Trap made a conscious effort to breathe normally. He kept his gaze glued to Cayenne’s as if he could will her to give birth without a single problem. Malichai thought there was something especially beautiful in the way the couple looked at each other.
Amaryllis hurried in with a stack of warm towels and then left to return quickly with two buckets of steaming hot water that she’d boiled.
“How are you doing, Cayenne?” Ezekiel asked. “I’m going to listen to the baby’s heartbeat again, just making certain he’s doing all right. I want to check your progress again. You seem to be going fast.”
Cayenne nodded. “Hurts pretty bad, Zeke.”
“You’re in transition, honey,” Ezekiel said. “You were at eight when I checked you last. Let’s see where you are now.”
Malichai was proud of his brother. He was in a bad situation but doing his best. Cayenne, even in the condition she was in, was a flight risk. She was terrified of needles. Terrified her child would be taken and used for experiments or just plain killed. Ezekiel had gotten her to respond, which meant she was getting past that fear to allow them all to help her.
Malichai dared to rub her shoulder after a particularly long and hard contraction. She hadn’t made a sound, just breathed her way through it and looked at her man. “You’re amazing. This childbirth thing isn’t for wimps, but it is making me hungry. When Amaryllis gives birth, I might have to have a buffet set up in the room.”
To his astonishment, Cayenne turned her head to look at him. There was a hint of laughter in her eyes. “You eat while she’s in labor and I can guarantee you that you won’t live out the night. If she doesn’t do you in, the rest of the women will, including Nonny.”
Even Trap laughed. The terrible tension in the room was dispelled.
Ezekiel suddenly smiled. “There he is. He’s so ready to come into the world. Heartbeat is strong and steady. Last contraction slowed him down a little, but nothing to worry about. You’re dilated to nine, almost ten. You’re going to need to push soon, honey. Do you remember how? Did you watch the videos?”
Cayenne nodded. “I don’t want to lie down like this. I’d rather sit.”
“Malichai, can you sit against the headboard and let her use your knees as a backrest?” Ezekiel said, very practical, so there was no way Malichai could scramble off the bed and give his brother the bird. “Your leg up to that?”
Ezekiel knew he could bend his leg without a problem. “Wouldn’t she feel better with Trap behind her?” he asked hopefully.
“I need to see Trap,” Cayenne said. Again, she turned her head to look at him. “Are you okay with it?”
Amaryllis was watching him closely. He felt her moving in him, even though she was standing beside Joe and Ezekiel, keeping the towels warm.
“Sure, honey,” he answered Cayenne. “I’ll just be sitting here. But when he’s born, I get to see him right away, same as you.”
“That’s a deal,” she agreed and then another even harder, longer contraction took her. Immediately her head turned back almost desperately to Trap.
Malichai didn’t know many women stronger than Cayenne. She stood on her own two feet. She held her own always. She didn’t ask for concessions. Like Trap, he’d tended to think childbirth was something that women could do fairly easily. He was a doctor and he knew all the pitfalls, but for the most part, it was natural and therefore something one didn’t really have to worry about. Now, he was worried.
Cayenne had gone very quiet, her eyes closing as if she were falling asleep. Definitely sliding from transition into pushing phase. Her body was resting, waiting for the next big phase.
He was going to rethink the entire having children with Amaryllis idea. They could create a good life together without having kids. Not everyone needed them to complete their families. He had cat DNA in him. Maybe they’d get cats. Tigers. Leopards. Something big to protect his woman with him.
“Malichai, you’ve gone a little crazy and you’re broadcasting loud.” Ezekiel’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” Cayenne said suddenly, her eyes flying open as she started to sit up.
“That’s the baby, putting pressure on you,” Trap explained. “I’m going to help you up and tilt you back so you’re up against Malichai.”
Even as he told her, Trap’s hands were gentle on her waist, shifting her as Malichai pulled his knees back to form a backrest for Cayenne, keeping a thin blanket over his legs so she could have something soft to lean against.
“Do you want some ice chips, baby?” Trap asked, as Amaryllis handed him a glass filled with the chips.
Cayenne nodded. “Thanks, I appreciate it.” Her eyes met Amaryllis’s.
Malichai couldn’t help but feel proud of his woman. She had no real knowledge of childbirth either, but she’d thought to break up ice for Cayenne.
Suddenly, Cayenne gasped and clutched at Malichai’s leg and Trap’s arm. “I have to push. Right now.”
Ezekiel shook his head. “Joe, take her right leg up and out of the way. Trap, her left. Drop your chin and breathe him out as you push. Focus. Don’t waste a push. Make each one count. You can do this, Cayenne. This is you and your baby. Help him get out.”
He continued to encourage her, telling her he could see hair. The baby had a lot of dark hair with a hint of red in it. “There’s his little head. Don’t push, Cayenne. Pant for a second while I clear his mouth. Okay, push. That’s it. You have a baby. A boy. Your son has arrived and he’s looking good.”
Joe had immediately released Cayenne’s leg and rushed around Amaryllis to get to the baby. It was his job to make certain he was breathing fine and everything looked good. Ezekiel clamped off the cord, made the cut and handed the boy to Joe.
Cayenne and Trap both burst out laughing. Trap leaned down and kissed her. “That was amazing, sweetheart. I can’t believe you did that. He didn’t look as small as I thought he’d be.” He looked up at Ezekiel. “There was no way to see with that shield, but with everyone having multiple births, we were concerned that it was a thing with GhostWalkers.”
Malichai’s stomach dropped. Zeke. He whispered his brother’s name into his mind.
Ezekiel closed his eyes briefly and then glanced at Joe. Draden, Shylah, you need to get me a warmer for a preemie. I don’t care how you do it. Steal the fucking thing but get it now. We’re going to need it. We can’t take them to the hospital, that would tip Whitney off immediately. Arrange for around-the-clock care with the best neonatal nurses possible. All the equipment. We can set up in the basement. It’s the best location. Trap has the money for whatever’s needed. Joe, how’s that one doing?
He’s fine. I’d say a nine on the Apgar. I’m guessing he’s weighing in at a five. That’s a good size. His lungs are great. This one is going to be fine. Are you certain there’s a second one?
Malichai answered for his brother. I’m certain. All along I thought it was me, or some conspiracy plot in the bed-and-breakfast, but it was Cayenne. Even Trap thought there might be but dismissed it because he didn’t want there to be.
Need scrubs for everyone as an explanation for why we’re here. Gives a much better cover, Joe added.