Chapter 30

Chapter

Thirty

To say that Elowyn was exhausted was the absolute understatement of this century.

Their first little girl had come—not quickly, but once the tide had turned, she had simply refused to wait for her Uncle Rowan to appear.

He still couldn't believe that Triton had been the one to deliver her. And his braaken had been just as calm and peaceful as any hailee could expect or ask for.

The second daughter, on the other hand, seemed reluctant to make her appearance. Rowan was massaging, encouraging her farther and farther down. She simply did not want to move.

"Is everything going to be all right?" he heard Cerran ask Triton, who was cleaning up their newly born daughter, swaddling her with a blissful expression on his face.

"Everything's going to be fine." That was Rowan, his brother just beginning to seem grumpy. "This little one is just being a touch stubborn. She likes it where she's at. Perhaps, Cerran, you could call for her?"

"Me?" Cerran's eyes went wide. "Do you think I should?"

Oh, for?—

"You are her father, are you not?" Elowyn snapped, a sudden fury born from pain filling him. "Cerran, I need you."

Just as if he'd been slapped, Cerran stiffened, his spine going straight. "I most certainly am."

Then Cerran came right to Elowyn, twining their fingers together. "I'm sorry, hailee. I haven't been very helpful."

Then Cerran closed his eyes, and he heard his braaken speak to their daughter. Little one, please. Your sister's waiting for you, and so am I. I want to see you. I can't wait to see your sweet face.

Elowyn felt something inside him seem to ease, as if their youngest daughter was opening her hands. That horrifying squeeze to his insides, as she clung to her safe, happy, little dark home, disappearing.

"That's it," Rowan encouraged. "She's moving. Whatever you're doing, Cerran, keep doing it."

Elowyn groaned as another contraction tore through him, but this one felt easier somehow. Even tired as he was, it didn't feel as if he was fighting her and her will.

Cerran began to chuckle. That's right. Come on, little one. Come to play. There are bottles and warm blankets and snuggles and a cozy bed, and you get to meet me and your other father. Your Uncle Rowan.

Elowyn arched. "That's it. That's it, baby. Come meet us."

"All right. Get ready to push." Rowan glanced at Cerran. "Come and help him. Help support his shoulders."

Cerran helped him, and those warm hands pushed him upright. This was so much easier now, because before they hadn't had help.

They'd just been him and Triton having a baby. Now it was all of them, and that was how it should be.

The three of them having a baby, having their babies.

"I see the head."

Elowyn was sure there was some pithy, smart, sarcastic remark he could have come up with for Rowan. He was just too busy pushing something the size of a bowling ball out of a hole very much smaller.

"There she is," Rowan said, and Triton made a happy noise, bouncing the little one that he held and smiling in an encouraging way.

Cerran held him, helping him stay upright so he could push, and he felt so much better. Tired, yes, but so much better. And before long, their second daughter was in Rowan's hands, and he was feeling a profound sense of relief.

"Here, Cerran, I'm going to need your help. You're going to have to hold her and help clean her up while I work with Elowyn to get him settled."

Cerran kissed his head, gave him a little squeeze, and then eased him back down on the pillows. He was so much more confident now as he went to take their daughter, and while he wasn't quite as at ease as Triton, Cerran seemed much happier. He wrapped her in a towel and showed her off.

"Elowyn, look. Isn't she gorgeous?"

Elowyn nodded, but really, all he wanted to do was lay back and rest. Let Rowan work to make him feel more comfortable.

He was feeling a little selfish about that, but at the same time, he could see the babies and they were safe with his braaken, so maybe he could just ease himself, just a little bit.

"You did a very nice job, brother," Rowan told him, and Elowyn flipped him off without actually lifting his hand off the bed. "You're welcome. You make beautiful babies."

"I love you too. Thank you for your help."

"Of course. I'm going to go warm up bottles and arrange it so your braaken can feed your babies. Do you need me to get help in for Leilani, or I can stay?"

He squinted at Rowan. "You don't have other ones about to pop?"

"This is a growing keep," Rowan admitted, "but I can watch my niece. We wouldn't want her to barbecue the new babies."

"Not after I've worked so hard to get them out, no. Give me a few weeks, then I might take it under advisement." Elowyn chuckled.

He couldn't believe this—in one short year, he'd gone from being a meek and mild healer to being a formerly possessed by the gods, fierce father of three who managed to satisfy two alphas, thank you very much.

He sort of felt like a stud.

A sore, tired stud.

"I'd appreciate the help, brother. Thank you."

Then he took one more look at his babies and his mates, and began to doze. Leilani's laughter beginning to tickle inside of him.