Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

NYX

Present Day

“You’re doing great, darling,” Nyx praised while Scarlet blew out a long breath. “Now lift up your hips.”

Scarlet groaned but did as she was told. Nyx nodded to Brine who quickly but gently set several pillows beneath her hips to elevate them above her heart. Scarlet dropped her hips down with a grunt and smiled up at Nyx.

“I feel like a beached whale.”

“Not for long.” She grinned back at her friend and eyed Brine who watched Scarlet like a hawk. Patting Scarlet’s leg, Nyx tucked the very pregnant woman back under the sheets. “You’re doing great.”

“How much longer will she be like this?” Brine asked softly.

“Depends on the person.”

Scarlet snorted. “My pains are only coming every half hour. It’s going to be forever.”

“Which is not a bad thing,” Nyx said. “The babe is trying to enter this world bum first. We need to get them rotated head down before the pains get any closer together.”

Brine’s lips thinned. “Is that dangerous?”

“It’s uncomfortable.” She stared down her old friend. “Can you handle that?”

He nodded and Scarlet laughed, wiping sweat from her brow. “Stars save us from consoling men who aren’t going through the actual pain.”

Nyx snorted and set a knee on the bed, watching Scarlet. “Are you ready?”

She nodded and squeezed Brine’s hand. “Have at it.”

Nyx nodded, pulling down the sheet until Scarlet’s round belly was visible. She placed her hands on either side and peered up at her friend. “Take a deep breath and then slowly release it as I put pressure on your belly to turn the babe.” Nyx applied steady pressure and began to rotate the little one.

Scarlet groaned and panted, and Nyx’s arms began to shake when the wee one didn’t budge. She released her hold and gave Scarlet a break before trying again. Still no change. She gritted her teeth and stood from the bed.

“I’m just going to grab Briggs.”

Brine’s upper lip curled. “He’ll see Scarlet.”

Nyx arched a brow. “You’re the one who called for him. Maybe you should have let me make that call.” Her gaze moved to Scarlet. “Are you comfortable with Briggs being here?”

“I don’t mind.”

Nyx hid her smile when Brine muttered underneath his breath. She moved to the door, opened it, and stepped through. Her traitorous heart fluttered in her chest as Briggs pushed away from the window, his dark gaze intent on her. He seemed to be soaking in the sight of her.

It’s just your imagination.

She straightened as he approached. “I need your help,” she said in a low tone. His eyes flickered to the bedroom and then back to her face. “She’s breech.” Briggs cursed. “We need to turn the babe now but they’re being stubborn.”

“I see.”

“I need you to turn the wee one. Your hands are larger, and you have more control.”

“I’ll wash up.”

Nyx nodded and turned back to go into the bedroom. The back of her neck prickled as Briggs followed her in. She led him to the wash basin, avoiding looking directly at him. Briggs rolled up his sleeves, revealing muscled forearms. She fought a blush and helped him wash his hands without meeting his gaze.

She practically scampered back to Scarlet’s side as Briggs dried his hands. He smiled, his teeth a white flash against his complexion.

“How are you, sweet?” Briggs asked.

A long time ago, hearing her mate call someone else by a pet name would have bothered Nyx. But now as an adult, she knew he was only trying to calm his patient. It was how he treated all females. She no longer coveted pet names. They didn’t mean anything.

Scarlet smiled. “As well as I can be.”

He approached the bed, brushing Nyx’s side and sat on edge of the mattress. He held his hands out. “Is it alright if I touch you to help move the babe?”

“Yes, please,” Scarlet said.

Nyx took Scarlet’s hands. “Now remember what I said. I need you to take a deep breath and slowly release it as Briggs rotates your wee one.”

She nodded her head and did as instructed as Briggs put pressure on her belly. Scarlet groaned, squeezing Nyx’s hands.

“That’s it, sweet girl,” Nyx crooned. “You’re doing great.”

“Hurts,” Scarlet huffed.

“Just keep breathing.”

“That’s right, love. You listen to Nyx. We’ll have you right as rain soon enough,” Briggs said, his voice gentle and calm. “Another breath.”

Scarlet inhaled and then groaned as he rotated the baby a smidge more. By the time he was finished, Scarlet was a panting mess, Briggs was covered in sweat, and Nyx couldn’t feel her fingers.

She brushed the stray strands from her friend’s damp forehead and stood. “I’ll let you rest a little bit. When your next contraction hits, do you want me here?”

Scarlet shook her head. “From what you say, it will be a long while before this babe comes into the world.” She smiled up at Brine. “He’ll help me through the worst of it. I’ll call for you when I need you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Go get some rest yourself.”

Nyx nodded and left the room. She strode through the living area and out the front door, the scent of seaweed and brine greeting her. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, cupping her elbows. She leaned back against the stone house as Briggs stepped from the home, closing the large woodened front door behind him.

How could it sicken and hearten Nyx to see his face?

“You were never one for silence,” he murmured.

“I have nothing to say.” A lie.

“Love—”

“Don’t,” she growled, glaring up at the man she’d wasted so many years on. “Don’t use pet names. You’ve never done that with me. I’m not one of your wounded patients to soothe.”

His lips thinned. “It’s not a pet name. It’s the truth.”

She laughed caustically and stepped away from the wall. “The truth? You want to speak about truth?”

His gaze dropped to her shoulder, and she placed a hand over it, even though her dress covered the mark.

“That’s mine.”

She said nothing. He had already learned the truth three months prior when he broke her heart for the last time.

“Why did you not tell me?” He took a step toward her. “You could have told me that night at the cabin.”

“Would that have changed anything?”

He fell silent and Nyx dropped her hand. Go figure. More silence, more rejection. What more could she expect? He wasn’t willing to try. Only guilt moved him now.

She wove around him, feeling sick. Briggs was good for helping those who he thought needed rescuing, but she wasn’t some maiden he needed to save. She wouldn’t be his next project.

He stopped her, his hand curling around her bicep. Nyx stared at his hand and then peered up into his handsome face.

“Nyx…”

“You were right about what you said a few months ago. We can’t be together.” She hiccupped but cleared the lump in her throat. She’d cried enough over the bear who refused to allow himself a happy future. “You refuse to move on from the past and I refuse to be penalized for your choices.”

“That’s not what I intended,” he rasped, looking miserable.

“And that’s why I don’t hate you, but I can’t love you either. It hurts too much.” She pulled her arm out of his grip, and he let her go, like he always did.

Nyx walked away from the only man she’d ever loved, and wondered how she was going to survive losing her best friend.