A Queen of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 4)

Finley had been put in the birthing room, which was usually a place only women went until the baby was born. Thankfully the room was on the ground floor, because the person who had told the king that had been thrown out the window in a fit of rage.

The king stopped in front of the open door and shook himself out before crossing the threshold. The tension in his shoulders and bearing melted away until he was loose and confident and ready to take on the world.

“Hi, sweetheart,” he said as he approached her bed.

Finley was in a loose, flowing white gown, nestled into the pillows and with a blanket pulled up around her large belly.

He bent to kiss her forehead. “How are you? I hear we’re getting started.”

Her eyes held panic, and she reached out for him, clutching his hand and taking a deep breath.

“I’m okay. A little worried,” she said. “I just don’t want anything to go wrong.”

He flicked off his shoes, took off his pants so he was only in boxer briefs, and stripped off his shirt. Then he crawled in behind her with his legs on either side of her and his hands on her shoulders.

“I’m right here, okay?” he said softly. “I’m going to be right here the entire time. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She nodded as she sighed, closing her eyes and soaking in his touch.

And he did just that. He helped her through her breathing, walked with her when she needed it, distracted her when she wanted it, and then stayed right by her side when the contractions came hard and fast. He never faltered. He never showed fatigue. He never got worked up. He was a strong, calming presence for her the whole time.

Hannon checked in now and again until things got rolling, and then he was there constantly, monitoring her progress and the emotions of those around her. When necessary, I told jokes to distract people, or shut up when I was too distracting. Meanwhile, Arleth helped the midwife, giving Finley support and coaching her when to push and when to try to rest.

The labor was long, but finally the newest member of the family worked her way into the world. A girl.

Arleth wrapped her up with tears in her eyes and handed the squalling infant to Daddy. He cradled her with the utmost delicacy, looking down on her little angelic face like it was the most beautiful and miraculous thing he’d ever seen in his life.

Almost immediately she stopped crying, content to be held by the most fearsome alpha dragon in the world. And why wouldn’t she be? She wasn’t five minutes old, and already she had him wrapped around her little finger.

The king handed the infant to an exhausted Finley, and when Finley started crying, holding her baby against her breast, I wailed.

“Behold, the first female to inherit the title of Queen of Wyvern,” Arleth said, laughing happy tears. “Welcome into the world, little princess.”

And so it was. We were watching history in the making.

Finally, it was my turn.

I sat in the rocking chair by the window as the dawn light filtered through. Finley slept soundly in the other room, exhausted from her efforts. The king held little Tabitha against his chest as he bounce-walked to me, such a little tiny thing against a large, muscled, and scarred man. He held her with such reverence. Such tenderness. My heart broke into a million pieces, and I was crying again, so fortunate to be able to witness it.

“Are you ready to hold her?” the king asked in a hush.

“Y-yes,” I said, swallowing down the emotion.

He gently handed her to me, and I cradled her close, my heart glowing.

“Hello, little Tabitha,” I said with a smile, feeling her silky-soft skin with my finger. “Aren’t you a cute little thing? And look at this. Look at this, hmm? You have all your little fingers, and I bet under this blanket, you have all your little toes. And two eyes, there they are, and a little button nose. I hope you look just like your mama, but I hope you act like your uncle Hannon, yes I do! Yes I do! Uncle Haddie can’t handle another rage-monger in the castle, no he can’t.”

I rocked her gently and held her close and couldn’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else in the entire world than in this spot, in this moment, with this little princess. My life had been rocky at times, but for this moment, it had all been worth it. I was truly blessed.

Finley

A week after Tabitha’s birth, I sat in an overly cushioned loveseat in the garden as the sun crawled up from the horizon. The first rays of the morning sparkled against the beautiful illuminated everlass plant, a gift from my brother the phoenix. That guy was super famous at this point. We had people writing in from all over, asking for an audience with him, asking for youth, asking for cures to various ailments, big and small. Some promised him gold; some gave him a sad story.