Brianna (45 page)

Another stronger contraction rolled around Brianna’s stomach, and she would have fallen if Meri and Denieen had not each grabbed an arm. A rush of water pooled at their feet.

“It won’t be long now,” Denieen said as Brianna moaned.

“Chardadon will miss the birth of his child if he doesn’t soon come.”

Brianna struggled to regain her composure as her friends helped her to the bed.

Then the door slammed open, and Char stomped into the room.

He’d only taken four or five steps into the room when Brianna had another contraction. Blanching, he watched the muscles on her stomach contract and take control of her body.

He broke out in a sweat when he heard her moan with pain.

“Brianna!”

Gritting her teeth, she spat, “Damn it, Char, it’s about time you got here. What took you so long! Your son isn’t going to wait much longer.”

“It’s going very well, Brianna,” Denieen said. “You are one of the lucky women who will give birth relatively easily.”

Brianna clenched Char’s hand as another contraction took control.

“Easily!” he exclaimed between clenched teeth as Brianna’s grip tightened.

Both Meri and Denieen laughed.

Meri plumped some pillows behind Brianna’s back. “My labor lasted almost twenty-eight hours.”

Char gave Brianna his other hand as he shook feeling into the hand she’d just squeezed. “Can’t you give her something for the pain?”

“I’m not taking anything unless I can’t stand the pain,”

Brianna panted. “If I…can get through this…so can you.”

“But, Brianna…”

“Don’t ‘but Brianna’ me, Char,” she snarled through clenched teeth as another pain struck. “I’m the one having this baby, and I’m going to do it my way whether you like it or not!”

Denieen glanced between Brianna’s legs. “Push with the next contraction, Brianna.”

Helpless, Char watched as nature took control of his wife’s body. He’d seen videos of birth and helped in the birthing sheds of the clan’s herds. However, he’d never been emotionally involved before. His anger evaporated with her painful moans.

He had never felt so helpless in his life.

“Help her up a little, Alalakan,” Denieen said. “That’s it, sit behind her and support her back. I can see the head.”

Char slid onto the bed next to Brianna, and pulled her up against his chest. Tears fell freely from his eyes as he felt her shudder against the pains that racked her body.

“Damn it, Char…”

“That’s it,” encouraged Denieen. “One more push.”

Brianna screamed, and her son slid from her body.

“It’s a boy,” Meri said as she laid the baby Denieen had handed her into Brianna’s arms. “A fine, big boy.

Congratulations, Char.”

Tears of joy were streaming from Brianna’s eyes as she reached for him. “Connor, Char, his name is Connor.”

“Whatever you want, love, it’s yours,” he answered. He stared over Brianna’s shoulder at the small being who stopped crying when he was laid in her arms.

“He’s got a tail,” Brianna continued.

Char smiled and gently hugged her. “Good. Ban would never let us hear the end of it if our son were tailless.”

Denieen smiled at their banter as Brianna delivered the afterbirth with no trouble. This was one of the easiest births she’d ever attended. “But he will have a head of flame as does your wife. He will truly be a Dragon among the Alalakans.”

Brianna sighed. Exhaustion was finally taking control.

“Hand Connor to me, Char,” Meri said. “He needs to be cleaned up and Brianna needs to rest.”

Slowly Char eased from behind his wife and very carefully, as if he were carrying the most fragile glass, lifted his son from Brianna’s arms.

“I love you, Char.”

Depositing Connor gently in Meri’s arms, Char turned back to his wife. “I have loved you all of my life, Brianna, even before I met you,” he answered. “You are the other half of my soul.”

Easing himself down onto the bed, he gently pulled her into his arms and cradled her against his chest.

Soon her even breathing told him she was asleep.

Meri placed Connor in the baby cot that had been dragged over from the nursery. Then she and Deni left the room.

Char leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

A cheer from downstairs slipped beneath the closed door and he smiled. Connor’s relatives had been informed of his arrival.

Char shifted Brianna so she’d be more comfortable, then buried his face into her fiery curls and inhaled her special fragrance. Finally he was home.

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