Page 121 of The Omega's Bloodlinem: Part Two

“Don’t fucking fight me on this.”

Calliope was freaking out while Sarah bundled the new babies into two carriers. Murdoch hooked the strap of one over his shoulder, and Sarah took the other while Dr. Atling and I worked to wrestle an ornery Calliope into leaving.

The nest is my responsibility, too.

“Yourbabiesare your responsibility. We’ll take care of the nest, but you have to fucking get out of here.”

Luckily the hospital bed was on wheels. Dr. Atling kicked off the brakes and we rolled Calliope out of the nest while she hissed at us, cussing up a storm in my head.I could help. Please! You all keep making choices without me and I fucking hate it.

“I know, babe. I’m sorry. We can’t let you stay, though. You just gave birth. You have five children who need you. We’re evacuating the whole place. There won’t be anyone still here for you to help.”

But…

“No buts. The future of the nest needs to be protected, and that means making sure you’re all safe. You’ve gotta teach the newbie the ropes.”

No! Don’t you dare talk like you’re going to die.

I sniffed back my tears and panic. “Calliope, you heard what Logan said. The literal best-case scenario is that we lose our shifting. I’m not carrying around a lot of hope.”

Well, fucking start.She shifted from tiger to human, grimacing at the toll it took on her body, but then she dragged me close, hugging me fiercely. “I’ll reverse haunt you too. Don’t fucking die.”

Dr. Atling swung a hospital gown over Calliope’s shoulders so she wouldn’t be naked going down the highway.

“You can yell at me as much as you want to later,” I told Calliope, “but right now I only care about you getting out of here.”

Murdoch lovingly scooped her off the gurney when we arrived and settled her in the passenger seat before cramming into the back with Dr. Atling and the babies. He reached out the window to me. “Saying to stay safe won’t mean anything, but know that we appreciate you.”

I sniffled, nodding hastily. “Go. There’s not much time. Name one of the babies after me if I don’t make it. A middle name is cool with me if you’re not loving it for a first name.”

“You can count on it.” Murdoch gave my hand a final squeeze before dipping back inside.

I held my breath as they sped off, praying to every god I knew that this would all work out.

“Oh, hell.”

I turned in the direction Shakti was staring, numbness creeping up my fingertips. “Laila!”

I bolted toward the gate. She’d been watching the perimeter with a few others while we were busy. I collapsed to my knees next to my gargoyle, my hands immediately moving to her shoulders, trying to shake her awake.

Her blank eyes couldn’t be real.

Shakti attended the other fallen body, but I couldn’t drag my gaze away from Laila. It was my fault she’d been out here. She could’ve left, could’ve flown away in the night, but she’d stayed even while watching every moment of my time get diverted to Logan during all the chaos. Gods, I was a terrible friend. I should’ve convinced her to go.

“Velda!” Kelly came sprinting out of the nest, Tessa and Yumi at her heels. “Oh, fuck.”

“Get in one of the vehicles.” I sprang away from Laila, pushing the three of them toward the garage. I wasn’t going to lose another fucking person.

They squawked and complained as I forced them into a car, but I wasn’t going to be dissuaded.

“Velda, what the fuck is happening?” Tessa asked.

“The wards have fallen. Pick a road. Seattle will take you only so long as you’re moving on. Medford has space, for now anyway. I’m so sorry.”

Yumi clutched me tightly, hanging out the window. “I’m sorry about Laila. Look us up when this is all over, yeah?”

Tears were hot on my cheeks. “I will.”

Shakti appeared at my back, hustling two more shifters into the vehicle with my girls. “We don’t have time for this. You need to leave.”