ELIA

It was a full minute before the door opened again and Aymora walked in, her long hair streaked with gray, still shining and rippling down her back. She didn't meet Elia's eyes as she entered, but walked to the dresser at the side of the room and picked up her large cone, and a few other things, bringing them to the side of the bed.

Elia hadn't moved, just stayed where she was, still and careful, because she knew she had to be.

"Feeling better, huh?

" Aymora said quietly, measuring out some herbs into a small mortar.

Elia grimaced.

"I mean, I am. The contractions have stopped.

"

"But not the pain, correct?

" Aymora said tightly.

Elia sighed, but shook her head.

"I feel like if I move a muscle, everything will clench up again.

"

Aymora nodded slowly, using the stone pestle in the mortar to begin crushing the herbs she had laid out on the side platform.

"Please don't be angry, Aymora. He had to go. If he knew I was still hurting, he wouldn't have gone and Gahrye would die and the bears…

"

"I know,

" she said softly, and her eyes caught on Elia's for a moment before she turned back to the herbs.

"In a few minutes when I have this ready, I'm going to examine you. It might hurt. So I'm going to give you these to help. They won't last long—maybe an hour. But they will help you rest while you can.

"

Elia nodded, her stomach fluttering with nerves.

"So… this is it?

"

"I don't know,

" Aymora said.

"I'll know more in a little while. Here.

" She tipped the herbs into a little bottle full of a light, yellow fluid—orange juice by the smell.

Elia tipped her head back against the pillow and swallowed the two or three mouthfuls. It was bitter with the powdered herbs, but she swallowed, sticking out her tongue for a moment. Then handed the bottle back to Aymora.

"What do we do now?

" she asked carefully.

"Now we wait,

" Aymora said.

"Jayah and I will examine you when those herbs have had time to take effect. I'll be able to tell you more after that. But I will say this, Elia… if the urge to shift is there at any point today, you will have to put your fear aside. If you are going to deliver, it is far safer to do so as your beast than in your human form. The beast can deliver a human child easily. But you cannot deliver a cub. Not safely.

"

Elia's face crumpled and Aymora froze.

"What is it?

"

Elia swallowed hard.

"I took the tonic this morning,

" she said, her voice pinched with tears.

"I got scared when I was alone and I didn't want to shift and… and I took it.

"

Aymora's eyes closed and she muttered something under her breath, but then she shook her head.

"It doesn't matter. We don't even know whether you'll deliver today. Just… just rest, Elia. We'll face whatever we have to face when it happens.

"

Then she took Elia's hand and sat with her while they waited.

*****

Elia must have dozed off, because she woke from a dream that she was being stabbed.

A tiny cry broke from her throat and she reached out for Reth, opening her eyes to find Aymora next to her instead, giving quiet instructions to Jayah, who stood down by Elia's legs.

"I'm sorry, Elia, but we need to see how dilated you are,

" Aymora said, stroking her hair back from her face.

"Dilated? But I'm not—

" she groaned as a contraction hit her at the base of her spine and she felt her entire lower body suck in and down without her command.

Aymora coached her quietly through it, whispering reminders to breath and brushing the hair back off her face, holding her hand and hip so she wouldn't move, comforting her and reassuring her until Elia could breath easily again and speak.

"That was…

"

"That was your labor beginning,

" Aymora said quietly.

"Now, we need to examine you quickly before the next one comes.

"

She helped Elia roll onto her back and pull her heels up as high towards her buttocks as she could. It was an undignified pose, and it hurt. Elia's tears began again, and she cursed herself for her weakness. But Aymora told her not to be silly, then talked her through where and why they needed to touch her—letting Jayah double-check for herself.

Their hands were invasive, but gentle and Elia laid back, staring at the ceiling, praying Reth was safe and would make it back to her quickly.

Within minutes her body was clenching again, and they allowed her to roll to her side, rubbing her back and stroking her hair until she was through it.

When the pain finally eased, Elia blinked and slowly blew out the breath she'd been holding. Her stomach fizzed with fear, but her body was working on its own. She could feel it, like a boulder rolling down a hill—fighting it would only hurt more.

She burst into tears for real, then, because she realized it was happening. She was going to have a baby. And Reth wasn't there. And it was her fault. And Gahrye was in danger.

"Shhhhhh, shhhhhh, Elia. Sweetheart, please. We aren't going to leave you alone. You don't have to do this alone, okay?

"

"I know… I know…

" she wept, clinging to Aymora's hand.

"It's just all so…

" she shook her head and sucked in a breath. No. She wasn't going to give in. There was no point now. She had an important job to do today, and she would do it. And she would pray that Reth got back safely and quickly, and with Gahrye.

Aymora looked at Jayah, then back down at Elia.

"You're already half-dilated, Elia. Your body is moving quickly to do this. But we likely still have hours yet. So just relax and rest when you can. Tell us if anything changes. And remember that we're here for you. Okay? You don't have to do this alone, Elia. No Anima will ever bear any offspring alone. We are here. And we aren't leaving until you're both safe.

"