Ch. 13

The pups run over and we all group hug.

I caress Arkells' cut-up cheek. "You're an idiot, you know."

He chuckles. "I'm your idiot now." He gets down on one knee and pulls out a gemstone. It shimmers in the sunlight, looking like a rainbow.

"That's beautiful, but how did you get this?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"I managed to kill a Siren for you. I hope you can forgive me for not protecting you during the quake." A tear slowly goes down his cheek.

I cup his cheeks, gently wiping away the tear. "That wasn't your fault Arkell. I never blamed you at all. All that matters is that you came for me." I place my forehead onto his. " I just want you to know that I'm not leaving you over something like this."

He wraps his arms around me once more and cries softly into my chest.

I stay there with him until he finishes. All this time he's been trying to prove himself to me, but he didn't have to. All the rejections, sadness, and who knows what else he's been through.

"Damien."

"Yes, Fae"

"Tomorrow I want you to go hunting with Arkell, take Nordan with you too.: I stroke Arkell's hair.

"Can I ask you why you want me to go?" Arkell looks at me with reddened eyes.

"You could use a break from everything. Once we get home you rest until then. " I feel a cramp in my stomach. It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt, but I feel my stomach and it's hard. I might be in labor, but I have to wait if they continue.

Comac starts a fire and we lay by it in the soft sand.

I listen to the locusts chirping, which lulls me to sleep.

The sun rises from the ocean, waking me up. I stand up and step into the water to wash off the sand. The water makes me feel lighter, helping my back not ache so much. I still feel my stomach cramp but it's not painful. Once I get out of the water I feel something run down my leg. Did I just pee myself and not notice? I look down and there's a small puddle of fluid in the sand. "Yep, it broke." I walk back to the others that are still sleeping.

I wake up Comac first. "Hey, we need to go home."

He looks at me with sleepy eyes. "Isn't it early for us to be leaving?"

I nod. "Yes, but I'm in labor. So we need to leave."

He suddenly jolts up, knocking his head into mine.

I lean back and gold my forehead. "Ow"

I'm so sorry, Fae." He comes over and hugs me. "Are you really in labor?"

"Yes, we need to get everyone else up."

He lets me go and bounces around in excitement. He then yells in excitement which wakes everyone.

"You better have a good reason why you're yelling this early." Damien and the pups give him their signature death stare.

"Fae is in labor! We have to go!" He starts to rapidly gather all of our things.

"Slow down." Arkell stands up. "I can fly you two back, the rest of you go back to sleep." He changes and stretches his large wings. "Let's go."

We both hop on and he takes off. It doesn't take long for us to reach the house. We get inside and I grab some fresh fruit.

"Shouldn't you sit down?" Comac asks, concerned.

"Maybe, but my contractions don't hurt. Not to mention I haven't eaten yet since we rushed here."

He blushes. "Sorry."

Arkell collapses to the ground and coughs up blood into his hand. "That's not good."

I get to his side quickly. "Comac, go find Nobu, he needs him."

He sprints out of the room.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" I ask.

"I was struck by the Siren, their claws are filled with poison from the seas. Our legend says that only the blood of the pure-hearted can cure it."

"Pure hearted? How do we know if someone is?"

"I don't know, it's a shame I'm going to die with no heir. I was hoping to meet them one day." He leans back against the wall, with sadness in his eyes.

Don't talk like that, you will see them." Tears fill my eyes. "Just wait, you'll see them walk and eventually learn how to fly."

He chuckles and slowly pales. He grabs my hand and places something small in it.

I open my hand and it's the rainbow gem he brought to me.

"Take it, it will help you stay young longer." He lays his head on my shoulder.

I hold his head closer to my neck. "Take it."

"What?"

"My blood, take as much as you need,"

"I can't do that, I won't hurt you." His voice is raspy and quiet.

I get angry and snap. "I made a promise to you and dammit I'm gonna keep it!" I grab a sharpened rock and cut it into my shoulder. "So you are going to drink my blood so you don't leave me! I'm not losing any of you!" I sit in between his legs and lean my head to the side.

He wraps his arms around me. "Please forgive me." He bites down on my wound hard.

I hear him drinking my blood as he holds me tighter.

Nobu and Comac rush into the room. They both look shocked at my sacrifice.

"Your Majesty, I think that's enough. If you don't stop, you'll kill her." He hesitantly walks to us.

Blood runs down my chest as my contractions get more painful. I groan from the pain and hold my stomach.

Nobu grabs a cloth and holds pressure on my shoulder. He grabs my wrist and I see his face full of concern. "You lost too much blood, Fae."

"I'm sorry I don't want to lose him. " I feel rather dizzy and tired. "He'll live, right?

He sighs. "Only time will tell. Siren curses are impossible to cure. Lean back so I can hear the pups."

I do as he says.

Comac comes over and holds pressure on my shoulder. "I think the bleeding almost stopped."

Nobu puts his ear on my belly and listens closely. "They're upset, it's almost time to push."

I take deep breaths, "I don't know if I can."

"Do it for your children, and the ones you have now."

I breathe in deeply. "Let me know when."

I slowly open my eyes.

"She's awake."