Page 47 of Cozy Prisons (Human Pets of Talin: Origins #4)

Palathum

Panting, Palathum stared down her body. “Please come out soon,” she begged the baby inside her. “This is uncomfortable.”

It was strange to see her belly so swollen and all her keratin plating missing from sternum to pelvis.

She’d known it was going to happen, but hadn’t been aware of how much it would itch while the plates slowly loosened and eventually fell off.

Then there had been the odd sensation of bare skin.

How did the humans handle having so little protection against the elements?

She was forced to wear a healer’s tunic to keep her vulnerable skin from being irritated by the lightest of breezes or rays of sunshine.

Now, finally, after a rotation and a half of time, a slit had started to appear across her abdomen that morning. It meant the baby was ready to come out. When Utharium saw it, he grabbed Palathum up and rushed to the infirmary.

Despite Palathum’s assurances that there were marks yet until the baby would emerge, Utharium woke Falkilm and demanded that the healer care for Palathum.

Following the healer, Kamie and Kiran had hurried to help make Palathum comfortable, even though they were still dressed in their sleeping outfits.

The two humans had started working with Falkilm and were already skilled assistants.

They were quick to calm Utharium. The fact that humans had a reputation for soft hands and gentle touches helped calm Utharium’s panic.

Kiran and Kamie perfect people to help a birthing mother when there was an anxious father present.

Now she was on the sixth mark of waiting for her child to finish the birthing process, and was exhausted.

“What can I do?” Utharium asked for at least the hundredth time.

“Cold sopa,” Palathum said. “As cold as you can make it before it freezes.”

“Yes!” Utharium agreed and rushed off.

Kamie was rubbing a softening oil on Palathum’s belly to help the skin separate. She paused and looked at Palathum. “I thought we were out of sopa?”

Palathum sounded a rumble of agreement. “We are, but I needed a little time.”

Kamie giggled and went back to rubbing the oil on. Kiran looked up from where he was compounding some medication. “What’s funny?”

Kamie shook her head. “I’ll tell you later.”

A sudden, sharp bolt of pain made Palathum cry out. Up until now, the pain had been constant but bearable. This new sensation was agony.

“Something must be wrong," Palathum said once she got her breath back.

Kamie grabbed her hand. The human’s skin was slick with the oil she’d been using. “No, this is part of the process. It means you're close. The last layer of skin is separating. You’re going to get to hold your baby soon!”

“I’ll get Falkilm,” Kiran said, but before he moved, the healer came rushing in. He’d been deep in the house checking on Grace and Merrick's newest child, Imogen.

Palathum could see why Falkilm trusted Kamie and Kiran to watch over her. The two humans were calm, competent, and kind. Even still, she felt immense relief at the sight of the healer.

“I heard the cry in the hall,” he said, rushing to her side. He put his face close to the seam opening in her abdomen and ran one gentle finger over it. “Very soon! Let me get you some medication.”

Kiran crossed the room with three vials and a wafer in his hands. “Here they are!”

She opened her mouth and let Kiran pop the wafer in. Holding it on her tongue, it dissolved quickly and provided relief almost as fast.

She drank two of the vials while Falkilm carefully poured the third vial over the seam.

Dropping her head back, she closed her eyes and focused on mentally encouraging her baby.

“I can see the back,” Falkilm announced. Feeling a little dopy from the medication, Palathum lifted her head to see a rounded shape emerging from the wide-open slit.

“I’m going to have Kamie reach in and move the baby around a little,” Falkilm explained. “It’s nothing bad, we only want to shift the infant so the head can come out first.”

They’d talked the entire process through several times, even going over various scenarios. It was decided that if the baby needed to be manipulated, then Kamie would be the best choice. She had small, deft hands and had studied all the literature with Falkilm.

“I’m ready,” she said, moving around the bed while she rubbed sterilizing cream on her hands. Utharium had put bottles of it all around her bed and insisted everyone use it, even Palathum herself.

“I’ll get Utharium,” Kiran said.

Palathum sounded a rumble of agreement. She couldn’t talk; she’d locked her jaw against the pain. It hurt enough to break through the medication.

“I’m going to see if I can do it with one hand,” Kamie said. “I’m starting now.”

Keeping her eyes squeezed shut, Palathum focused on breathing. Surprisingly, it didn’t hurt when Kamie slid her hand in with the baby. The human worked her tiny hand around until she’d shifted the baby’s head.

“There she is!” Falkilm said. “I’m going to hold the head steady. Kamie, see if you can get the feet together; they’ve shifted apart."

“It’s happening!” Utharium cried out, running into the room at a full sprint. He skidded to a halt next to Palathum and grabbed one of her hands. “I’m here. What can I do?”

“Talk to me,” Palathum begged, focusing on his face instead of the human hand fishing around in her belly! “Tell me about the last report Iris sent.”

“Brath station is on schedule,” he responded without hesitation.

“Iris says there will be delays later. There’s an issue with a contract, and she’s already looking at viable companies to replace the one giving her trouble.

I think we should tell her to just keep negotiating with the current company. ”

Palathum wanted to make a negative rattle, but couldn’t because she was lying on her back. “No, let Iris find a different company. I trust her judgment. She did an amazing job with the Inorm station, even though she was also having to help me organize shipments here.”

It was only after she defended Iris that she realized Utharium had baited her on purpose.

“Oh, you’re clever,” she said. “Tell me—”

She then let out a scream. It felt like something was being torn from her body.

Utharium sounded a challenging rattle, probably ready to start fighting everyone in the room, but stopped when Falkilm held their daughter up.

“Meet your parents,” he said, and handed the infant over to Palathum.

After that last wave of agony, the pain receded to nothing but a slight throbbing. Euphoria flooded her as she accepted her baby and cradled her against her chest.

Suddenly, it was all worth it: the discomfort, the frustration, and the pain.

Humans and Talins flooded into the room. They crowded around her, congratulating her and Utharium.

He leaned in close, putting his face next to their child.

“I’ve only just met you,” Utharium said, rumbling loudly. “But I’m ready to die for you.”

“More importantly,” Palathum murmured, guiding Utharium’s hand to the baby’s head.

“We will live for you, my child. You’ll never be left to fend for yourself.

You have a family.” She looked up to find the room full of other Talins and humans.

Several of the humans had tears in their eyes from excess emotions.

She put her lips near the infant's ear and whispered, “A vast, loving family.”

Utharium

Much later, after Falkilm had wrapped Palathum’s abdomen, checked the health of their child, and Kiran gently herded everyone else out of the room, he and Palathum were finally alone.

Kiran and Kamie brought over a second bed and attached it to Palathum’s. It would still be a tight fit, but Utharium was grateful he could lie down and wouldn’t need to sit up all night.

After that was done, Falkilm, Kiran, and Kamie had retreated to their private quarters next door. It was comforting to have them so close.

“After witnessing all you had to go through, I understand why they used to call birth givers Warriors of Life.”

Palathum sounded a tired rumble of amusement. “Same.”

The infant was sound asleep on her chest. Later, they would transfer the baby to the incubator that would monitor her through the night, but for now, Palathum didn’t want to let her go.

Utharium understood. He couldn’t stop gazing at all her tiny, perfect features.

Palathum’s eyes were closed, and her breathing was even. Utharium thought she’d fallen asleep until she spoke.

“I’m glad I did it,” Palathum murmured, without opening her eyes. “But let’s use an artificial womb next time.”

“I couldn’t agree more!” Utharium said with heartfelt relief.

“I didn’t get the chance to tell you,” Palathum said.

“I’ve been in contact with my brother, and it was finally revealed that he and his wife want to do what we’ve done.

They secretly scent bonded and want to raise a family.

He thinks he can do it on one of our stations, but I’ve told him to come here instead. ”

“That’s wise,” Utharium said. “We can shelter them here, and you can give his wife a realistic understanding of what live birth is like.”

“I’ll try not to scare her,” Palathum said with another amused rumble. “Wouldn’t it be amazing to have more family here?”

“I never thought I’d like a noisy, chaotic environment, but the humans have taught me there is joy in their way of life,” Utharium said. “I think your brother and sister-in-law would thrive once they became accustomed.”

“Have you decided on a name yet?” Palathum asked. Traditionally, each parent got to pick a name for one child. Palathum had decided he would choose their first child's name. She claimed it was so he could feel like he contributed. He thought it was more likely she couldn’t pick!

“Solsum,” he said.

“The first ancestor of united Talarian. The builder of empires,” Palathum whispered. “That’s a strong name.”

“It seemed fitting because she’s the first Talin born of our new little empire here on Kalor.”

“Did you hear that, my child?” Palathum asked the sleeping infant. “Your father has given you a name. You’re Solsum, builder of empires and, most importantly, beloved of Palathum and Utharium.”