Hunted

Chapter 28

Moira smoothed Simone’s hair back from her already purpling face. “I think her cheekbone is broken.”

Cara struggled to swing her legs over the edge of the bed, reaching for Simone’s arms. “That’s not all he broke.” She grimaced, tugging the unconscious woman up. “Her heart pretty much shattered the second she walked in the room. Set her up here.”

With a grunt, Moira lifted Simone to the bed, resting her back against the wall. She slumped down, her long black hair falling over her face. “Sometimes I forget you’re an empath.”

“So do I.” Cara scooted over, sucking in air. “Just so you know. Not for one second did she plan to go along with him.”

“Yeah.” Moira had known that from Simone’s first shocked look. “She took the only chance she had to knock him out and get us free.” Unfortunately, now Moira had two women needing her to rescue them. She frowned, vaguely remembering she had heard a woman when they’d arrived. “If Simone hasn’t been helping Trevan, who has?”

Cara clutched her stomach, curling into a ball. A low moan escaped her. The smoky scent of pain filled the air. Brain waves, or maybe life waves, cascaded off her in shades of blue and green. “Um. This baby’s coming.”

Panic had Moira rising to her feet. “Make him stop.” The words emerged before she could bite her lip.

Cara gave a strangled laugh. “You know he’s Talen’s son, right? If he wants out ...”

Of course. Another stubborn Kayrs male. She wished she could communicate with them. “Oh. Okay. Um, lie back and I’ll, uh, take a look.” Whatever force had whipped them there must’ve started labor.

Simone groaned awake, smoothing a hand over her left cheekbone. “Trevan’s an asshole.”

Moira huffed out a laugh. “I’m worried he broke your face.”

“Feels like it.” Simone blinked twice, focusing on Cara cringing at the end of the bed. “Ah, you’re not ...” She tugged herself to her feet, getting out of the way. Her heeled boots slid through the water and her arms windmilled as she regained her balance. “Ug.”

“Yeah.” Cara stretched out, her eyes wide in panic as she kicked her underwear across the cell. “I can’t do this. I mean, I really can’t do this. A vampire baby for goodness sakes. I need Talen.”

Moira needed Talen, too. She shared a panicked look with Simone.

Simone cleared her throat, spreading her hands out. “This is fine. I lived on a farm once.”

“A farm?” Cara nearly shrieked.

“Yes.” Simone rubbed her palms together. “Trust me. So long as the little vamp doesn’t bite you on the way out ...”

“What?” Cara did shriek this time. “Talen said the fangs didn’t come in until they were around ten years old.”

Simone snorted, dropping to her knees at the edge of the bed. “That’s true.” She rolled up Cara’s skirt. “I was just kidding. Okay, let’s take some deep breaths here.”

“Funny. Very funny.” Cara threw an arm over her eyes. Pain vibrated from her in waves. “This hurts.”

“Go see if there are towels in the bathroom,” Simone murmured to her cousin.

Moira ran inside the bathroom, flinging open a cupboard and yanking out two white towels smelling of a spring breeze. Clean. Good. She hustled back, towels in hand. “Got them.”

Fear clogged her throat. Cara had the virus and needed a doctor. The woman was in a weakened condition. What if she died the second the babe came out? What if the baby had problems?

“Ah, we don’t have much time here. This baby wants out.” Simone placed one towel over Cara’s bent knees. “Moira, I need you to pin my hair back.”

Moira scanned the cell, panic jerking her movements. She spotted the black cord holding Simone’s Celtic knot pendant around her cousin’s neck. She had the exact same one. A while back, Kell purchased birthday presents for all his cousins in bulk, doling the same pendant out all year. They’d given him a hard time, but really, the guy had tried. With a sob, she unlatched Simone’s cord, winding it through her hair to secure. “There you go.”

“Thanks.” Simone took a deep breath. “Okay. Now we’re just going to breathe deep and focus.”

Focusing took minutes. Then an hour. Then two more hours. Moira jerked with each contraction as Cara’s entire body went rigid and she moaned. Then, when each pain subsided, Moira sagged against the wall in relief.

Finally, Simone settled the towel more securely across Cara’s knees. “Cara, it’s time to push.”

“No. God no.” Cara’s body trembled. “I’m not pushing. He’s staying in until Talen gets here.” Terror filled the woman’s voice.

Moira bent down, her face next to Cara’s. “Your babe needs to breathe, Cara. Push him out so he can. I promise you it’ll be all right.” They couldn’t let the baby die. Or Cara for that matter.

Tears filled Cara’s eyes. “You promise?”

“Yes.” How she’d keep such a promise, she didn’t know. But she would.

Simone grabbed a towel to place on the bed. “I think he’s ready. With the next contraction, bear down.”

Cara nodded, sweat pooling on her forehead. “Simone? I’m sorry about Trevan.”

A sad smile lit Simone’s battered face. “Thank you. No worries, he’s not the first mistake I’ve made.”

Cara stiffened, groaning. “I’m sorry ... about Dage ... too.”

Simone glanced up. “Oh, I didn’t mean the king. We weren’t in love.” She rolled her eyes. “Though I would’ve made a hell of a queen.”

Moira frowned. Who had hurt Simone in the past? Was it the mysterious demon?

Simone drew in a deep breath. “I, ah, wasn’t very graceful when we met at the colloquium. Sorry.”

Cara hissed out. “No worries. It had to be weird seeing your ex with someone else.”

“Yes, well.” Simone placed a hand on Cara’s stomach. “I’m often the most beautiful woman in the room. It pisses me off when not everyone notices.”

Moira grinned, smoothing Cara’s hair off her face. “I’ve always admired your keen sense of self-awareness, Simone.” She sobered, realizing the truth in the statement. Whatever faults Simone possessed, she accepted and discussed them freely. “I shouldn’t have thought for one second you would align against the Nine.”

“You know what I don’t like about you, Moira?” Simone kept her gaze under the towel.

“The fact that I’m the Seventh?”

“No. The fact that you’re the Seventh and can tell everyone to kiss your ass ... yet you don’t. You’re worried about being the right Seventh, of doing what you should. Stop sniveling. Step up and be the Seventh, whatever the hell that means.”

The statement held enough truth to make Moira’s temper raise its head. “What, are we bonding now?”

Simone glanced up with a smile. “God help the world. We are.”

Cara gave a strangled cry, her body going rigid. “Enough bonding. Here he comes.” She clutched onto Moira’s hand with white knuckles. “Oh my God, this hurts.” A contraction rippled down her stomach. “Talen?” She gasped, half sitting up. “I can hear him.” She shut her eyes, concentrating. “Somehow, through the baby, I can reach Talen.”

“You can reach your mate telepathically?” Simone’s head snapped up. “Tell him we’re in the Cascade mountains in California. And to bring help.”

Most people didn’t know about the vampires’ ability to telepathically reach their mates. Moira shut her eyes, searching for Conn. Nothing. She tried again. Only breezy silence met her call. She flipped her lids open. “I can’t reach Conn.” Cara’s gift must be because of the labor, because the baby was coming. Or maybe through the baby. “Does Talen know where we are?”

Cara bit her lip, lifting her body off the bed, her face contorting in pain. “Yes,” she panted. “They’re on the way.” Her hold tightened on Moira. “I’ve got to push.”

“Here he is,” Simone said in a hushed voice. “One more push. Come on, Cara. One more.”

With a high-pitched yelp, Cara bore down. A scream escaped her. Simone reached forward, grabbing the baby. She swaddled him, wiping him clean. Moira’s eyes misted over. Just then, the babe opened his mouth and gave one short, irritated cry.

Cara laughed, tears streaming down her face. “Sounds pissy just like Talen.” She reached out, taking the baby and holding him close. Her face fell. “I can’t reach Talen anymore.” She uncovered her son, checking him over. “That’s okay. Daddy will be here soon.”

Moira focused on the newest Kayrs, ignoring whatever Simone was doing under the towel. The baby looked just like his father. High forehead, tons of black hair, strong features with sizzling, metallic gray eyes. She gasped at the vampire colors. “Look at those eyes.” The babe focused on her, reaching out with one chubby hand. “Are babies supposed to focus this fast?”

“No.” Cara tried to smooth wild hair back from his little face. “But he’s a vampire and Talen’s son, so who the heck knows.” She nuzzled his cheek, one hand supporting his head. “Ten fingers, ten toes, no fangs.” Her smile lit her face. “He’s perfect.”

Simone tossed the second towel into the bathroom. Her smile made her appear even more beautiful, if that was possible. “He is perfect.” She raised both eyebrows. “His eyes. Very unusual.”

Cara turned the babe to face her. “Talen’s eyes turn metallic when he’s, ah, emotional.”

Simone shook her head. “I’m sure. The vampire colors don’t usually show up until puberty. I wonder if that stunning gray is his normal color. Intriguing.” She hustled into the bathroom and the sound of running water echoed. She emerged, drying her hands on yet another clean towel. Apparently Trevan had prepared for an extended stay. “So. What now?”