I stared, as though afraid the moment might shatter if he moved too quickly. When I looked down at the baby in my arms, my heart shattered all over again.
“Do you have Daddy’s eyes?” Mara murmured.
Kieran was grinning so hard I thought his face might break, coming to stand next to me so we could hold both babies side by side. Two daughters–two miracles.
Kieran elbowed Ronan lightly. “You should have gotten there faster.”
He smirked, but Ronan ducked his head, embarrassed.
Wren’s head rolled back, eyes going white.
“Wren!” I shouted, already moving toward her.
“She’s fading,” Mara snapped. “The birth is over, but she’s losing blood fast. Feed her immediately.”
Ronan tore open his wrist with a fang and pressed it to Wren’s mouth. Nothing happened as his blood spilled uselessly down her chin.
“She’s unconscious,” I said hoarsely. “She can’t take it.”
“Then wake her!” Yazmine shouted.
Mara began to sing, a soft draken melody meant to soothe, but Wren didn’t stir. The air felt as though it were sucked out of the trees around us.
“We’re losing her,” Enya said calmly from across the way. “Feed her now.”
The words hit me like a physical blow.
“So do something!” I heard myself shout. My voice cracked under the strain. “Please—do something?—”
Mara slapped Wren hard across the face.
The sound echoed sharply through the room.
Nothing.
“Again,” I whispered.
Mara struck her again, harder.
Kieran made a broken sound I had never heard from him before as he leaned forward, pressing his forehead against Wren’s temple, the first baby in his arms.
“Please,” he rasped. “Please don’t do this.”
The sight twisted something deep inside me
If she died now?—
“We’re out of time,” Mara said.
No.
“Wait! I … I have something!” Ronan cried out. “An old passage from a draken birth text I had studied years ago!” He sputtered, talking fast, reaching for the drakling in Kieran’s arms.
“Ronan—” I began.
“Yes! Skin-to-skin!” Enya crowed, clapping her hands. “Well done, Ronan.”
“What are you doing?” I demanded. “What is skin-to-skin?”
