I reached down and grabbed her hand.
“We can do it,” I promised.
And we did.
We delivered the boy first, and the girl within five minutes after that.
However, nearly instantly we realized that they weren’t going to be okay.
Both of their lungs were very underdeveloped.
The boy was worse than the girl, and both babies were sitting in their father’s arms as they struggled to draw breath.
I was holding an oxygen mask over the girl, while Ian was doing the same for the boy.
“You’ll have to let me hold him. I can keep him here long enough for you to take me to the hospital,” Ian said, his voice serious.
I could tell Keifer didn’t want to let Ian have his child, but in the end he did what was best for the baby.
Keifer placed the small boy into Ian’s arms and took the tiny girl into his arms with the portable oxygen around her little face. We all started to walk to the dragons that were crowded around the compound’s hospital.
Even Angus, the little boy’s paired dragon, was there.
He was usually a lot more anti-social, but in this instance, he was every bit as concerned as everyone else.
And also the most useless. At least that’s what he was thinking.
Angus had suffered a loss the day Nikolai’s dad died.
Both dragon and King had gone down, and although the dragon hadn’t died like the king had, he might as well have.
He was useless with only one wing.
He was surly. Angry. And he hated anything that had to do with a Purist.
He was best by himself and didn’t make any excuses for his behavior.
Right then, though, I saw the devastation in his eyes as he watched Ian, Keifer, and Nikolai mount.
“Take care of them,” Keifer said.
My eyes widened as I looked back at Angus, whom the order had been directed to, and nearly smiled.
Angus, now full of a purpose, nodded his head in understanding and acknowledgment.
I will, my King.
Then they all took flight, and I watched with my heart in my throat as they took off with the future King of Dragons and his baby sister.***I dreaded walking back into the hospital room where Blythe was.
I knew she was crying.
Hell, I was crying.
But I did it anyway, despite the foreboding that followed upon my heels.
I met Skylar coming out just as I was about to go in and froze at the look of shocked terror on Skylar’s face.
“What is it?” I asked the moment I took stock of her features.
“She’s bleeding out.”
I blinked.
“But…” I stammered.
She’d been doing fine!
I went into the room to find Blythe so pale I could practically see the life draining out of her.
“When did this happen?” I asked urgently, running up to the bed and grabbing a hold of Blythe’s hand.
Blythe’s head rolled to the side.
“Make sure you take care of them,” she whispered brokenly.
“No!” I instantly denied. “You’ll take care of them! I don’t want them!”
She smiled softly, then her eyes closed and she lost consciousness.
“We have to take her to the heart,” I urged, pulling the blankets off her and throwing them to the floor.
Skylar helped me, careful to leave the bag of fluids going into her in place.
“I thought we couldn’t die!” I cried. “I thought we were immortal!”
Skylar and I kicked the brakes off of the gurney and pushed her quickly out of the room.
Merrick, his eyes glossed over with exhaustion, stood in the doorway of the entrance to the outside, watching us.
“I’ve got a ride for you,” he said, his voice rough.
Merrick had thought ahead. Sascha wasn’t able to carry that many people. Not in her weakened condition. Hell, we were all weakened.
He looked about ready to fall, but I didn’t help him.
Not only did I not have time, but I didn’t think he would appreciate it.
I came outside once again to find Angus outside, and standing next to him were a couple of horses without saddles.
I didn’t even question where they’d come from.
I just ran up to one, used the mane to grab hold, and swung up into the saddle.
I’d have to ask myself later how I managed to do it, because the horse had to be at least fifteen hands tall, and I was fairly sure the horse was wild.
I’d never seen any horses here.
Horses and dragons didn’t get along.
But right now, I didn’t ask questions.
I smiled as Angus lifted Blythe up off the gurney with his tail, offering my hands out for her.
He placed her somewhat gently into my arms, and then I gave a thumb’s up to Skylar, who managed to mount the other horse using the gurney as a step stool.
Then we were off, praying the whole way that everything would be okay.Chapter 19When people ask me which is more important to Brooklyn, food or love, I don’t answer. Mostly because she’s eating.