“It’s a nice offer and I haven’t been around another Mage in so long, it might be nice to be around someone who understands me,” he says with a shrug.
“Good, I don’t want you to have to be alone ever again if you don’t want to be. So if it doesn’t work out with them you’re always welcome at the pack house,” I tell him, he gives me a genuine but gentle smile.
“You’re very kind Jade, I will not forget this,” he tells me, but it sounds a bit like a vow.
“It’s noth—”
Another contraction hits and I bite my lip to keep the noise from leaking out. I taste blood in my mouth but I just keep biting down as the pain bows my back.
“Breathe, you have to breathe,” Level tells me, the concern in his eyes has me opening my mouth and breathing like he is. In two short breaths and out one. Over and over when the pain gets really bad I close my eyes and keep breathing. When this one passes I fall flat on the hay and just try to calm my heart.
“Kitten,” I hear to my right and see Darius standing there with Vikrim, Dell, and Franny.
“Help me,” I say, reaching out for him as tears stream down my cheeks.
“I’m going as fast as I can,” Franny says, working magic on the cage. Level is staring at her as if he’s seeing the sun rise for the first time.
“You’re pregnant too,” he comments before looking over at Dell.
“Nope not me, I’m not drinking that kool-aid,” she comments before turning to watch the door.
“Got it,” Franny says just as the cage door opens. Dar is the first in, zooming over to me and taking my hand in his. My skin is pale and clammy but he doesn’t seem to care.
“I love you kitten, I’m so sorry,” he says, kissing my temple.
“You came, that's all I need, now get me out of here. I’m not having our baby in a barn,” I tell him but just as he goes to speak another contraction hits. I bite my lip and squeeze his hand until I think I hear his bone crack. He shows no sign of pain when I snap my head towards him though so I don’t let go.
“The spell to release Level is going to take a couple minutes, just hold on Jade,” Franny tells me but I’m still writhing in pain so I don’t anwer. “Also yes I’m pregnant but luckily not as far along as Jade, some of us have to do things the old fashion way which means nine months of misery and not just a week. Cheater,”she teases as she works on his chains diligently.
“How are you doing, Jade?” Dell asks, not looking away from the door.
“Fuck I love this baby but I don’t know that I’ll ever want to do this again,” I say honestly, she gives a small chuckle.
“Now you know why I’m not ready, it’s like you have to die for the baby to be born, that shit isn’t for the weak,” she comments, and right now I couldn't agree more.
“You guys are really making this sound like a walk in the park,” Franny snarks. “I’m pushing out two, you better both come hold my hand when that happens,” she tells us.
“Deal.” We both answer.
“You’re very beautiful,” Level tells her, and she gives him a strange look.
“Umm thanks. Not really a compliment I get from strangers I’m saving from evil witches,” she jokes awkwardly.
“This isn’t the time but you’re my Mage destined,” he blurts out.
“The fuck is that?” she asks.
“Did no one teach you about destined Mage mates?” he asks, looking devastated; Franny doesn’t understand the significance of the statement.
“Level you seem like a nice guy from the two seconds I’ve known you but to be honest there aren’t enough Mages left to have all the knowledge of our kind. I mean I have some historic journals my dad left that’s how I made Renzo but I haven’t read them all yet. Tell you what, we make it through this and I promise we can at least chat about it,” she tells him kindly.
“Thank you.”
“Well now that that’s out of the way, how are the chains coming?” Dell asks looking out the door, I assume checking for the witches.
“Almost…get ready because they’re going to notice as soon as I unhook their battery,” Franny warns before the chains fall from Level and he hits the ground.
She’s right, screams ring through the night as Dar grabs me and Vikrim grabs Franny and Level zooming us through the night.