Blood Challenge (6 page)

Two mornings later, Viggo shook her awake in the early hours. Ellie rolled over and stared up at him, blinking. He said something, but her fuzzy brain didn’t recognize the words. “Huh?”

“The baby’s coming. Davinia wants you.”

So soon. Had Golatia known? Of course she had, Ellie decided, as she slid from the bed. She wasn’t aware of the way the neckline of her flannel gown gaped open until she saw Viggo avert his eyes. A blush warmed her cheeks, but she put aside her embarrassment and slid on a robe with brisk movements. “I’m ready.”

She spoke confidently, but her stomach was a mass of nerves as she followed Viggo from the small guest room to the main bedroom. How could she really be ready? What did Davinia want from her? She prayed it was only the comfort of a female companion, because she didn’t have any experience delivering babies. She only knew what she had observed during Árvore births, silently watching the midwives and mothers perform the miracles, while she took notes.

The room was icy, and Ellie huddled in her robe, shivering. She realized why it was so cold when she saw Davinia. Her face was bright red, and her hair hung in damp strands. Pants issued from her, interspaced with low moans. Her eyes darted around the room, and she appeared on the edge of panic.

Ellie acted instinctively, going to the bed and grasping her friend’s hand. “How are you holding up?”

“Fine.” She sounded anything but fine though. She shot a fearful look at Viggo, and then brought her gaze back to Ellie’s. “Just fine.” She seemed to be communicating that she wanted Viggo to leave.

Ellie frowned as the thought blossomed in her mind as clearly as if Davinia had spoken aloud. She cleared her throat and looked at Viggo. “Could you bring some hot water and fresh towels? Also, a blanket for the baby.”

Viggo nodded and hurried from the room at a running pace. As soon as he was gone, Davinia’s grip on her hand increased tenfold. She tried to keep her tone soothing. “How soon do you think it will be, Davinia?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been having pains since yesterday.”

Ellie’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you say something?”

She shifted. “I hoped they would stop. I can’t do this, Ellie. I’m not ready.”

She pushed the hair off her face. “I don’t think you have a choice. You can’t reschedule, you know.”

Davinia shook her head. “I don’t want to do this. I don’t know how.”

She didn’t like the note of hysteria creeping into the other woman’s voice. “Shh, it’s okay. We’ll send Viggo to fetch the midwife. She’ll come for the Beta.” Wouldn’t she?

“No, she won’t. You’ll see. I’m going to die, and no one in this goddamned place will care.” The anger in her tone faded as another contraction hit. Davinia bent forward, grasping her stomach, and grunted.

“You aren’t going to die.” She stroked Davinia’s hand, racking her brain for something to say. “Try to breathe.” Ellie recited something she had heard on TV programs a hundred times. “Small pants, okay? Follow your instincts. You know what to do.” But she didn’t have a clue. Her stomach churned with nausea as she acknowledged she had at least an inkling of what to expect, but no experience. Although she had watched a few births, with the mothers’ permission, that didn’t make her qualified to deliver a baby.

Viggo returned in record time, bearing a bucket of hot water, an armful of towels, and a comforter large enough to wrap the baby at least a dozen times, when she arrived. As soon as he dropped the items on the bed, he was at Davinia’s side. “How is it? Is she coming?”

“Soon.”

Davinia’s equanimity shocked Ellie, in contrast to her behavior of a few minutes ago. She stepped forward, touching Viggo’s shoulder to get his attention. She didn’t miss the way he stiffened, and she hurriedly dropped her hand. “Will you fetch the midwife, Viggo? It’s about time for her.”

Viggo frowned. “I don’t want to leave Davinia.”

“Go on. It won’t take long at all. You’ll be back in plenty of time.” Ellie tried to sound positive, and she was pleased when he nodded. Viggo paused to drop a lingering kiss on his wife’s mouth before hurrying from the bedroom. They heard the front door close less than a minute later.

“I hope he took a coat,” Davinia said amid pants.

Before Ellie could respond, another contraction came, following the last by little more than a minute. She watched the hands on the clock tick off the minutes, as Davinia’s labor intensified. By the time fifteen minutes had passed, she knew her friend couldn’t wait any longer for the midwife. She swallowed her nervousness, knowing she had no choice. “I’ll be right back.”

She gave Davinia a calm smile as she went into the bathroom and washed her hands after removing the robe. She left it draped over the door and returned to Davinia. She tried to keep her tone steady. “I think we’re going to have to do this by ourselves, Davinia.” When she saw the panic in Davinia’s eyes, she rushed to say, “I’ve seen it done. That is, I’ve watched a few deliveries. I’m no expert, but we’ll manage.”

“No.” Davinia shook her head, even as she bent forward under the force of a contraction.

“Yes.” She spoke firmly, not allowing a hint of her fear to show. “Your body knows what to do. All I have to do is catch.”

Davinia eyed her uncertainly, but the next contraction seemed to convince her she had no choice. Ellie gave her a reassuring smile, while secretly wondering how they would manage. She prayed Viggo and the midwife would return soon as she knelt before Davinia and hoped all she really had to do was catch Ylenia when she entered the world.

Time had passed, but she didn’t know how much. It felt like an eternity, but also an instant. “I think this is it. I can see her head. Push, Davinia.” She was too busy to look at the clock, but she wasn’t too distracted to wonder what had happened to Viggo. It seemed obvious Belia wasn’t coming, so where could he be?

“I want to wait for Viggo.”

“You can’t. She isn’t going to wait that long.” Even as she said the words, she saw Davinia straining to push. It seemed to happen in a rush. Seconds later, the baby was in her hands. She was slippery and screaming. Tears of reaction gathered at the back of Ellie’s eyes as she examined the infant. She didn’t know if she was small for her age, but Ylenia appeared perfect in every way, except for a profusion of dark hair all over her body.

“She’s gorgeous, Davinia. Let me finish here, and then you can have her.” She dipped a towel into the cooled water and washed the baby as thoroughly as she could. Ellie bypassed the comforter and wrapped her in another towel before handing the impatient baby to her equally impatient mother.

She smiled as Davinia immediately unwrapped the towel and counted her fingers and toes. “She’s beautiful.” Davinia’s voice broke, and she began sobbing. “Look at all that fur.”

Ellie frowned at the odd words, but her attention turned when the door slammed against the wall. Viggo strode in, looking ready to murder. “What’s wrong? What have you done to my wife?”

Ellie’s eyes widened. “Nothing.”

“I’m all right,” Davinia managed to say amid sobs. “She’s just so beautiful.”

Viggo froze for a minute. His gaze dropped to Ylenia, and he rushed forward, pushing Ellie aside in his eagerness.

She didn’t mind. She smiled as she backed away, right into a solid body. She tilted her head and saw Rica. She immediately dropped her chin and tried to step away, but froze when his hands settled on her shoulders. She bowed her head, wondering if he would berate her for assisting Davinia.

“It’s over?” Viggo couldn’t seem to absorb it, even as he lifted the baby from the towel and held her against his shoulder. She howled with outrage as the snow from his clothes seeped into her skin. He jerked and shoved her back to Davinia, looking on the verge of panic.

“You did this?” Rica’s voice was meant for her ears only.

She didn’t detect any anger in his tone, so she mustered her courage and turned to face him. She nodded.

He nodded in return. “We owe you our thanks.”

She resisted the urge to downplay her involvement. She didn’t want gratitude, but she didn’t want it to become a big deal either. “She saved my life.” The explanation was succinct, but should suffice. She cleared her throat. “The midwife should probably examine Ylenia and Davinia though. I don’t know anything about…after.” She swayed as her head grew light.

His arms were there instantly, bracing her. She looked up at him with blurred eyes. “Who am I kidding? I didn’t know anything about before or during either. I’ve seen a few babies born, but I could have killed her.” A wave of nausea rolled up her throat, and she heaved. Fortunately, there wasn’t anything in her stomach to bring up.

A wave of weakness followed the incident, and she didn’t protest as Rica lifted her into his arms. She didn’t do anything except snuggle closer, reveling in his strength, as her own faded.

Viggo and Davinia didn’t pay any attention as Rica carried her from their room and down the hallway. Ellie tried to gather her wits, but all she could think about was the damage she could have done to Davinia or Ylenia. She didn’t realize her fears had poured from her in a babble of words until Rica spoke.

“You were brave enough to try. She needed you, and you were there.”

She nodded, trying to stop shaking as Rica kicked open the door to her room and carried her to the bed. She looked up at him uncertainly as he lowered her to the mattress. Her eyes widened when he followed, stretching out beside her. She wanted to ask what he was doing, but she didn’t care. She didn’t want him to leave. Tentatively, she curled closer, wondering at her own show of vulnerability, but unable to rein it in.

He didn’t protest when she laid her head on his shoulder. She marshaled her thoughts, returning the subject to Davinia. “Where is Belia? She has to examine them.”

“She will.” He spoke grimly. “She refused to come, because Davinia is not one of the Pack.”

She stiffened. “That’s nonsense. She’s married to your brother.” She frowned. “I’m not surprised though. It’s no wonder they don’t accept her, since you don’t even acknowledge her existence. I haven’t even seen you speak to Davinia in the days I’ve been here. I guess it takes an
outsider
to notice.” She expected an angry response and realized she wanted one. In her overwrought state, she was spoiling to rid herself of excess energy.

“You’re right.” His mild tone surprised her. “The others have followed my lead. I never meant to deliberately ignore her, but I have had difficulty getting past what she is. I allowed her to stay because my brother told me he would leave the Pack to be with her if I didn’t.” He hesitated. “Perhaps I have allowed my resentment to cloud my judgment. I promise you this will not go on any longer. She and the cub could have died.” His voice lowered to a growl. “Belia will come. I assure you.”

She nodded her satisfaction, and her cheek brushed against the cold flannel of his shirt. A yawn surprised her. How could she even think of sleeping after everything that had happened? Another yawn followed, forcing her to recognize her exhaustion. The adrenaline rush had faded, and she could barely keep her eyes open. “Make sure she isn’t alone with Davinia. Your sister-in-law has tender feelings, and the woman might hurt her.”

He sounded amused. “Have you appointed yourself her caretaker, Ellie?”

“Someone had to,” she said in a whisper as her eyes closed. She thought she felt Rica’s lips brush against her mouth, but it might have been part of a dream that followed her immediately into sleep.

Rica looked up as the opened door swung open all the way a few minutes later. He saw Viggo framed in the doorway, but made no effort to disengage his hold on Ellie. She had curled against him so trustingly, and she smelled so good, that it was difficult to imagine parting from her. His cock had reminded him how long it had been since he had taken a woman, and it took all his determination to keep from waking her up, rousing her into a frenzy, and burying his cock inside her pussy.

He forced away the thoughts as Viggo took a step into the room. Rica bit back a sigh as he rearranged Ellie and stood up. He took time to get an extra blanket from the chest at the foot of the bed to cover her, not wanting to risk waking her by lifting her off the covers and putting her under them. When he was satisfied she would be warm enough, he turned to his brother, glad the tail of his checked shirt covered his hard cock. “How are your wife and the cub?”

“They seem well, but I don’t know. Belia will have to examine them.”

“You should have come for me before going to her.” Rica’s eyes narrowed. “She wouldn’t have refused me.”

“I would have, if I had been thinking.” Viggo ran a hand through his dark hair, further tousling it. “All I could think of was alleviating Davinia’s pain.” He snarled. “Damn that woman for her insolence. I’ve a mind to teach her a lesson about the old ways.” His pitch increased. “She dared quote to me about tradition of the Pack. Said it wasn’t our way to help outsiders. My wife is not an outsider!”

Ellie twitched in her sleep and made a soft sound. “Lower your voice.” Rica frowned. “She’s exhausted.” He gestured to his brother, indicating they should leave the room. “Go be with your wife. I’ll bring Belia.”

Viggo paused in the hallway, staring at Ellie before Rica closed the door. “She did a great thing for Davinia and Ylenia. I owe her.”

“No, we owe her. Davinia is my kin too. The obligation belongs to us all.”