"Baby, you need not worry about anything. It looks amazing." Malek said in exasperation. He had told her a million times that her painting for Mikhail was good. It was a wolf stalking something unknown in the shadows of the woods, its teeth bared and eyes were black.
"Do you think he will like the magick woven into it?" Isis worried. She had placed a spell into the paints and when evil was around they reacted and sent off a glow. The wolf's eyes and teeth would glow and the moon in the sky as well.
"I think he will love that, added protection for his family. Lets get it wrapped and over there for Christmas then. Besides you have a fail safe."
"Fail safe?"
"Your gift of a child. No one can deny that present's worth." Malek beamed. She was four months along and barely showing. They had hidden away in the mountains the last few months because she was starting to show.
The car ride was brief, a mere twenty minutes, and when they arrived the party was in full swing. Malachi unloaded presents, several for the children and one for each Carpathian adult. Isis tried to help be she was shooed away.
"Go find Mikhail and present his gift and the good news." Malek gritted out as he struggled to try to carry many all at once. Isis laughed and with a wave of her hand a wheeled cart appeared. Malek nodded his thanks and moved to place all gifts on it, a feat since there were over two hundred gifts. He wheeled it inside, handing gifts off as they walked. They got many excited squeals from the children and many appreciative thanks from the adults. They reached Mikhail last and as Isis lifted the work of art up that had been hiding her stomach he gasped.
"I am about four months along. It is a girl. Her name is Rose." Isis said hurridly, faster than she meant but she at least got the words out. He beamed at her and called the attention of the guests.
"We have a large gift tonight that has brought me joy and hope. Isis here is expecting a child. It is a girl." His voice boomed and as the words left his mouth, Isis could see the eyes of unmated males gleam. They all hoped her child would be theirs, and she felt bad for them but vowed that if her daughter chose to not take her lifemate then that would be that. She would not be badgered by the male who vied for her hand.
"Never love." Malek said, his voice soft and calming.
"Thank you." Isis whispered back. The crowd cheered for their good fortune of a child and many women swooped in and crowded around Isis, cooing and laughing together for the child. Isis smiled but it faded quickly as pain sliced low in her pelvic area. She gasped in pain and Gregori was there in seconds.
"Its too early, the child is not developed enough, she will never survive this." Isis cried. Malek carried her down to the sleeping chamber and laid her in the rich soil. He looked up, pleading with Gregori to fix it but she had gone into premature labor. If her water broke, she would lose the child. Gregori tried to stop the labor but when the soil between her legs became muddy, there was nothing more he could do. He sat back on his heels and looked to Mikhail who turned away, sorrow in his heart. Isis screamed as the child was crowning and soon the baby was out, still and silent. She was placed in Isis' arms and Isis cried over her baby girl, lost to the world, who never got to live, breathe, feel the warm summer breeze. Malek knelt beside his Lifemate and cried with her. He reached out to touch the fragile, small body and red tears flowed down his cheeks at the loss. Mnay of the crowd left the chamber to return to the party but the festive feeling was gone. With the loss of the child, there was a loss of hope. Mikhail stayed a few moments longer with the couple with Gregori but they too ended up leaving the grieving couple. Isis cleaned and wrapped her baby in a blanket and took her to ground. Malek joined her, not wanting her to be alone through this, vowing the next time they would rise would be when Isis was ready to face the night and her family with her head held up. It was a shame that this moment would not come for years, the whole time Malek would rise, feed himself and her while she slept. He did not see his family and they did not know what he was doing. He took them deep into the earth where a normal grazing scan would not find them. It took almost ten years before he found her ready to rise. She woke first that night and moved against him. He grabbed ahold of her and burst through the earth. His parents were in bed, not yet risen and a quick hand motion put the earth back where it was and the couple left. Wanting to be alone for one night more. He carried her out to the healing caverns with a hot spring and they spent the night together, consoling each other, and comforting themselves that they would try again later for a child but would never forget the one they lost,