Page 99 of The Stolen Kingdom

Melvian released the breath she was holding and leaned her sweat-drenched forehead to Isen’s temple. “A girl!” she cried, while Isen struggled to keep his composure.

“A girl,” Isen whispered, watching Maris intently as she brushed the blood away to reveal a deep shade of aqua hair. “A blue-haired girl,” he sobbed before crawling his way to Maris.

“Yes,” Maris cooed, holding on to her emotions as she finished cleaning the infant before giving her to Isen to adore.

As he had the wailing baby in his arms, Maris pulled a small pair of scissors. She instructed Isen to cut the umbilical cord, which he did, in a daze, as if not believing the miracle unfolding before him. Maris could only imagine how both were feeling. If Isen was in the Elysian fields, holding his baby girl, she was sure Melvian was feeling the emotions pouring from her mate.

Maris smiled as she admired the baby’s small face and Sealian features before turning to her friend. “How are we doing, Melvian?” Maris asked, patting Isen’s shoulder before turning her attention to her best friend.

Melvian gave her a weak smile, yet she had enough energy to give her a thumbs up, leaving Maris in a state of wonderment at how strong she was. “Easy pea—ah fuck!” Her grip on the bed sheet tightened. “Number two wants out. Can’t momma get a breather?”

Isen didn’t waste a second. With the crying child in his arms, he scurried to Melvian’s side and offered her another hand for her to grip. Admiring their newborn daughter would have to wait when baby number two was just as eager to enter the world.

“All right!” Maris settled back between Melvian’s legs. She pulled the bloody towel from underneath Melvian and replaced it with a clean one, washed her hands again, and replaced the dirty water. “Baby two! Here we go!”

Once again, Melvian’s face contorted with pain, her hand grasping Isen’s hand while he, with his free arm, held their baby girl close to his warm chest.

Maris felt Melvian’s stomach and ensured the baby was aligned, but her heart dropped as she touched the top side of her stomach. Her blue eyes rose to look at her friend, whose eyes were tightly shut. Isen was the one that noticed Maris’ expression.

“What is it?” His breath hitched as he frowned.

Maris didn’t answer right away. Instead, she continued touching the stomach, pushing, and massaging until he asked her again. She locked her eyes with his and sighed before saying, “Baby two is breached.”

Isen frowned deeper. “What does that mean?”

“Fuck!” Melvian wailed.

“It’s not in position!” Maris yelled, her hands trembling, doubtful of what to do next.

This was exactly what she feared. She got comfortable thinking things would continue to go smoothly, but now she was dealing with a life-or-death situation for Melvian and the second baby.

“Maris!” Melvian shifted her position, looking down at her best friend. Tears ran freely down her cheeks, and even though Maris wasn’t mated to this woman, she could feel the pain and dread pouring out of her. “You know what to do. I taught you.”

“It’s dangerous! The pain would be too much. I have nothing to give you that will help you manage the pain!”

“It doesn’t matter, I can handle it! Please!”

Maris shook her head, gripped the white towels on her lap, and bit her lower lip in frustration. “I can’t.”

“You can and you will.” Melvian looked up at Isen, her face growing paler by the second. “I need you to find something for me to bite down on. Put the baby on the pillows, go.”

She released him as he scurried to place their baby girl on top of the pillows at the head of the bed. Once the baby was safe, he pulled off the sleeve of his tunic and rolled it up. He then carefully tilted her head and placed the piece of fabric in her mouth for her to bite down on.

“What are you going to do?” Isen asked Maris, yet his attention did not detach from his mate.

Maris took a deep breath, washed her hands again for good measures, and chanted a brief prayer to Asclepius.

“Maris?”

“I need you to hold her down.” She finally answered, “I am going to go in and move the baby…”

“Move the baby? As in—“

“Yes, Isen!” Maris sighed and gritted her teeth. “When I give you the word, hold her.”

She didn’t want to scream, but the poor man was completely clueless about what was about to happen, and right now, Maris needed him to be as alert as possible.

Giving a small countdown, Maris exerted considerable pressure on Melvian’s stomach. At first, Melvian groaned while Isen’s eyes were glued to her. He seemed collected, calm, and focused, so Maris continued her ministrations until Melvian’s groan turned low.

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