Cactus cleared his throat. “Lark, your family needs you. You don’t have time for this.”
I swung my gaze to him, anger making my words harsh. “My family thinks I’m dead. The only one who needs me is Bella, and I am sending her the man I love to watch over her. Is that not enough?”
He blanched and his jaw ticked. I turned from him, unable to be kind in that moment. “I will no longer explain myself or my actions. I will do what I feel is right. Elle needs me. That is all there is to this.”
Cactus jerked to his feet and stomped away into the jungle. Ash wisely said nothing. I stood and helped Elle up. Her hands trembled in mine. “The baby will be here soon. Fuck, Bram left at a rather shitty time.” She choked on the words and then broke down. I caught her in my arms, and ran a hand over her head.
“Hush. Your tears won’t help you. Trust me on that.”
She laughed, but it was a bitter sound, one that resonated in me. “Fuck. You got that right.”
She jerked forward and let out a low moan. “Lark, I think . . . the baby is coming sooner than I thought. Eager little monster. I was not planning on this. I’m not due for another few weeks.”
I helped her back to the ground as Ash worked to get the fire hotter, and boiled water. “Peta, are there any villages close by?”
“Yes.” She bobbed her head. “About three miles to the south.”
“Get Cactus and go. See if there is a midwife or wise woman.”
I didn’t look to see if she did as I asked. I didn’t need to. Elle was on her knees panting. “I don’t think it’s supposed to happen this fast.”
“From what I know, babies come when they want, my friend.” I eased her back and stripped off her pants. A quick look was all I needed. “I can see the head. Be ready to push.”
I directed Ash to Elle’s shoulders. He braced her and she dug her hands into his forearms. The look on his face was priceless; in another time, I would have laughed at the mixture of shock, pain, and horror that flickered through his eyes.
“Breathe, Elle. She’s almost here.”
“Ah, I hate you right now, Bram! You fucking bastard you did this to me piece of shit son of a whoring goblin!” She screamed the words as she bore down. I washed my hands in the hot water, cleaning them the best I could. I grabbed one of the blankets we’d been using and folded it beside me.
“Push, Elle.” I gave her a tiny pulse of Spirit and felt her own connection to the element reach for me.
With her teeth clamped, she gave a final cry as she bore down. The baby slipped out of her and I caught the tiny body. I flipped the kid upside down and swatted her ass.
A full-bellied, indignant screech let loose and I righted the tiny girl. I wrapped her in the blanket and handed her to Elle. “There you go. All done. Easy as peach pie.”
Elle leaned against Ash as she stared down into the face of her daughter. Every harsh line in her face softened. “Oh my.”
I looked up to Ash. He smiled, and I thought of the little boy with golden eyes that could have been mine if I’d stayed in the Rim. Pain shot through my heart. No, that little boy would have suffered war and the loss of his world if I’d taken that route. I had to believe I’d chosen the right path.
Cactus and Peta showed up a few minutes later with a tiny old woman. She tsked over the baby, helped Elle nurse her daughter for the first time, patted them on the head and left.
“Well, that was a waste of time,” Cactus muttered.
“No, it wasn’t. We didn’t know the baby would come easy. We could have needed the midwife,” Ash pointed out.
Cactus didn’t look at me. “I’m going to the Eyrie. I’ll see you when you get there, Lark.”
He was gone before I could say anything. Shazer flipped his head at me.
“You letting him walk?”
I lifted my hand, but still, Cactus wouldn’t look my way. So be it. “He’ll find a way there. I trust him.”
Peta put her paws on Elle’s leg and peered in at the tiny baby. “She’s cute. I like her.”
“Does she have a name?” I asked absently as I stared into the jungle where Cactus had been only a moment before.
“Yes. Her father and I decided on her name before . . . before he left.” She spoke her name and I nodded. It was a good one. A strong name.
I helped her settle with her daughter and she drifted into a deep sleep. I sat by the fire, staring into the flame. Ash sat beside me, saying nothing.
The night faded, morning came, and Elle cared for her daughter. Around us I felt the twist in the air, the feel of the earth, the calls of the birds and animals. The peace was temporary and soon there would be nothing left.
On the fifth day of my release from the oubliette came the shifting of my world yet again.
CHAPTER 21
lle lifted her head as she finished feeding Rylee. From where I stood, her eyes swirled like whirlpools of color. She Tracked someone.