchen, and there are more muffins in the oven. Raspberry and cream.”

Mell gasped and looked at her. “You are talking about muffins at a time like this?”

Rowan walked to her side. “Of course. I can’t reach in and make things go faster. Alpha, encourage her. Scoot her up in the bed. Mell, do you have a preferred way for the little one to come out?”

Mell laughed. “The same way it got in.”

Rowan nodded. “Move her to her hands and knees.”

Norecayet grinned and carefully eased her over.

Mell muttered, “I can’t believe you know that.”

Rowan washed up and was going to check on dilation, but Mell started to moan and rock with her body pressure. She looked at Regis coming through the door. “I am just supposed to catch it, right?”

The next few moments passed in a blur as Rowan brought a blue infant into the world with sticky-outy ears, and it was shouting. Mell was laughing and crying.

Rowan looked at the baby and at his father. “Is he supposed to be blue?”