Lethal Game (GhostWalkers 16)

Trap’s mind would go over every possible problem and the solutions to fix them. That was the way he was built. The drawback was, this was Cayenne and it was far too personal for him to retreat into his brain.

Trap made a conscious effort to breathe normally. He kept his gaze glued to Cayenne’s as if he could will her to give birth without a single problem. Malichai thought there was something especially beautiful in the way the couple looked at each other.

Amaryllis hurried in with a stack of warm towels and then left to return quickly with two buckets of steaming hot water that she’d boiled.

“How are you doing, Cayenne?” Ezekiel asked. “I’m going to listen to the baby’s heartbeat again, just making certain he’s doing all right. I want to check your progress again. You seem to be going fast.”

Cayenne nodded. “Hurts pretty bad, Zeke.”

“You’re in transition, honey,” Ezekiel said. “You were at eight when I checked you last. Let’s see where you are now.”

Malichai was proud of his brother. He was in a bad situation but doing his best. Cayenne, even in the condition she was in, was a flight risk. She was terrified of needles. Terrified her child would be taken and used for experiments or just plain killed. Ezekiel had gotten her to respond, which meant she was getting past that fear to allow them all to help her.

Malichai dared to rub her shoulder after a particularly long and hard contraction. She hadn’t made a sound, just breathed her way through it and looked at her man. “You’re amazing. This childbirth thing isn’t for wimps, but it is making me hungry. When Amaryllis gives birth, I might have to have a buffet set up in the room.”

To his astonishment, Cayenne turned her head to look at him. There was a hint of laughter in her eyes. “You eat while she’s in labor and I can guarantee you that you won’t live out the night. If she doesn’t do you in, the rest of the women will, including Nonny.”

Even Trap laughed. The terrible tension in the room was dispelled.

Ezekiel suddenly smiled. “There he is. He’s so ready to come into the world. Heartbeat is strong and steady. Last contraction slowed him down a little, but nothing to worry about. You’re dilated to nine, almost ten. You’re going to need to push soon, honey. Do you remember how? Did you watch the videos?”

Cayenne nodded. “I don’t want to lie down like this. I’d rather sit.”

“Malichai, can you sit against the headboard and let her use your knees as a backrest?” Ezekiel said, very practical, so there was no way Malichai could scramble off the bed and give his brother the bird. “Your leg up to that?”

Ezekiel knew he could bend his leg without a problem. “Wouldn’t she feel better with Trap behind her?” he asked hopefully.

“I need to see Trap,” Cayenne said. Again, she turned her head to look at him. “Are you okay with it?”

Amaryllis was watching him closely. He felt her moving in him, even though she was standing beside Joe and Ezekiel, keeping the towels warm.

“Sure, honey,” he answered Cayenne. “I’ll just be sitting here. But when he’s born, I get to see him right away, same as you.”

“That’s a deal,” she agreed and then another even harder, longer contraction took her. Immediately her head turned back almost desperately to Trap.

Malichai didn’t know many women stronger than Cayenne. She stood on her own two feet. She held her own always. She didn’t ask for concessions. Like Trap, he’d tended to think childbirth was something that women could do fairly easily. He was a doctor and he knew all the pitfalls, but for the most part, it was natural and therefore something one didn’t really have to worry about. Now, he was worried.

Cayenne had gone very quiet, her eyes closing as if she were falling asleep. Definitely sliding from transition into pushing phase. Her body was resting, waiting for the next big phase.

He was going to rethink the entire having children with Amaryllis idea. They could create a good life together without having kids. Not everyone needed them to complete their families. He had cat DNA in him. Maybe they’d get cats. Tigers. Leopards. Something big to protect his woman with him.

“Malichai, you’ve gone a little crazy and you’re broadcasting loud.” Ezekiel’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Cayenne said suddenly, her eyes flying open as she started to sit up.

“That’s the baby, putting pressure on you,” Trap explained. “I’m going to help you up and tilt you back so you’re up against Malichai.”

Even as he told her, Trap’s hands were gentle on her waist, shifting her as Malichai pulled his knees back to form a backrest for Cayenne, keeping a thin blanket over his legs so she could have something soft to lean against.