Epilogue

Bane

The Next Night

C harity writhes around the nest in complete agony. My nerves are decimated, and if I’m not careful, my beast will force a shift. I pace the edge of the platform that circles the nest.

I’m a shitty mate.

Eldritch and Athos frame her sides as Nadia attempts to coax our child into the world. Fine, we’ll have to incubate the egg for another month before our son or daughter hatches, but the egg needs to come out now .

Nadia and Meena expressed concern over how large the egg was growing, but that’s not why it’s an emergency.

The baby developed its dragonfire, which wouldn’t be a problem if Charity were a dragon.

However, she’s a dragon’s heart, meaning she can’t handle the temperatures the egg heats to when the baby expels its dragonfire.

Charity screams again in pure misery, and my hands shift. My dragon is convinced we should have her resting on us while fully shifted, but that’s not possible.

The time we spent in Faere should account for the few days she’s shy of a month. That means, it’s perfectly healthy for the egg to be birthed. There’s no other option at this point, because I can’t stand to listen to my mate suffer for another minute, let alone days.

The door to the nest slams open, and Aline and Silence come inside. I knew Meena planned to fetch them when she went over to Aline’s to check on Veryn.

My dragon growls low in warning. The nest is supposed to be a safe place. His instincts scream to remove everyone who is not part of our pack.

Nadia can stay .

Only because she’s a healer.

Silence’s eyes glow pastel green with the power of his magic. “You know my gifts include soothing monsters in beast form. Give me the opportunity to at least try to reach your daughter.”

Aline disregards me completely, skirting around and kneeling on the edge of the nest mattress.

My jaw falls.

A daughter?

Goddamn.

I don’t have the first clue how to raise a little a girl, but fuck me, I hope she looks exactly like Charity.

I give him a wobbly nod, stepping back in case my beast is too stubborn to understand he’s here to help.

Silence dashes up the steps with his hands and eyes glowing. “Charity, my dear, you’re looking a bit rough. Let’s see if we can set this little one to rights.”

Aline, Silence, and Nadia all hover around Charity’s stomach.

I’m still flabbergasted at how I’m supposed to raise a daughter.

It doesn’t matter.

I’ll figure it out.

And this is perfect.

One boy and now a girl, and we’re done.

Two kids are plenty, especially because I can’t watch the woman I love go through this ever again.

Athos appears at my side in full form. “Take my spot.”

My head shakes. “I can’t. I’m afraid I’m going to lose it and shift. My dragon is being…difficult.”

“Maybe he knows something we don’t. If you were in nature, being able to cuddle up to your dragon form may have helped soothe her.” The djinn shrugs. “Silence’s magic is working.”

The explosive screams from the last hour have simmered to simple grunts and a few mild wails.

“She needs your support.” Athos claps me on the shoulder. “Take over my spot, and I’ll pop over to update Meena and Veryn.” He gives me a shove, and I catch Charity’s eyes.

She gives me a tired smile, and I only feel worse. Following the carpeting around to the top of the circle, I climb onto the mattress. Once I’m by Charity’s head, I bend and brush my lips over hers.

“I’m so sorry you’re suffering,” I choke out.

Her head shakes. “We can do this. I’m good now.”

She does seem better now that she’s not burning alive from the inside out.

Silence sits facing Charity’s head, and he gives me a nod.

I can only hope he’s telling me his magic will hold until Charity is finally able to pass the egg.

“Is this normal?” I ask no one in particular as I study our freshly delivered egg. It’s soft, like some reptile shells, but stunningly beautiful in lime green with dark blue specks.

“It is.” Charity nods against Eldritch’s chest. He moved behind her during the heavy pushing.

Silence and Aline saw themselves out once the egg was delivered.

“Veryn’s egg was the same soft material for a few days, but he was so much smaller,” Charity says with wide eyes. “She was like birthing a full-size baby.”

Nadia leans over my shoulder, watching the baby move inside the still-soft shell. “Sometimes, second and third babies are larger than the first. I guess that applies to eggs too.”

I move the egg to the crook of my arm, cradling it close to help it stay warm. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

Charity yawns, but breaks into a wide smile. “Oh God. I know, me too. Right after a nap.”

“Have you picked a name?” Eldritch tenderly brushes her hair back from her tired face.

“Athos had a recommendation that I really love, if you’re open to it.” Charity nods to the djinn.

“Go on,” I say, realizing I’m gently rocking back and forth to soothe her. She’s not even born yet, but it feels instinctual.

“Serafina.” Athos swirls away in a shimmery cloud, reappearing at my side. He stretches a hand over, running it along the thin shell of the egg. A tiny arm pushes back, and my heart races.

“I think that means she likes it,” I choke out.

Charity laughs. “Strangely enough, that’s exactly how I picked Veryn.”

“Well, you’re all set.” Nadia swipes her hair back from her face. “I’ll come back in a few days. Any fever, even low grade, is an emergency. Same goes for severe pain. If that happens, call me. Otherwise, I’ll check you both over again soon, but I’m not too worried. Outside of the dragonfire, your delivery went pretty smooth.”

I scoff.

If this was “pretty smooth,” we’re abso-fucking-lutely done having kids.