Page 65 of A Bolt of Magic

“But your baby is in the wrong position,” I say, opening my eyes to meet Maya’s pain-glazed gaze. “He’s turned sideways instead of head-down. That’s why you can’t push him out. He is stuck.”

Maya’s face crumples. “What…what does that mean?” She grabs my hand, squeezing it tighter than I thought possible. “Please tell me you can help him. Please, McColl?” Her lips are chapped, her eyes glassy.

“It means I need to turn him. Yes, I can help him,” I say as gently as I can. “I can use magic to reposition him, but Maya…” It is my turn to squeeze her hand, needing her to understand. “It’s going to hurt. More than what you’re feeling now. I can’t help with the pain and turn him all at once. It is the only way to save him.”

She nods weakly, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t care. Do it! Hurry! Please save him.”

I take a deep breath and place both hands on her belly, calling forth more magic than I’ve ever attempted to channel. Although I need all my power, I also need to direct it carefully, ever so gently, so as not to injure Maya or the baby.

“Do not push,” I tell her. “You will need to go against your body’s urges, but it is very important.”

Maya grits her teeth, closing her eyes. She nods. “Hurry…please.”

The power flows through me like liquid fire, and I use it to carefully, gently begin the delicate process of turning the baby.

Maya’s scream tears through the air, a sound of pure agony. Her back arches off the bed as her body fights against what I’m doing.

“You’re killing her!” Thesha snarls, stepping forward with murder in her eyes. She points her sword. “You had better know what you’re doing.”

I don’t. Not really, but I have to trust my teachings. Moreover, I have to trust myself.

I force myself to block out everything except the delicate work at hand. Slowly, carefully, I guide the baby into the proper position, feeling the moment when he finally settles head-down in the birth canal.

“There,” I gasp, pulling my hands back. “He’s in position now.”

But Maya is spent, her body limp and barely conscious. The ordeal has drained what little strength she had left. Her eyes flutter and close. The baby’s heartbeat is still too fast, still distressed. He doesn’t have much time.

I place my hands on her again and do something I’ve never attempted before. It isn’t something to be trifled with. It’s dangerous…for me…only for me. I have no choice. Maya isn’t going to make it otherwise.

I channel my own life force into her, taking her pain into myself while giving her my strength.

The agony hits me like a physical blow, and I cry out, falling to my knees beside the bed.

Kian bursts into the room. “McColl!”

“I’m fine,” I grit out. I don’t have the capacity to say anything more.

I whisper the words of the spell. I sense Maya’s strength returning as mine ebbs away. I feel her body rallying.

Not too much.

Not too much.

“Now, Maya,” I grit out through the pain that’s not my own. “You can do this. Push now!”

With a roar of effort that seems to come from the depths of her soul, Maya bears down. I keep channeling my energy into her, feeling each contraction as if it were my own body.

“I can see his head!” Kyrie exclaims, tears streaming down her face.

“Yes, my love, yes.” Orion holds his wife’s hand, his eyes wide in his head.

Another push, and suddenly, there’s a rush of fluid and a tiny, perfect form sliding into Kyrie’s waiting hands. For a moment that lasts an eternity, the barn is silent.

Then a thin, indignant wail fills the air. It is the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.

I laugh, but there is no sound.

“He’s breathing,” Kyrie sobs, carefully lifting the baby. “He’s perfect.” She wraps him in a small blanket.

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