Chapter 16: Don't Leave Me!

Her mind never left mine, her pain shared as I raced as fast as my short legs would carry me, practically flying across the field and through the tree line, the large coven house coming into sight. She screamed in my head, the agony unbearable, and I offered her what support I could, fearing the worst.

No one could survive such terrible pain. No one.

Her window was open, beckoning, my now more agile body making the leap to the oak tree and her ledge with ease as I rushed into her room.

Crowded, so many people huddled near, mostly women, though Orin hulked beside the bed, holding my love's hand, looking down on her with as much anxiety as I felt. One leap put me on the foot, and, for a moment, I met Sydlynn's eyes as she crouched beside her daughter's spread feet.

"About time you came home," she said. "Thad needs you."

Shame filled me despite the gentle delivery of her words, my ears drooping sideways, tail hanging low. I couldn't bear to look, not when the scent of blood was fresh.

"Is she dying?" I whispered in Sydlynn's ear only to have her laugh at me.

"No, silly cat," she said, pointing to the bulge under the thin white sheet. "At least, I hope not."

A baby. Of course. The pain she was feeling, labor. I was such a fool.

"Sassafras." Thaddea panted my name, smiling at me around her massive belly, face swollen and very red, sheeted in sweat, but as beautiful as my heart remembered her. She held out one hand and I couldn't resist the invitation, coming to hover next to her face, licking gently at the tears spilling over her cheeks. "Don't leave me," she whispered. "Please."

I nodded, settled next to her on her pillow, what little power I had hers for the taking. She stroked my fur a moment before her face collapsed and the pain came again. I shared it with her, took as much from her as I was able, knowing I'd done well when she rewarded me with a smile after the contraction was through. "Thank you."

I couldn't speak past the lump in my throat, the burning pressure of tears threatening. Instead, I remained at her side, the only thing I could do, and took her pain burden from her when it came around again.

"All right then," Sydlynn said after a quick peek under the sheet. "Let's have a baby, shall we, my darling? Time to push."

The family gathered, magic pressing in around Thaddea, helping her even further with the pain, though I wondered why they didn't remove it from her all together. I would have, had I the strength. Sydlynn must have guessed my thoughts because she winked at me from between her daughter's knees. "A little hurt is good for her," she said, "and makes the baby want to leave as quickly as possible. Here's another one, Thad, sweetness. Push hard, I can see his dear head!"

His? A boy? But there was no time to ask about him or how they knew exactly because Thad did as her mother asked and the naked, wet thing slid free. Thaddea collapsed back onto her pillows, crying and laughing, Orin kissing her gently as I crept from her side to peek around her pale leg just as Sydlynn lifted the child and he began to cry.

"Healthy, perfect," the happy woman said, wrapping a blanket around the boy after whispering fire magic to sever the cord. She dropped the squalling babe in Thaddea's arms and stood back, beaming.

All I could make out was dark eyes and thick black hair, head shaped oddly from the delivery, though Thaddea and Orin immediately told him he was beautiful.

"The most beautiful baby," Thad whispered, kissing his forehead as the child stilled. "Damon Richard." She looked up at Orin who smiled and bobbed his head, thick fingers stroking his son's hair.

"Welcome to the family, my son," the big lout said, tears on his cheeks.

Perhaps he wasn't so terrible after all. Not that I really noticed.

Not with Damon holding my attention as no one had ever done before.

Thaddea caught me staring, gestured me closer as the gathered witches left with happy sighs and much congratulations to the new parents. I slunk forward, suddenly aware of the condition of my coat, but wanting-needing-to be closer to the boy.

"You'll stay, now, Sass. Won't you?" She was crying again, the girl I loved so much. "I've missed you so."

"I've missed you too," I said. "I couldn't bring myself to go far."

"Thank you for coming to save me." Good humor twinkled in her eyes as she wiped at her tears with the corner of Damon's blanket.

"Just returning the favor," I whispered as the boy in her arms opened his eyes and his magic, as newly formed as he was, reached for me.

Right into my heart.

"I'll stay," I said. As if I had any other choice.

It was hard, in those next weeks and months, not to claim Damon for my own, though I found myself trying to do so. Wonderment filled my time with the sweet child, and he adored me from the first. It was also difficult not to make my way to Thaddea's pillow every night, but knowing how fragile human life could be, I instead made my home in Damon's crib, watching over him.

It's not my fault his first word was Sass. Nor that he followed me everywhere, an eager puppy on his hands and knees, then on his wobbling chubby legs, full of laughter and enough mischief to keep me busy. So I was just as happy as the rest of the family when Thad and Orin announced the pending arrival of their second child, Pharo Elijah, who arrived on a bitterly cold January morning. Pale haired and fair skinned, more his mother than his father, Pharo proved to be as sweet natured as Damon, and his brother adored him.

With the two boys to chase after, Pharo eagerly advancing to keep up with his active older brother, I didn't notice the change in Thaddea until her and Orin, beaming their excitement, announced their third pregnancy.

And this one was a girl.

I admit to a generous amount of trepidation, though at the time I didn't want to admit my concern, which was multi-faceted. First, would she have power? There had been children born to the coven, powerless, Thaddea's little brother Phillip and his wife Sophie heartbroken when their son Michael was discovered to be a latent. The tragedy of such a birth hit the entire coven hard.

Second, would she have a good temperament? Considering how delightful her brothers were, and how lovely her mother I had little doubt really on this matter.

No, it was my third fear that kept me from fully celebrating Thad's joyful news. After all, a daughter in a matriarchal witch society was the crowning glory for any mother. Especially a powerful daughter. But my real worries had nothing to do with Thad.

And everything to do with her. What if... what if I loved this girl, lost my heart completely and she didn't love me? As absolutely self-indulgent as the thought was, why I even mattered in the grand scheme, I found myself pacing late at night, checking the doors and windows of the house, the wards. If I could keep this family safe, would she love me?

One early spring morning, a few hours shy of sunrise, I woke in my usual place for that time of day at the foot of Damon's bed after lulling Pharo to sleep with my purr hours earlier. Tense and expecting the worst, I held still, breath paused, waiting to discover what woke me.

When nothing leaped from the semi-darkness my eyes could see, I sighed and returned my head to my outstretched forearm. Just a house noise, then. Nothing more.

No, wait. There it was again. I slid from the edge of the bed and padded to Damon's door around the pile of discarded toy soldiers he'd abandoned for sleep, making my way out into the hall. Paused. Listened. Yes, there it was again. A soft sound, a lovely little voice, female, most definitely. But where was it coming from?

Thaddea's door loomed, the girl calling me from the other side. But Thad was still pregnant, the child not to be born for at least a month. A touch of magic opened the way to allow me entry.

Orin snored softly on the far side of the bed, but I wasn't here for him. Thad lay curled on her side, one hand on her growing belly, a little smile on her face. I used the chest at the end of the bed as a step to ensure I wouldn't disturb her as I climbed up and padded my way near.

Another babble, no words, exactly. Unable to resist, I reached out with my magic even as the girl's power grasped onto me with so much strength I gasped.

She was warm, safe, but bored, oddly. Wanted to stretch more. I soothed her, purring softly, pressing my cheek to Thad's tummy, letting the trick she'd taught me quiet her daughter back to rest, but not before the most amazing swell of love washed over me, paired with a sense of ownership.

Thad was smiling at me when I leaned back and met her eyes.

"Well done," she whispered. "Though I fear we'll have a firecracker on our hands when this one is born."

Agreed. And I simply couldn't wait. The month wasn't passing fast enough as I followed Thaddea everywhere, asking her if she was all right, if she needed anything, taking every opportunity she allowed me to reach out to the baby and strengthen our connection. Thaddea seemed very happy with this turn of events and I resumed my sleeping place beside her until the baby was born.

Auburdeen Pernelia Hayle squawked her displeasure with her rude entry into the world, shattering two windows and cracking the floorboards under the bed when her magic joined her voice in protest.

From that moment on, I was beside my beloved Burdie. She clearly needed me to keep her power in check, and since her parents were very busy with the boys and the coven, I was the perfect babysitter. Not that I gave anyone else a choice.

Bliss, even as I chided the impulsive Burdie who threw herself headlong into mad idea after insane adventure, growing bolder and more charismatic as she aged, often drawing her brothers into trouble with her. And yet, how could I be upset with her, my divine Auburdeen of the glowing red hair and brilliant blue eyes, the image of her mother with her father's height giving her an advantage even as a young girl, as she breathlessly lurched through life with her massive spirit?

Might as well try to cage a thunderstorm. Though I did try, if only to keep her safe.

I almost missed the gray tinge taking over Sydlynn's skin, the way she grew so thin over the years. How she'd slowed down so much by Auburdeen's second birthday Olive asked Thaddea to take over her mother's duties as second. It wasn't until then I felt Thaddea's concern, not a new one, it turned out.

"Mother's illness won't respond to treatment," Thad told me when I came to her to ask after her mother. She clutched at the lace collar of her blouse, tears in her eyes as she stroked my fur. I purred immediately, offering her comfort and she smiled at me, kissed my forehead. "I fear for her," she whispered. "So young, Sass."

My heart paused. Pulsed painfully once in my chest before beating again. Mortal. Sydlynn was mortal. Would grow old, or, if Thad's worries were grounded, die of her sickness. As would Thaddea. Damon. Pharo.

My lovely Auburdeen.

Thaddea hugged me quickly, inhaling the scent of my fur as she did. "And you, dear one," she said, clearly aware of what I'd been thinking about, where this news took me. "My demon friend. No ordinary cat, not you. Will you outlive us all?"

I didn't get to answer. The door to her room slammed open, Orin's anguished magic filling the space between us as he sobbed once and reached for her.

"There's been an accident," he said.

***