Page 39 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire (Order #4)
Chapter thirty-eight
Forest
K icking and clawing at my insides, my girl feels as if she is ripping me apart from the inside out.
Letting out a vicious scream, I stumble into Rowan, gripping her cloak for extra support. Wide-eyed and confused, she holds me as best she can.
"Forest, what's wrong?" she gasps.
"Something's wrong with her," I cry. "We need to get her out-"
"Forest?" Valerie questions. Stepping down from the cabin steps, Fallan follows in pursuit after her. Running past Valerie, Fallan helps me up. Feeling a wetness run down my legs, I scream in excruciating pain.
"She knows," I gasp. "She knows I need her out-"
"Forest is being induced into an early labor," Rowan snaps. "We need to cut her out now, before Elyon can catch on to where we are."
Dragging me up the cabin steps, Valerie directs us toward the kitchen's counter, already lined with cloths and towels. Looking at the half assed surgical set up, I glare at the large bottle of alcohol.
"We had to make do with what we had," Valerie says frantically. "Now get her up here."
Helping me lay down, Valerie and the others cut away at my clothes, giving them all a view of my belly.
Looking down at the bump, Fallan supports my head, rubbing my temples in an attempt to soothe me.
"The water has broken but a vaginal birth isn't possible," Valerie whispers. "It will take too long-"
"Cut her out!" I yell. "Cut her out of me now!" I scream.
Hearing a jumble of confused thoughts from my girl, I grab the scalpel, ready to tear her free myself.
"She needs out," I gasp. "She needs out now-"
Grabbing my wrist, Valerie stops me.
"We don't have anything to dull the pain, Forest-"
"I am dead either way!" I yell. "But she isn't, so fucking move!"
Throwing on a mask of bravery, Valerie begins sterilizing the equipment, taking the scalpel from my hand. Leaning my head back, Fallan and I lock eyes.
"H-Hey," I whisper.
Rubbing my temples in small circular motions, he looks pained.
"I'm so sorry, Forest," he whispers. "None of this was part of the plan-"
"Tell me something happy," I whisper, ignoring the background noise of the others yelling at one another. "Tell me something that I can hold onto."
Tensing his jaw, he forces on a smile for me.
"Can you imagine Xavier teaching her how to do her hair?" Fallan laughs. "Those big hands, he is going to make her stand out one way or another with his hairstyles."
Giving him a mix between a laugh and a sob, I grab Valerie's free hand.
"Good thing her aunt will be there to help, and her uncle. Kai was always better at those kinds of things."
Wishing my brother could be here now, I try and steer the conversation in a new direction.
"Will you stay in New Haven after I am gone?"
Shaking his head, Fallan looks pained.
"I don't want to think about that now," he whispers. "Plus, who will look after Xavier?"
Letting out yet another sob, the slicing pain of the blade cutting into my lower stomach is agonizing. Screaming at the top of my lungs, Rowan forces me to stay still with her Hold. Closing my eyes, I try and keep it together.
"I suppose Xavier will need someone other than our girl," I cry. "Think y-you can handle him?"
Laughing, tears roll down Fallan's cheeks.
"I don't really have a choice, do I?" he smiles.
"No," I gasp. "Not really..."
Letting out another scream, Fallan holds my head, giving me some sense of comfort.
"She's close, Forest," Valerie snaps. "Rowan, get over here, I need some help."
"I-I don't-"
"Do it!" Valerie snaps, not giving Rowan an option.
Sensing her presence come closer, the women work quietly, tugging and prodding in every way possible.
"F-Fallan?" I gasp. "Do you hate me?"
Creasing his eyebrows, his head shakes.
"N-No, Forest. I meant it when I said I love you. I hate myself for so many reasons," he sobs. "I hate myself even more for not giving myself an opportunity to see you in a light that Dove hadn't shed."
Closing my eyes again, the pain is sickening.
"I'm sorry for what I did to her-"
"She would have hurt Xavier," Fallan snaps. "All you've ever done is protect the people you love. I didn't understand it then... I do now."
"I see her head!" Valerie yells. "We are so close, Forest."
"I don't resent you, Fallan," I whisper, weakly raising my hand to his cheek, my blood smearing his skin. "I don't hate you-"
"I've got her!" Rowan yells, forcing me to look up.
Holding her small, bloodied figure, Valerie cuts at the cord, Rowan quickly bundling my girl in the soft, clean cloths they had set aside.
Ready to embrace her in my arms, Rowan quickly places her on my chest.
Taking it all in, her beautiful face looks peaceful, her heart thundering with power. Smiling at the sight of her, one thing throws me into a state of panic.
She isn't crying.
My heart stops.
Why isn't she crying?