#24.
“You filthy mongrel… good-for-nothing,
louse of a husband.”
Quinlan stared in amazement as Brayden
ranted at him. His knees buckled as he watch another wave of pain rolled
through his husband’s delicate body with enough force so his back bowed off the
bed. A feral scream tore from Brayden’s throat. As soon as the pain appeared to
lessen Brayden burst into tears and held out his arms toward him. Quinlan
didn’t even hesitate as he ran across the room and wrapped his husband tenderly
in his arms.
“I am so proud of you my love.” Quinlan
peppered his face in kisses. He couldn’t believe Brayden was in the throes of labour.
For some insane reason Quin felt jilted, like he’d missed watching their child
grown within his husband’s body.
Brayden’s back bowed in pain again and
he glared at Quinlan through his tears and obvious discomfort. “You’re never
sticking that thing inside me ever again. Do you hear me? We are never having
sex again.”
Quinlan bit back the smile that was
trying to force its way onto his lips. But somehow he didn’t think that Brayden
would appreciate it.
“I can’t do this, Quin. I don’t know how
to get the baby out. What if it gets stuck inside me forever?” fear laced his
words and Quinlan didn’t know how to reassure his lover that he was strong
enough.
Brayden moaned as another set of gentle
hands touched him and seemed surprised to see Lord Dalziel, his other father
standing there.
“You need to calm yourself as much as
possible. Take deep breaths and slow your heartbeat. If you’re too stressed
out, then the babe will be just as uneasy.” Fane’s voice was trying for smooth
and soothing, and Quin appreciated what the man was doing.
Brayden narrowed his eyes and snapped.
“What would you know about it?”
Fane smiled, “I was there for the birth
of both of my children. I remember vividly what Thayer went through to bring each
of you into the world.”
“How?” Brayden asked.
Quinlan hoped like hell whatever needed
to happen was simple and reasonably easy. He hated seeing Brayden in any kind
of pain.
“Well, once you’re calmed down enough to
proceed an incision will be made. The cut will run from your navel to your
pubic bone to bring the babe into the world to take its very first breath as a
member of our race.” Fane stroked Brayden’s arm, “Now I need you to relax so we
can get my first grandson born. Once the babe is free of your body you’ll be
able to shift and heal yourself.”
Brayden paled even further then he
already was. “Not going to happen. I’ve never shifted before. I don’t know
how.”
“I’ll help you.” Javier said softly.
Quin waited unto Javier came to his brother’s side and offered his support.
Quinlan could only watch as Brayden
grimaced as yet another wave of discomfort engulfed his small frame.
“Oh Gods… Quinlan, I need this baby out
of me now… please, I’m begging you—it’s killing me.” Quinlan’s heart wrenched
at the words escaping his husband’s lips.
“Fane, what do we need to do?”
To Quinlan it was as if a switch inside Fane
seemed to flick. His demeanour changed and turned him into a force to be
reckoned with. “Lay him out on the table, we need sterilisation strips to
cleanse the skin where the incisions needs to be made.” He ran his finger along
the spot he meant.
Quinlan held tight to Brayden as the
sterilisation strips were rubbed over the taut skin of his husband’s lower
abdomen. “Baby, soon we’ll be looking into the face of our gorgeous son.”
Brayden’s eyes widened, “Quin, where are
the boys? Are they safe? Tell me they are safe?”
“They’re safe, love. I promise you they
are very safe.” He leant across and kissed Brayden on his forehead. “Come on
now, are you ready to bring our child into the world?”
**~*~**
Brayden couldn’t believe Quinlan was
finally here with him. And now he was into too much pain to rejoice. Oh God,
here came another wave of agony. He gritted his teeth as the sharp ache stabbed
through him. Something wasn’t right. Damn it felt like his insides were being
torn apart. He needed this over—now!
“I fucking hate you right now. You did
this to me,” Brayden ground out as yet another wave of what felt like torture
hit him. “You’re so not my favourite person anymore.”
“I love you, Bray.”
Brayden didn’t believe a word he was
hearing. “Bullshit! You caused all this.” He wanted to shut up desperately but
his mouth just wouldn’t stop. “You impregnated me. You filled me up. They took
me because of that. This is all your fault.” He heard the room gasp as tears
filled Quinlan’s eyes and he let go of his hand and stepped away. Brayden
wanted to take the words back, but didn’t know how. “I’m sorry.” Just didn’t
seem to cut it.
“Javier, could you please stay with
Brayden. My being here is obviously causing him distress.” Quinlan had a single
tears run its course down his cheek as he turned and walked from the room and
Brayden felt like shit for hurting his husband.
Brayden’s wanted to call him back. He
needed Quinlan here with him. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Quinlan
had chosen to leave him again and that fucking hurt like. Hell, now his heart
was breaking right along with his body.
“He’s searched for you since the day you
disappeared.” Javier said softly. “You wouldn’t believe what he’s been like. I
don’t think he slept at all for the first three days while he organised the
search party to track you down.”
Tears leaked out of Brayden’s eyes as he
listened to his brother defend his husband.
“He loves you so much.”
“I need to give him a mild sedative now.
Not enough to knock him out, just enough to calm him.” Lucas held up the needle
for them both to see.
“I need my husband.” Brayden demanded,
“QUIN!” Brayden screamed his husband’s name as the needle moved closer toward
him—God he hated needles.
**~*~**
Quinlan’s head snapped up from where he
sat on the floor outside of Brayden’s room. When Brayden screamed his name in
terror it had him off the floor and back through the door before his name had
even faded from the room.
“Quin, don’t let them stick me with
that.” He pointed a shaking finger at the huge needle.
“Lucas?” Quinlan asked as he walked back
over to stand beside the table.
Lucas chuckled, “It is just a mild
sedative so he doesn’t move too much during the birthing.”
Brayden grabbed Quinlan’s hands and held
tight when he felt a sting of the needle as it entered his skin just above his
pubes. Relaxing as the pain slowly ebbed out of him.
“Look at me, Bray. Keep your eyes on
me.”
“Okay,” Brayden tried to smile bravely
but Quinlan saw his lower lip quivered. Then Brayden frowned. Out of the corner
of his vision Quinlan saw Lucas make the incision and then help free the baby. All
the while Brayden appeared to feel nothing.
They both looked toward the end of the
table as they heard a baby cry. “Sire’s may I introduce to you your very
beautiful son.” Lucas held up the swaddled babe. A weird look come over
Brayden’s face.
“Bray,” Quinlan asked as Brayden let out
a loud moan.
“Oh, the fates be blessed.” Lucas handed
over Xavier to Quinlan as he ducked back behind the shield. Standing back up he
smiled. “May I also present your equally as beautiful daughter.”
With grey spots filling his vision Quinlan
hurriedly handed Xavier to Brayden for safe keeping, then toppled to the floor
as he promptly fainted.
