Page 56 of Love & Monsters
When she tore her eyes away, I felt my muscles relax, and my bones melt. I took in a steadying breath, only watching Ilya from the corner of my vision as she piled a plate high. To my utter horror and surprise, she joined me at the lower table I sat at, settling into the seat across from me.
I went cold, my hand freezing on the sweetbread I’d been picking at. My eyes stayed on the greasy, fat sausages on my plate as Ilya sighed heavily. I tried to swallow, but my throat was dry, and I couldn’t move my hand for my drink.
“They’ve gone to war.” Ilya’s words broke the silence and confirmed my suspicions. “They left in the night without a word. All of them.”
“I’m sorry.” I don’t know why I said it. The words just began tumbling from my lips as if someone else was using my mouth. “I wish they’d said something.”
The clink of her fork on the table caused my eyes to glance up at her. Her lips pressed into a thin line, trembling as she fought to control whatever wild emotion filled her. She looked utterly distraught.
“It’s tradition.” Ilya forced the words out. I noticed the way her shoulders tensed, and her hand went to her stomach. A groan pushed free from her lips and her features twisted with apparent pain.
“It’s a stupid tradition,” I quipped.
Ilya hissed, but it was more of a controlled sound of air slipping through her teeth than a threat. “To say goodbye before battle is to acknowledge the threat of death. If you do not acknowledge death, it is less likely to find you.”
“That’s interesting,” I admitted. “I still don’t like it.”
It surprised me when Ilya chuckled, although another long groan cut the sound short. She squeezed the fork in her hand so hard the metal bent forward.
“Are you okay?” I pressed. It was obvious she wasn’t, but after the hateful glares I received from her, I was wary of asking.
“It’s the baby. I’ve had this pain all morning. One maid stated it is only a false labor.” Ilya took half of a deep breath before another cramp twisted through her abdomen and she cried out.
“Ilya, I’m not so sure it’s false labor.” She heard me and looked up. Her brows pinched together as those red eyes stared holes into me.
“What do you know?” Ilya snarled, as if realizing who she was talking to. Just her brother’s human pet. I wanted to roll my eyes, but this wasn’t the time. Ilya was in obvious distress and groaning louder by the second.
“My mother was a doctor for women and childbirth. She made me watch videos of women giving birth to discourage me from having unprotected sex as a teen.” I tried to laugh at the memory, but the tension in the room was heavy. “I know more than I’d like to.”
Ilya shoved away her plate of food and lowly growled. Her claws dug into the tabletop as she pushed herself out of her seat. The instant she was upright, another cramp hit her, and Ilya stumbled. She stopped in a crouch, holding her stomach as she screamed.
I was on my feet in the next second. Just then, the doors burst open, and a single guard rushed in. He noticed Ilya holding her stomach and shouting.
She held in her cries long enough to notice him and get out one order. “Fetch the physician!”
“He’s not here, my lady. The physician is still days away. Is there anyone else I can fetch for you?” The young man’s vibrant blue eyes were widening as he realized the situation, and panic seized him.
Ilya screamed again. This time, I heard the clear splash of water on the stone floor. Her entire body trembled as she took a breath.
“Your water just broke, Ilya. Your baby is coming now.” Chills raced down my limbs and a ball of anxiety wound up in my gut. I jumped into action without thinking.
Pointing at the guard caught his attention. He blinked as if just noticing I was in the room. “Go fetch hot water and towels and anyone in the fortress who has any history with birth.”
He didn’t move.
“Now!” I commanded, trying to evoke the tone Vadric used when giving orders. It worked and the young guard’s feet scrambled as he rushed back out.
I whipped around the table in a blur. Ilya used one hand on the table to support herself. I didn’t hesitate to take her hand and get her attention. She snarled when she looked at me, but another cramp washed over her, cutting the sound short.
“You may not like me, but right now, I think I’m the only one who can help you.” It was too early in the morning for this, and my emotions were too raw. But this wasn’t about me or my strained relationship with Ilya. The most important thing right now was her baby, and she realized that.
Ilya nodded her head and let go of the table. She was two heads taller than me, but I found the strength to support her. We only took a few steps toward the doors before another strong cramp sent Ilya falling. With my support, I eased her onto the ground away from the pool where her water broke.
She screamed and squeezed my hand so hard it was a miracle she didn’t break my fingers. Her back arched, and she stopped breathing entirely as the pain took hold of her.
“Ilya, I need to check on the baby. Do I have your permission?”
The tears in the corner of her eyes as she looked up at me made my heart stop. At that moment, it seemed as if the world came to a complete standstill. I waited for what felt like an eternity before a silent understanding fell over us, and Ilya nodded her head.
