Before I can fall asleep, another contraction takes over. This one squeezes tighter than before, and I think I’m going to throw up the whole time my midsection tightens. I can’t breathe until it’s over.
“Fifteen minutes,” Lucas tells me. “Again. And that lasted a little over sixty seconds.”
“Still could be a coincidence,” I try.
“It could. We’ll know in fifteen more minutes.”
“We should try and get the spell done,” I insist.
“Callie,” Naomi starts, in her what the fuck tone. “If you’re having contractions fifteen minutes apart, there’s no way we can prepare for and then cast the circle. It requires skill and concentration.”
“Party pooper,” I grumble and rest my head against the pillow again. I could easily fall asleep here, which I almost do. Kristy doesn’t bother with the tea and comes back. I can hear her talking with the twins but don’t really pay much attention to it. My mind is finally settling down, and I can maybe get a good nap in.
And then I have another contraction.
“How long has it been?” Nicole asks.
“That was exactly fourteen minutes and twenty seconds since her last contraction,” Lucas tells everyone.
“Okay,” I say once I can breathe again. “If they continue in this pattern, we can assume things are progressing. In the meantime, we should do the spell. I can get the first circle cast, stop for a contraction, and then get the triangles laid out.”
Everyone looks at me like I’m insane, and maybe I am. Lucas, who knows better than to challenge my mental state right now, also knows preparing for demonic attacks is my way of nesting. Plus, having the circles cast is one more way we can level up our protection against the Horsemen.
“Let’s reassess in fifteen minutes,” he tells me, deep voice calm and level.
“Okay.” I lean forward, trying to relieve some of the pressure on my lower back. Lucas massages my shoulders, and I can’t decide if I should get up and move around or try to take a nap. I have to use the bathroom again and then decide to slowly wander through the house. Lucas holds my hand, shuffling along with me. We pass the library, when he notices a note in the fireplace. I stop in the hall, waiting for him to get it.
“It’s from Evander,” he tells me. “He said they’re having issues with a few students violating curfew and found contraband in their dorms and have to deal with it before they can come over.”
“Sounds like you’ve been hanging around the Academy a little too long,” Naomi jokes.
“Hey, I wasn’t a bad student. I was just a troublemaker.”
“Remind me again how those things are different,” Kristy says with a laugh.
“I didn’t try to break the rules,” I insist. “I, uh…I did on accident. I had good intentions, at least.”
“You did, most of the time,” Nicole says. “You know, I always thought we’d grow up, get married, and have kids around the same time, and they’d go to school together. You’re putting the pressure on us, Cal.”
“Hah,” I say. “I honestly thought you or Kristy would be the first to settle down. And I’d be the last.” I look up at Lucas, heart swelling.
“I swept you off your feet,” he replies with a smile, dark blue eyes glimmering. “You couldn’t resist, even though you tried.”
“It’s true.” I smile right back at him as the surrealness of the situation starts to really get to me. I’m half-human, half-angel, and am pregnant with my vampire husband’s child. I couldn’t make this shit up if I tried. Inhaling, I start walking again and realize Scarlet hasn’t been out in a while. Lucas takes her out while I hang out on the porch, and fifteen minutes later, I have another contraction.
Lucas speeds to me, helping me stay upright as I double over in pain. I’m gripping the porch railing, and my familiars are sitting patiently at my feet, refusing to leave my side.
“It’s been a minute,” Lucas says, and I want him to shut the fuck up because I’m still riddled with pain, waiting for this to pass. Another ten seconds go by before it does. “That’s several contractions all fifteen minutes apart, lasting a minute.” He can’t hide the excitement in his voice this time. “Callie, my love, you’re in labor.”
Chapter 45
“The spell,” I say, slowly straightening up. “We need to cast it.”
“Callie,” Lucas starts, this time looking at me just like my friends did. “You’re in labor.”
“It’s not that bad,” I rush out, lying through my teeth. “And if I am, we need to get this done. The contractions are fifteen minutes apart and could stay like that for hours. We need like twenty minutes to cast. I can do this.”
“You can, but that doesn’t mean you should.”
“What if something happens to me and then the Horsemen show up?” I rasp, finally voicing a fear I didn’t even want to allow myself to fully acknowledge. “What if I don’t make it through childbirth like my mom? Promise me, Lucas, please, that you’ll do whatever you can to keep Juliet safe.”