Page 28

Olivia

GRACE FOLLOWED ME WHEN I stepped into the apartment, feeling drained, both mentally and physically. I had cried so much when they brought Orin into the infirmary that my eyes felt gritty and tired.

My lower back was aching, and I felt light-headed.

Maybe it was all the stress, but for what felt like a couple of hours I’d been having worsening cramps. The pains, initially mild, felt like period cramps.

Scraping my hands through my hair, I let out a massive sigh. Would this day ever end?

A whirlwind of emotions and worry clouded my mind. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing Orin. Even when Rekna said he would pull through, the wait for him to wake after being shot was agonizing.

When he opened his eyes, I almost sobbed with relief then reminded myself that I had to be strong, for him. Then the second alarm went off in the palace, sending everyone on high alert again.

After he left the infirmary, I began freaking out all over again.

I padded across the room. “I hope it’s not some kind of invasion force out there, because I’ve already had enough worry for today.” My attempt at humor only made me shudder with more fear. All I wanted was to be in Orin’s arms, where I felt safe and loved.

“They will be okay,” she said, trying to reassure us both. “I will make us something to eat, and some tea.” Grace headed to the food prep area, and I eased myself onto the sofa.

A sudden, thunderous noise from above jolted us, and Grace and I shared startled looks. “I’m sure we are safe here. Don’t worry.” Although her voice lacked reassurance, I nodded in agreement as a wave of pain rolled through me.

It was getting worse. The contractions were getting too frequent, and I couldn’t deny that I might be in labor.

Well, okay, it was pretty clear I was, in fact, in labor.

Pressing my hands to my belly I moaned as an even more intense wave of pain rolled through me.

“Argh,” I cried out bending forward in agony.

This wasn’t the way it was supposed to happen. The baby couldn’t come yet...I needed Orin to be there when I gave birth to my baby girl.

He said he’d be there.

I moaned as a crippling wave of contractions hit. “Grace!”

She was entering the living area, holding two cups of tea and when she saw me, she put the cups down and rushed over. “Liv? What’s wrong?”

I waited for the pain to ease off. It didn’t right away, and instead escalated to the point I almost couldn’t bear it before it finally eased.

“The baby is coming.”

She helped me off the sofa and led me toward the door. “How long have you been having contractions?”

“Don’t know...maybe a few hours? They are getting worse and happening more often now,” I hissed between gritted teeth.

“How far apart are the contractions? Like every ten minutes? Or more often?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Ten, maybe?”

“I’m calling Rekna. Whatever you do...don’t push, just do short pants like we talked about.”

“I can walk to the infirmary, Grace,” I ground out as I tried to walk and keeled over instead.

She made a clucking sound, releasing me. Then hurried to the door, and I heard her tell a guard to contact the medic.

By the time I reached the door, Rekna and two other medics carrying a stretcher were dashing toward me.

Rekna and Grace helped me onto the stretcher when I felt dampness trickling down my legs.

“Uh oh,” I whispered.

Rekna’s brows pinched while he stared at me.

My lips down-turned. “I think my waters just broke.”

He scanned my belly with a handheld device then shoved it into his coat pocket. “We must hurry. Baby is ready to arrive.”

‘Orin, I need you,’ I cried out in my mind. Tears threatened. “I can’t have the baby yet. Orin isn’t here.”

Grace patted my hand. “I’ll try to contact him for you.”

The medics hurried me down the hall to the infirmary and lifted me onto a bed while I attempted to pant through the pain of more contractions.

Rekna fussed over me, giving instructions to Grace as the pair readied me to deliver the baby.

Panting in quick breaths I willed my baby girl to hold on a little longer. I tuned the others out as my mind returned to Orin and I pleaded for him to get to me in time to see my baby being born.