Page 92 of The Pregnancy Pact

I couldn’t.

I fell, unable to tolerate the pain any longer.

With a sob, I thought, Okay. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl.

And that’s what I did. I either looked extremely pitiful or extremely silly, crawling like a toddler towards the open doors leading out to the skypad. However, my appearance didn’t matter. Every inch I propelled my body forward was an inch towards deliverance. An inch towards freedom. An inch towards Ellax.

Keep going.

I did. Right out the glass doors and towards the end of the ramp, where there was a railing. Here, I paused for an instant to catch my breath. The skypad at the end of this footbridge was actually empty, but a sleek white ship was approaching and would land within minutes. Probably before I could make it outside, given how slowly I was moving.

“Where did she go? I swear, she was right here.”

“We are searching for a human female. Have you seen—”

“Was she wounded? I saw a wounded human female here moments ago. I sent for security, thinking she needed help.”

“She does. We are here to claim her and take her to the infirmary.”

Lies. They were here to take me to Sirena. Apparently, her henchmen and the well-meaning bystander had converged at the same spot. Luckily, they hadn’t spotted me yet, outside, at the edge of the footbridge, clinging to the railing. I lifted my face to the planet’s twin suns.

Please, I prayed, to whatever powers might be listening. One more surge of energy. Please.

Beads of cold sweat erupted on my forehead at the very idea of trying to get up again and walk. Every cell in my body rebelled.

The survival instinct took precedence.

I clasped the railing with trembling fingers.

“You endured natural childbirth for twins, Lorelai,” I wheezed. “You can do this! It’s not nearly as bad!”

Saying the words aloud didn’t make them true. Childbirth wasn’t as bad as this. Childbirth had a happy and expected end. I had no idea if my efforts here would go to waste and leave me utterly drained and fully in Sirena’s power. But I had to try.

Have. To. Try.

That got me on feet. A rush of air from the landing skip washed over me, hiding the loud moan that escaped.

It’s here.

Clinging to the railing, I inched forward one step onto the foobridge, desperate to get to that ship. Two steps. I wasn’t merely clinging to the railing, I was hunched over it, because, as I started creeping forward, something else hit me.

I made the mistake of glancing down, and that’s when my fear of heights reared its ugly head all over again.

“No. Oh no. Can’t do this.”

I squeezed my eyelids shut and attempted to drag my feet forward another inch. My knees were knocking together. My legs refused to budge. I felt sick.

I’m going to vomit.

The heaves started. My insides were so torn up they didn’t have the strength to bring anything up.

I can’t!

The cry was a furious wail inside my head. Desperation, anger, horror, fear.

I can’t do this!

“There she is!”

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