Vern
“Uncle Vern, Uncle Vern, they’re coming!”
The piercing voice startled me from my intense concentration while framing the large tub into the far corner of the birthing center.
I knew I had to get it done soon, knew it wouldn’t be long before Falco went into labor.
Though I recognized the voice, I glanced past the open door of the center to see Ellis racing toward me.
Was I too late already? Would this be the day the village declared me a fraud because I hadn’t been ready for my mate to give birth?
Ever since Falco had gotten pregnant, I was sure every being watched me closely, looking for some reason to prove I wasn’t a good mate.
I loved him with everything I had, but it still seemed unreal that he chose me.
And now he carried my babies, soon to deliver them out into our enchanted world.
All the doubts I’d had before being mated seemed amplified at the idea of becoming a parent.
Not only did I worry about not being good enough for Falco, but I also worried I wouldn’t know how to raise children properly.
The other parents in the community told me I worried for nothing, that I was great with their kids, but having little ones of my own seemed a far bigger undertaking.
Ellis came to a stop at the entrance, panting as he held onto the doorframe.
“They’re coming,” he huffed out. “I talked to them in Falco’s belly.
I told them to come out because I wanted to play with them, and now they are.
They listened to me. Uncle Walter sent me ahead, and Rauh said you’re supposed to fill the tub. ”
Miffs. I knew I wouldn’t finish in time.
But what I’d accomplished would have to do for the moment.
“Okay, I’ll get right to it.” With Falco and those accompanying him on their way to the village, I had to hurry.
First, I wet a cloth to wipe the dust and other debris from the construction of the building out of the tub.
Once I was sure it was clean enough, I pumped in the water.
We had drilled a well under the building for the sole purpose of using it for the birthing center.
It was supposed to be faster and meant no one had to haul water from a central well shared with others in the community.
Except the water came out cold, pumped out from deep in the ground.
I paused the flow of water to light the stove underneath.
Unlike in Falco’s realm, we didn’t have what he called electricity to heat things up, but we did borrow some of the technology from the outer-world to find alternate ways to do things.
Plus, Max had taught me to stretch my magic to not only keep me in my human form but to use it for simple tasks as well.
So, after getting the tub filled over halfway, I stuck my finger into the water and swirled it around.
If the length of time between Ellis disappearing and reappearing at the door was any indication of how long until my mate arrived, the fire below wouldn’t heat the water in time for Falco to use the tub.
As I weaved my finger through the water, the liquid produced a faint red glow.
I hoped it provided enough warmth since I heard the shuffling of many feet before I turned around to find my mate with sweat beading across his forehead and being held up by Walter and Rauh.
“It’s time,” the healer said.
I nodded, immediately knowing what I had to do as I rushed toward my mate, like a new kind of instinct kicked in that I didn’t know I possessed until that instant.