Evie laughed and Bram’s worry eased a fraction. His human was strong, stubborn, and a fighter. She would make it through the birth. She had to. He wouldn’t accept anything less than a happy ending for his mate.
~~~
Evie debated keeping her eyes open to stare at Bram’s loving face, but her exhaustion won out and they closed.
She was so bloody tired. Not only that, the magnesium sulfate was making her woozy and it was difficult to concentrate. If meeting her new baby wasn’t incentive enough, getting off the damn medication and regaining her wits was another reason to get the baby out as soon as possible.
While Evie was trying to be strong, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep pushing. If she were birthing a human baby, she could have drugs and a cesarean section. Unfortunately, both were out because of the baby being half dragon-shifter.
She would just have to fight a little while longer for her little dragon baby.
Pain started in her back and she braced herself. “Another contraction is coming.”
Bram squeezed her hand at the same time as Sid repositioned herself between Evie’s legs. “As soon as it starts, push, Evie.”
The pain moved from her back to her lower belly and then it felt as if someone had reached inside her uterus and twisted.
Screaming helped her as she pushed with everything she had.
As parts of her stretched, she crushed Bram’s hands in hers. The baby needed to come out. He or she just had to.
Sid’s voice cut through the air. “The head is out. Come on, Evie. Push a little harder.”
She wanted to tell Sid to try pushing a melon out of her vagina, but Bram kissed her cheek and she looked into his eyes. The love and strength she saw there gave her a little rush. Drawing on every iota of strength she had, Evie leaned her head back and pushed.
Something finally slipped free and a second later, Evie heard a baby’s cry. Tears filled her eyes. Her baby was alive.
Sid shouted, “It’s a girl,” and Bram kissed her gently. “I told you it was a girl.”
But Holly’s voice prevented Evie from saying anything. “Dr. Sid.”
Something beeped on the monitor. Evie asked, “Is it my baby girl? What’s wrong?”
Sid handed off the baby to Holly and looked Evie directly into the eye. “Your baby is perfectly healthy. But, Evie, your blood pressure is spiking. With the baby out, I need to start a new course of treatment straight away. I’m sorry, but holding your baby is going to have to wait.”
Bram growled out, “Then start the bloody treatment Sid. You’re wasting time.”
Evie looked to Bram and was about to tell him to go greet their daughter, but in the next second, Evie lost control of her body as she fell into a seizure.
~~~
The instant Evie’s eyes rolled to the back of her head and she started convulsing, Bram’s stomach dropped. “Evie.”
Sid and her nurse jumped into action. As Sid issued orders and the nurse pushed something into Evie’s IV, Bram kept his grip on his mate’s hand. He drew on every bit of dominance he possessed and whispered, “You stay alive, Evie. Don’t you even think of leaving me.”
Sid moved to his side of the bed. “Move, Bram. Get out of the way.”
While his beast snarled at the order, Bram forced himself to let go of Evie’s hand and move back.
His dragon spoke up. We should be with our mate. Why did you move?
Sid knows what she’s doing. She has the power to save Evie. We don’t.
His beast fell silent and Bram watched as Sid and her male nurse talked about things he didn’t understand. The second Evie stopped convulsing, he let out a breath. Surely that would be the end of it.
The monitor stopped beeping its warning, but Evie didn’t wake up. Bram clenched his fingers and asked, “What’s going on, Sid? Tell me.”
Sid nodded at the nurse and turned toward him. “Evie’s developed eclampsia, brought on mostly by the dragon-shifter hormones in her blood. I need to watch her closely and focus on bringing her vitals back to normal.”