Page 69 of Black Hearted
My heart pounded as I peered over the edge to see Zane dangling by one hand, the black liquid rising beneath him. If it got much higher, it would sweep him away.
I glanced around desperately, trying to figure out how to help him, when a bolt of lightning wrapped in shadows shot past me, lassoing a tree trunk growing out of the mountainside. I gasped at the sight.
I looked back down at Zane. He still had one hand on the rock shelf, but his other hand held a rope of shadow-encased lightning. His grip seemed strong, but I didn’t see how he was going to pull himself up without letting go of the rock. If he did, he’d swing straight into the cliff face.
“There’s a tree right behind me, about ten yards. If you lasso it, maybe you can pull yourself up.”
He nodded, his face strained, and yelled, “Duck!”
I pressed my cheek to the cool stone, squeezing my eyes shut as he released the rock shelf and shot another bolt of lightning. My heart stopped, fear gripping me. I couldn’t look. I didn’t want to see if he’d fallen.
Then I heard a grunt and labored breathing.
“Zane?” I opened my eyes to see him using his lightning rope to hoist himself onto the rock shelf.
He collapsed beside me, panting and staring at me with an intensity that made my throat tighten.
“I thought you were going to die,” I whispered.
“Not yet,” he said, his tone serious, his eyes locked on mine.
“Not ever,” I murmured, meaning every word.
He climbed to his feet with effort, his expression shifting. “We need to get to higher ground,” he said, his voice flat.
A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. Something had shifted in him, something I didn’t understand. And I didn’t like it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dawn
“Ican’t,” I whimpered to Eowyn, who was tapping my cheek lightly to keep me awake. I’d been in labor for over a day, and I had just pushed the third baby out—a girl to join her two brothers—but I didn’t have the strength to birth the fourth.
“I’m exhausted,” I told her.
Aribella and Isolde were both in the birthing room along with Zander and Eowyn, assisting however they could. Isolde’s sister, Seraphina, had been helping as well, but after she nearly fainted during the first delivery, Eowyn had banished her from the room. Those who remained gave me encouraging words, telling me I could do this, but I wasn’t sure I could. I had misjudged how draining it would be when Eowyn tied the babies to me. I was depleted physically, mentally, and magically. I was just a shell of myself, and all I wanted was sleep.
I peered over at the three little bundles, tiny as could be, wrapped in blankets and asleep in their bassinets. Thin protective bubbles surrounded each one, giving the children the nutrientsthey needed to survive outside my womb, but the cost was great. My energy and magic were being siphoned away. I was tired, hungry, and utterly spent. Yet, I loved them so much.
Two boys and a little girl. Eowyn had been shocked when the girl was born, having assumed I’d give birth only to sons. I’d been ecstatic, but it was the look on Zander’s face when he first saw his baby girl that made my heart swell. It was instant love and devotion. I knew I’d carry that moment with me for the rest of my life.
“You’re doing great, my love,” Zander said, stroking my cheek gently.
Another contraction tightened my belly, but as hard as I tried, I couldn’t force myself to push. I had already thrown up four times from exertion. I was done.
“If she doesn’t push this baby out, we are going to lose it,” Eowyn said grimly.
Panic gripped me, but my body refused to cooperate. My muscles wouldn’t respond, and my will was slipping.
My eyes began to close as exhaustion tried to pull me under, but a sharp slap to my cheek snapped them open. I was ready to lash out, but then I saw Isolde kneeling beside me. The fearsome Winter princess had never looked stronger. Married life suited her.
“That hurt,” I growled at her.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not going to let you lose this baby,” she snapped, her tone firm and unyielding. “You’re Dawn Ambrose. Princess of Summer. Lady of the Northern Kingdom. If you can’t do this, no one can.” A cool breeze filled the warm room, and I felt a flicker of alertness return.
“She’s right,” Aribella said, nudging Zander aside so she could lean in closer. He moved behind me, stroking my hair soothingly.
“You can do this, Dawn,” Aribella said, her voice calm and steady. “Dig deep.”
