Page 55 of Capture of Capricorn

“I won’t make it,” Zora gasped, feeling her body failing. “Sorry.”

“Don’t you dare die on me!”

“She’s not dying, not today or anytime soon,” Sage suddenly announced. “That is so long as you move your big self aside.”

“What are you doing? The stardust doesn’t work on humans,” Capricorn exclaimed as he shifted to make room for Sage, who held a large clear jar full of dirt.

“You’re right, it doesn’t. Say hello to the thirteenth Zodiac.”

“Zora’s a Zodiac warrior?” Capricorn blinked in surprise, and she almost laughed but didn’t dare because she knew it would hurt.

“A perfect choice, seeing as how she was ready to sacrifice herself to save the world.” Sage leaned over Zora. “Close your eyes. This will hurt, but I promise you’ll soon feel much better.”

Zora gladly shut her lids and hoped Sage told the truth because the agony?—

Suddenly returned with a vengeance.

Zora screamed as she arched from the dais. Brawny arms held her tight, and a soothing voice murmured, “It will pass, Beauty. I promise.”

He told the truth because soon a languorous warmth spread through her limbs. All the aches and pains disappeared. The darkness tugging at her vision receded, and her voice returned to murmur a husky, “What was in that dirt, baby? Because I’m feeling great.”

“Thank fuck,” Capricorn huffed before pressing his mouth to hers in a kiss that did more to revive than anything else thus far.

Only as the embrace came to a lingering finish did she hear Aries bark, “For fuck’s sake, Sage. You fixed her. Now will you please let me take you to the hospital?”

“Too late,” Sage chirped. “Junior is going to be born here.”

“What?” Aries screeched.

“It will be fine.” Sage tried to soothe her agitated husband. “Just fetch me some clean towels and hot water. Oh, and make sure you have a sharp knife to cut the cord.”

“I’m not leaving you,” he growled.

“I’ll get the stuff,” Capricorn offered. “That is, if Tower’s unlocked the rooms. Back in a few, Beauty.”

Zora sat up as Capricorn dashed off. Aries sat with his wife’s head and shoulders in his lap. Sage bent her knees and panted.

“So impatient to greet the world,” the seer murmured. “Zora, if you could be so kind as to catch the baby.”

“Me?” Zora squeaked, but while daunted—and a little icked out by the request—she knelt between Sage’s legs.

Sage grunted as she pushed and, when she relaxed, in an amused voice said, “You might want to lift my skirt so you can actually see the babe.”

Zora bit her lip but folded back the fabric and did her best to not actually look, at first anyhow. But before long. Zora was droning on, repeating things she’d heard in shows and movies. “Doing great. I can see the head. Hairy thing. Get ready to push. You can do this.”

By the time Capricorn returned, Zora had delivered her first baby, a red and shriveled little thing with insanely good lungs.

Her lover dumped a load of white linens and set a jug of water down beside it. “I found some stuff in the kitchen. Cool place by the way. More modern than expected.”

Zora quickly swaddled the baby, poorly, given the loose fit, but the new parents didn’t care as Sage cradled the child while Aries stared on, dumbstruck.

A bright flash had her blinking then blinking again at the stranger that suddenly appeared in the portal room. “Did someone need a doctor?”

“Virgo! How did you know to come?” Aries exclaimed.

“A little star told me. Let’s see how baby and mama are doing.”

As the man went to check between Sage’s legs, Zora decided it was her cue to leave. She rose, and Capricorn followed her out to the main entrance with the many holes blown in the walls and debris from the explosions littering the floor.

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