Page 96 of Dragon Keeper

“There we are. That should ease things up for a little while.” The midwife mopped up, humming, which actually seemed to calm Tyr a lot. She had magic in her voice and hands.

Tyr walked around the room, stopping every little bit to pant and hold onto him. Tor stayed close, light emanating from him.

Sloan petted him, massaged his back, walked with him, sang to him. He sang to their Melissa too, encouraging her to come out and be in the light.

It seemed to take forever and also, it took no time at all before Tyr grabbed his hand.

“Help me! She’s coming!”

“Back on the bed, love.” He eased Tyr down, letting him rest, and soon enough, there was a little hand. And a foot.

His eyes went wide. “Isn’t the head supposed to come out first?”

“Tyr is special.” She reached into Tyr’s body, easing Melissa around.

“Dragons are special to Sloan,” Tor murmured. “He’s only seen human births.”

“Really? Fascinating.”

“Focus!” Tyr roared, the sound sharp and hard.

“Yes, yes. Do not scare her back into your innards.”

Sloan gagged. He really wished the midwife had put that a different way.

She chuckled softly. “Alphas are so sensitive…”

Tyr’s laughter sounded strangled.

“When it comes to our omegas? Yes we are. I could be spurting blood and not notice, but Tyr has been in pain for hours!” He bit back anything else, because his voice had risen.

Tor’s lights seemed to get brighter, and they wrapped around him and Tyr both, the luminescence somehow soothing.Be at peace, brother. Tyr is well. You are having your child. Your first child. This moment will never happen again.

He nodded, holding Tyr to him, protecting him from all things, even himself.Thank you, Tor. You are appreciated.

Tor winked at him.She’s coming, you two. Catch!

Tyr roared, slumping in his arms, huge heart pounding fast and hard.

Sloan and Tor did just that. He caught Tyr, Tor caught their daughter, and golden light filled the whole room, a great flash of it making him blind for a moment.

PAPA! The sound snapped through the air, pushing into his very soul.

“My baby girl.” He almost sobbed, hugging Tyr. “Love, look at her. She’s glowing harder than Tor.”

Tyr blinked at her, then closed his eyes. “She’s perfect. We should keep her.”

“We should.” He looked to the midwife. “What can I do?”

“Help Tor clean up that sweet baby. Then you can cauterize the cord. I’ll tend to Tyr.”

“Of course.”

She shone—her scales metallic and golden, and her eyes were a bright, shocking blue. Tears stung his eyes, because she was the most beautiful little thing he’d ever seen in his life.

He gently laid Tyr down on the bed so the midwife could clean him up, and he took Melissa from Tor, using a soft towel to wipe her down. “Hello, my little love. You’re amazing.”

She blinked at him, so focused, so big, as if she’d arrived more grown than other little ones.Papa.