Chapter 11
Disclaimer: This book ( Lux series ) and all it's characters belong to the author, Jennifer L. Armentrout. I own nothing.
Katy's POV:
Sweat dotted my brow as I squeezed my fists shut until my knuckles turned white and I could feel my nails biting into my palms. Sucking in several deep breaths, I tried to maneuver myself into a somewhat standing position.
I'd been out here for about half an hour, when I'd finally accepted the fact that they wouldn't get here in time. Slowly, I made my way down the path, only drop to my knees once again when the next contraction hit. I couldn't help but cry out when the excruciating pain wrapped around my stomach, spreading to my back. When it was finally over, I slumped forward, dropping onto all fours, panting.
I wasn't going to make it to the house and the last thing I wanted to do was have this baby alone, in the middle of the woods. I bit back a sob. Curling up against the nearest tree, I carefully sat back and cradled my belly. "Hold on, baby. Mommy's going to find a way out of this. I know daddy's angry right now, but I also know for a fact, he didn't mean what he said. He's just worried, that's all. He loves us very much, and he doesn't want us to get hurt. He'll find us. When he does, he'll take us to uncle Archer. He'll help us. He has some medicine that should stop the contractions." I continued soothingly.
"So you just have to hold on, okay Adam?" He kicked and I ran my hand over the tiny foot. My hand clenched atop my belly as another contraction hit, this one much worse than the others. My back arched against the tree trunk I rested against.
I let out a cry of agony. There was a rustling noise behind me, but I was in too much pain to be concerned. "Kitten?" Daemon's voice was a mixture of relief and worry. I wanted to answer him, but the pain intensified and I let out a strangled scream.
Daemon was by my side in an instant, cradling me in his lap. "Kitten what is it? What's wrong? Is it the baby?" He asked, fearfully. I shook my head as I gasped for breath, still reeling from the pain. "Daemon, I'm in labor. Their not Braxton hicks. He's coming. For real this time." I panted.
Daemon's eyes widened and he shook his head in denial. "That can't be. He's more than a month early. There has to be a way to stop the contractions." He murmured that last part to himself. I could tell he was racking his brain, trying to figure it out. "Wait a minute. Doesn't archer have some sort of antibiotic or something that stops the contractions?" I nodded breathlessly.
Determination lit those green eyes, making them shine like newly polished gems. Dropping a kiss on my sweaty forehead, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Archer." He said into the phone, voice low and frantic. "I found her. You guys can stop searching. Look, I need you guys to head back to the house and prep the medical room. Kat's in premature labor. We need to stop the contractions. You have the stuff right?"
Relief was evident on his face. "Good. We'll be there in a few seconds. Be ready." With that, he clicked the phone shut, and ever so gently, he lifted me into his arms. "Everything will be okay, Kat. Just hang in there." I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
Daemon hadn't been kidding when he said we'd be there in a few seconds. One second we were in the woods, the next I was being carried into the house with a dozen worried voices talking over each other. Daemon seemed to pay no mind to them as he carried me into the basement, where Archer waited with a wicked looking syringe in his hand.
"Just lay her on the table." Archer said calmly. Daemon did so gently. "Kat? I need you to lift your shirt up, ok? " I nodded and pulled up my shirt, exposing the flesh of my swollen stomach.
I let out a hoarse cry as another contraction ripped through me. Squeezing my eyes shut, I reached out blindly for Daemon's hand. His hand was wrapped securely around mine, almost immediately. All of a sudden, I felt this intense pressure, urging me. "Daemon. I think I need to push." I gritted out.
Archers voice was sharp when he spoke. "Do not push, Kat. Whatever you do, don't push." I nodded, but I was harder said than done. Not pushing was like fighting my body's natural instinct. At this point, tears were streaming down my face. "It's hurts, Daemon." I whimpered. He cooed at me and brushed my sweaty hair off my damp forehead.
"I know," he whispered."but, I promise, It will all be worth it in the end. I know it hurts, but just try to keep him in there a little bit longer, okay? I know you can do this." I didn't have time to respond to his words, because the short reprieve was over and I another contraction building up. "Oh God..." I groaned as my back arched.
"Do it already!" He growled, never once letting go of my hand. That was all the go ahead Archer needed. I felt a sharp prick on the side of my belly, than the contraction immediately began to subside. I let out a relieved breath and slumped against the cool table. Some words were exchanged between Archer and Daemon, then I heard the receding of footsteps and a door being closed.
Suddenly, Daemon was by my side again and carefully lifting me off the table. The contractions came and went as he carried me up the stairs, but I barely felt them. He gently deposited me into bed, once we'd reached our room, and slid the covers over me. I expected him to get into bed with me, but instead, he knelt down at my bedside and wrapped his arms around my midsection, while also burying his head in my stomach.
"I'm sorry." He whispered in anguish. Only then did I feel the beads of moisture seeping through my thin cotton t shirt. He was crying. Daemon never cried. "This was all my fault. I was being selfish. I don't deserve you or this baby, but I'll try my best. Will you forgive me Kat?" He begged, voice hoarse.
I ran my fingers through his hair and sighed. "Of course I forgive you, and I know you're scared. I am too, but you can't keep freaking out on me like this." I whispered. He made a sound deep in his throat. "I promise I'll be there for both of you. This won't happen again. I love you, Kat." He said softly.
He then placed his hands on my stomach. "I love you, too. And I plan on being the best dad I can be for you. I'll never leave you or your mommy again." He grinned when the baby kicked. I smiled tiredly. Eventually, he climbed into bed with me and wrapped his arms around me, and everything was right again.
...…...
I woke up to the sound of laughing, a very impatient baby kicking me in the ribs, two sets of hands on my belly. I smiled when I opened my eyes to see Daemon and Dee leaning over me and laughing as they felt the baby kick. Relief was evident on Dee's face when she met my eyes. "Oh, good! You're awake. We were so worried, Kat!" She said, throwing her arms around me.
The baby kicked underneath her, and she immediately let go, only to wrap her arms around my middle. Daemon and I chuckled. "Alright, Dee. I think they've had enough." Dee snorted, but loosened her chokehold. "Don't ever scare us like that again." She said sternly to my belly, giving it a pat. I could tell Dee wanted to know more about what had happened, but she wouldn't push me for more information than I was willing to give, and for that, I was grateful.
I grinned at Daemon. "It's not his fault. He's just impatient like his daddy." I said. Daemon rolled his eyes, but I could tell he was enjoying this. "God forbid, the kid inherits his dad's temper. Then we're all screwed." Said a new voice from the door. We all looked up to see Dawson standing in the doorway with a groggy Ashley on his hip. "Hey guys. Ash and I just wanted to see how Kat was doing."
As soon as her amethyst gaze met mine, she was wide awake and struggling to be put down. Dawson laughed and set her on her feet. In no time, she toddled to the side of the bed I was on. Dee smiled and pulled the little origin onto her lap. Ash's wide eyes were no longer trained on mine, but on my stomach. Fascinated, we all watched as she gingerly place both of her chubby baby hands on my belly.
The baby kicked, and Ashley giggled. "Baby?" She said, her soft pixie-like voice questioning. Dawson came to kneel by the bed, smiling fondly at his daughter. "Yeah, sweetheart. Uncle Daemon and Aunt Kat are going to have a baby." Her elfin features pinched with confusion. "When's he going to come out?" We all laughed. Daemon was the one to answer her question. "Well, from the looks of it, it won't be much longer now." She smiled, pleased with his answer.
After a few minutes of talking, Dawson scooped her up. "Sorry guys, but I gotta get this one some breakfast. Speaking of which, mom, cooked enough to feed a small army. So you guys should probably get downstairs." We said our goodbyes to Ash as they headed to the kitchen. "That's sounds like a good idea. I'm starving!"
With that, Dee placed a quick kiss on my cheek and pranced out of the room. With Dee gone, Daemon scooted closer and pressed a kiss to my temple. "You should eat." He said gently. Knowing he was right, I nodded. "You feel up to going downstairs? because I can bring the food up here." And I knew he would, because Daemon was just that sweet, but I was tired of sitting in this bed and the baby was restless, and I knew the only thing that soothed him was movement.
Sighing, I shook my head and kissed his cheek. Slowly, he helped me out of bed, and we went downstairs. Dawson hadn't been kidding when he said Sam had made enough food for a small army. Trays of food were stacked on the counters, table, and anywhere there was open space really. As soon as I walked into the kitchen, everyone crowded around Daemon and I to ask if I was okay. After reassuring them all, we started breakfast. Daemon piled so much onto my plate, I was sure they were going to have to roll me out of here.
When breakfast ended, we were all stuffed, and each couple pretty much went off to do their own thing. Daemon and I ended up with Dawson and Beth in the movie room, watch episode after episode of Ghost Investigators, while Ash dozed off on Beth's lap.
The three of them sat on a blanket spread out on the floor, while Daemon and I took the couch. We laughed and joked around, and for once, things were almost normal.
