Chapter Sixty

Poppy.

Daegal’s choices in reading material reminded me of something my grandfather would read. History? What was this? High-school? I put the book down and reached for another one from the pile on the bed.

Even more dreadful.

Where were the romance books?

Did they not do that here?

Did he not enjoy a nail-biting thriller?

“Could we not get one fiction book around here?” I mumbled to myself tossing the book to the side in frustration.

Most of these were historical fiction from this realm. The evolution of the dragon. The history of this particular realm. Dragon versus vampires. Werewolves and whatnot. It wasn't the good werewolf books either.

I would rather stare up at the vaulted ceilings all day, which seemed to be the plane as of now. I couldn't help with the nursery. I couldn't paint or see any of our little guy's clothes. I had to sit in the solitude of this room alone.

I glanced at the bell Rachel recovered from somewhere in the castle. I would not be that person. I hated to be a nuisance and that bell screamed bothersome.

Daegal was gathering paint for the nursery and getting everything together. I knew I was adding to his stress but I could not stop the overwhelming sense that Jeremiah would be here soon. It was a heavy pressure on my shoulders. One that constantly reminded me of what was coming for us.

My eyes began to flutter close and instead of fighting the need to sleep, I embraced it.

Someone’s laughter woke me from my nap.

I sat up in my bed, my eyes adjusting to the light as I scanned the room for the culprit. The empty room stared back at me, the light from the window told me it was nearing lunch or after. The need for a good burger settled into my stomach.

Laying back down, I stretched my legs and arms like a newborn waking up from her nap.

Another spill of laughter fell into the room.

I attempted to sit up but my body went still against the bed. It felt as if restraints were holding me against the mattress.

Fear snaked up my spine and tangled around my throat.

My mouth opened but nothing came out. I couldn't speak or scream.

Slow footsteps neared the room and slipped toward the bed. I moved my eyes to see Kelli stop and look down at me. The smile on her face was wicked and her features looked satisfied at my unease.

“Look at the glowing soon-to-be mother,” she said softly. “You’re getting ready to bring that baby into the world, aren’t you? Any day now, huh?"

I struggled against the invisible restraints and attempted to reach out to Daegal. I had no idea how she made it into the room. Had the protection spell worn off? How was she keeping me here and why hadn’t she hurt me yet?

“You look so shocked to see me,” Kelli said, sitting down beside me. “Why is that, Poppy? Did you think I wouldn’t come? Or that I was weak after the hellhounds? What is that King Daegal telling his people?" she asked.

I glared at her face and fought the tears in my eyes. A contraction bunched in my lower stomach and I reached to my stomach to no avail.

Kelli laughed. “I don’t have children, but I imagine that hurts, right?” She sat back against her palms and looked up at the ceiling. “I hate to do this to you, Poppy. None of this was your fault, was it? That damn Daegal just couldn’t back down and give me the throne?” She looked down at me. “Well, he’ll pay, won’t he? I'm sure he'll miss his queen and his little baby boy. What is it? Jeremiah?"

She stood up swiftly and braced her palms on the bed beside me. “What will I do with that baby once it’s out of you?”

I fought against the restraints, tears cascading down my cheeks and frustrations building inside of me.

She reached forward to touch me but stopped inches away with a perplexed look. She couldn’t actually touch me. I didn’t know if it was Selena’s protection spell or what but I was thankful for it.

“Interesting,” she said.

I watched her reach for me again but she was blasted to the other side of the room. Selena stepped through the doorway with fear in her eyes.

Kelli hit the wall and stood up slowly, adjusting her dress as if she’d simply tripped. “They brought the traitor back,” she said. “How pathetic.”

“You should leave before this gets out of hand,” Selena said.

Kelli lifted a brow. “Or because you’re all scared. I could feel the fear as soon as I appeared here. It oozes out of every crevice. Are you as scared as Daegal is for his queen?”

Selena stepped toward me and waved her hand, allowing me to break free from the restraints. I gasped for air and cradled my stomach in the aftermath of my contraction.

“I’m not scared of you at all,” Selena said. “At least I didn’t sacrifice myself to a dark god to get here. That’s pathetic.”

Kelli glitched as if she was on a video game and laughed. It sent shivers down my spine. “You’ll be the one begging for mercy first, Witch.”

Selena lifted her arms and picked Kelli up to toss her, but she disappeared and reappeared behind her at the doorjamb.

“I’ll see you both soon.”

She vanished in the same second.

Selena turned to me and put her hands on my stomach. “Are you okay? Did she hurt you?”

“She couldn’t touch me.”

“The protection spell worked,” Selena whispered. “I put one on you last night when you slept. I’ll make sure to redo it every day until this is over with.”

She pushed my hair from my forehead. “Do you need Rachel—“

Another contraction hit my stomach and I groaned in pain. Selena stood up and stared at me as shivers raced over my body.

“Melinda!” she shouted over her shoulder. “Get Daegal and Rachel. I think the baby is coming.”

“He’s not coming,” I reassured her.

However, I was really attempting to reassure myself. This could not happen right now. I arched my back from the bed and cradled my stomach again.

A heavy pressure started in my back.

Selena sat on the bed beside me and grabbed my hand. “They’ll be here soon, okay.”

“My water hasn’t broken. I just need to walk this off. I’m fine.” I went to stand up but she guided me back to the bed. “Please, let me up,” I said, my body shaking in pain.

Melinda got there first. She rushed into the room and stood on the other side of the bed, grabbing my hand in hers. “Rachel is on her way. I sent a message to Daegal.”

“I need Daegal,” I whispered. “Please, I can’t do this. I don't want to do this."

Melinda squeezed my hand tightly in hers. “Everything is going to be okay.“

Another contraction hit me and a scream ripped from my throat. I’d never felt anything so painful in my entire life.

It radiated through me like electricity.

Rachel’s hurried footsteps climbed up the stairs and she barreled into the room with a doctor’s bag.

She had a bright smile on her face and I wanted to wipe it off. “Who’s ready to have a baby?”