Accidental Surrogate

Ella

I take deep breaths, working to breathe through the contraction. Sinclair is seated on the bed next to me, one hand on my lower back, the other clutching my left hand as I squeeze his fingers, hard.

“You’re doing great, Ells,” Cora says, there on my right, coaching me through it. She was the obvious choice to help me deliver my baby, even though three other doctors wait patiently behind the door to our living room, as well as a small team of delivery nurses.

It’s all overkill, I know – but, well, why not have them on hand just in case. But in the room? It’s just the three of us for now. Roger and Henry are out there too, taking care of Rafe and probably drinking brandy and smoking cigars, for all I know.

The contraction ends and my head falls back as I pant, pressing my eyes shut and working hard to save my energy. Babygirl – she’s taking longer than Rafe, which is fine, it’s just…a completely different experience. While I was physically battered last time, this time I’m just…exhausted.

I can feel Sinclair’s anxiety for me down the line of our bond, even if he tries to hide it. He releases my hand, shakes his out a little bit, and then raises a cool washcloth to my head, patting away the sweat there.

“Thanks, baby,” I murmur, turning my face to him a little bit.

“Almost there, Ella,” he replies, supportive.

“He’s right,” Cora says, bending down low to check on my progress. “We’re going to start pushing on the next one.” She raises her head and grins at me. “You ready?”

“Are you kidding?” I say, raising my head to glare at her a little. “I’ve been ready for hours.”

My sister’s smile deepens as she stands up, moving over to the door to call the delivery nurses in so that there are some extra hands to help with the baby.

“Little Princess,” Sinclair says, giving me a squeeze. “She’ll be here soon.”

“I’m going to be jealous,” I mutter, glancing at him and working hard for a joke, even though I can feel the next contraction coming on, “when there’s another girl in your life, stealing all your attention.”

“Never,” he replies, kissing me on the side of the head. “You’re always my best girl.”

“Better be,” I gasp, but then all jokes are put aside, because the contraction comes on in full force. I groan as the pain grasps me and Cora moves quickly to the bedside, helping me better position my legs as she coaches me through it.

“Okay, Ella!” she says, her voice eager. “Let’s start to push!”

I do – I bear down, and put my full force

shout as I push, my world turning dark at the edges. I keep pushing, still hearing Cora’s encouragement, feeling Sinclair tense

as I gasp a breath back in the contraction

coming fast now,” Cora says, her voice excited, “you’re almost there, Ella! A

voice fades away and – and the shadows at the edge of

at the edge of my vision that I’ve felt before

my

is on my face, turning it towards him now, his voice worried. ”

shadows,” I say, pulling my face from his hand, looking

shaking with

” Cora says, looking

fades out, and the room grows

next to me, and the room becomes somehow a shadow of itself, looking like…like a room in a dollhouse, or

he’s made

his voice low

moves a few steps forward and shadows clear from him, revealing a tall, broad-shouldered man with an angular face, impeccably dressed in rich fabrics, each a darker shade of black. “Congratulations,” he continues, giving me a short, teasing little bow, “on the birth of

of pain, though my birth process is somehow…paused – I’m in the middle of it,

he looks down at me with that burning gaze. ” I’ve transported you, temporarily, to a pocket realm – only taken a second of your life. When we’re finished our little chat, you’ll be returned, safe and

starting to get

turning up. ” I’m afraid your mother has neglected you, then, if she hasn’t bothered to teach you to recognize the presence of her

together. My mother – goddess of the light, and the moon, and wolves

lack of a better term. You wolves with your mates

I growl, glaring at him, even more afraid now than I was before what on earth is he here