Shadow Watcher (Darkness #6)(37)

Jonas took my hand and put his arm behind my back.

“Let’s go back.” I didn’t hurt at the moment, but I was in the absence of pain. When this far along in pregnancy, the absence of pain means that it is crouching, just waiting to unleash havoc.

“Is that critter going to die if we leave it?” Jonas asked.

I glanced back at the caged panther. It was still on its side, oozing a small amount of blood and panting. It probably hurt quite a lot, but it wasn’t life threatening. “The razor spell wasn’t meant to cut deep. It probably went a little deeper than I intended as I was keyed up. Oops. It’ll be—”

An overall tightening of my tummy stopped my words. The pain spiraled outwards and radiated up through my body. It wasn’t terrible, though. It was just a promise of agony.

“Was that a contraction?” Charles asked with a wildness to his eyes. He squeezed my hand, all thought of the attack and shifters completely forgotten. “Are you starting? It is starting, Sasha? Should I get help? Does it hurt—”

Jonas stepped around me and punched Charles in the face. Charles staggered back. He shook his head. “Thanks, bro. I needed that. I think I just panicked.”

A childlike cry rent the night. Jonas glanced up the path. “Yes, Ann, tell them we’re coming. We have lots of time yet, but get them to call the Boss.”

“Should we carry her, Jonas?” Charles asked in hasty words. “Crap, I’m totally panicking, bro. I was so excited, and now I’m—”

Jonas sent him a glare cutting him off. Another punch might not be far behind, that was clear.

“Let’s walk,” I said with determination. “That’ll help. Walking helps—both doctors agreed on that.”

We got to the front of the large compound after stopping twice. It was as if we hadn’t just been attacked. There were bigger things to worry about--the pain was definitely contractions. It was happening. The time had come, and I was terrified of the pain as it increased in ferocity.

Not to worry, Charles was panicking every few minutes and getting punched by Jonas. It kept my mind off the terror at hand.

We heard a rumble of cars toward the front as a naked Ann ran into view. She stopped along the path and turned back to three unhurried women in pink. Fresh as a spring morning, they glided toward me with smiles that could probably bloom roses. I felt relief wash over me. They would know what to do—their complete lack of freaking out was evidence of that fact. Something not even Jonas could manage, if his shaking hand was any judge.

A rev that sounded like a fancy sports car had me slowing my step. The moon glinted off sleek lines and a shiny surface. It slid to a stop and cut off before Stefan slid out.

“What the hell has he kept from me?” I said in a hushed tone.

“Oh crap. Sasha, no. That is off-limits. You’ll kill me in that.” Charles tugged me to get me moving. He was punched again by Jonas and then gently moved aside by the helpers in pink.

“Jonas, bro, seriously. You haven’t been in the car when she drives crazy. She’d kill herself.”

“Let’s just wait for the Boss and then we will all go inside,” one of the ladies said in a voice as gentle and beautiful as a meadow in summer. She was totally suited for her job.

Stefan jogged up with Paulie at his back. I heard more cars in the distance but couldn’t see them yet. When Stefan met my eyes, the tightness around his eyes vanished. The haggard look of fear washed away into relief. He slowed to a walk and held out his hand for Paulie to do the same. They approached like a couple guys out for a stroll.

“Hi, baby. Everything going well?” Stefan asked in a calm voice.

A different sort of relief washed over me. It wasn’t of helpers knowing what they were doing, or Charles and Jonas acting like dorks, it was the stability and grounding only Stefan could give me. I entwined my fingers with his and heaved a huge sigh.

“Three shifters. Tried to attack her, and in the state she’s in.” The vicious growl bespoke horrible torture that panther would receive if Jonas got his way. Or any of the clan, really. Probably any species alive, actually. In what world did someone try to kill a pregnant lady? It was a level of disgusting I still couldn’t picture.

“Ann and I took two out before Sasha said to keep them alive, though,” Charles admitted, his gaze on my face. Then my stomach. “Okay, what are we waiting for? Inside, right, Sasha? We should go inside?”

“You kept one alive?” Stefan asked like he might’ve been asking if I’d saved him a piece of apple pie.

“Shifter attacked here?” one of the women in pink asked. Shock and fury warred in her features.

“One is hurt but alive, yes.” I scrunched up my face as another contraction grabbed a hold of my body and started digging in claws. It was getting worse. The pain was more consuming now.

“Inside, yes,” I panted.

“Is she in labor?” Stefan asked in the same calm voice.

“Yes, Boss. And yes, let’s all move inside.” Another of the ladies in pink motioned us forward. “Boss, maybe you can have one of your men arriving take care of anything that needs to be done while you focus on your mate. She needs you right now.”

“Of course. Jonas, take care of it. Paulie, go with him and fill him in on what you know.”

“Yes, Boss,” someone said as another wave of pain washed over me. Worse and worse. Here we go.