The last two hours of Callum's life had been unbearable. The midwife had ushered him out of his own home and he was forced to stare at the entrance blankly, fear eating away at his very soul. Inside, he heard female voices spoken in short manner. His brothers tried to offer comfort, but Callum could barely hear them.
His hands fisted at his sides; by the gods, he wanted to do something, do damage, shout, cry. He wanted Lila. He wanted to take away her pain. Or perhaps the gods had granted his wish and even now sought to take her life from this earth.
The very thought sent fear through his every nerve anew.
By the time the women came out, Callum was pacing restlessly. His heart stopped when the midwife's face was drawn tautly. With slow, deep breaths, he tried to speak, but the words would not come out. He waited for one of them to speak. His sisters and cousin sent him sympathetic looks and soon walked away, only the midwife stood before him.
Why would she not speak?
For a brief moment, he looked up at the skies, prayed that his mate still lived. He could feel the dampness at his eyes.
"Is she...will she be well?" He asked, his voice hoarse.
The midwife's lips thinned. "Aye. She lives."
Exhaling, he brushed past her.
Callum's hands shook as he approached his mate. Knowing not what to do, he adjusted the blankets around her. She no longer bled.
Lila lay so pale on the bed, so still. Unsteadily, he let out a breath, closing his eyes for a moment. Everything was quiet now, his home empty; his son was fast asleep.
That next hour or so, he stood in vigil. He allowed no one to go near her.
"Callum." She whispered, touching his large, calloused hand. He swallowed, still wounded by the fact he had come so close to losing her.
"Sleep, my love." He said, his voice rough with emotion. "You need rest."
Some color had returned to her cheeks and the herbal broth the midwife brought her would help with the healing.
Her eyes opened and she smiled. "I want to see our son."
He could deny her nothing. Their son lay asleep near the fire and he lifted the small bundle to her. Her eyes lit up from love and fascination as the babe mewled.
"He is so small." She said, touching a finger to his cheek. Callum nodded silently. "Laura says the father names the son." She looked up, her eyes glowing with love. He brushed a wayward lock of hair from her cheek.
"You may name him, if you wish." He replied indulgently.
She shook her head. "No, I want you to."
"Hector, then. It is a strong name."
"Hector...son of Callum and Lila."
He could tell she was still too weak, so he wordlessly lifted their son from her arms and settled him back in his bed.
"Callum, I want you to lie with me. Just hold me." She called out quietly. He met her eyes.
"Lila," he began. All he could do was shake his head. He had known she was too small for him, but he let his need for her control him. He had thoughtlessly got her with child. It was his fault she had gone through so much pain.
"Don't blame yourself for what happened, Callum."
He shook his head. "You lost of a lot of blood. Carrying a babe is too much for your size."
Her hand covered his and he looked down at the paleness of her hand against his tanned skin. His one hand encased both hers easily.
"The midwife said I would be able to have more children."
"Out of the question, Lila. I will not..." He swallowed again. "I won't let you go through that again." He couldn't through that again.
She pulled him down for a sensual, deep kiss.
"I love you, Callum. And we will have more children." Her promise ignited a fire inside of him and he slanted his head to kiss her more thoroughly, pouring his love into that single kiss.
***
After Julia returned from helping Lila, she'd become distant. She said she needed air and took a walk around the camp.
Soren could understand that all this was new to his mate, but could she not also accept his love? Or perhaps she needed it voiced everyday as his brother Callum and Thayer did with their women.
Soren had seen the way Callum withdraw into himself after the relief of finding Lila out of danger. Callum spent all his time caring for her himself.
Soren was grateful to the gods for sparing Lila's life. It would have killed Callum and Soren would have hated to lose a beloved sister.
Which turned Soren's thoughts back to Julia. His love for his family should only endear him to Julia and yet...she was still cautious. What had happened between the hours of her examination and the birthing? Julia had been willing in his arms, urging him to fill her at last.
After witnessing the difficult birth, she became quiet. Did she fear this happening to her in the future? Though Soren had no experience, he had heard from many women that giving birth to centaur babes was difficult, but they had survived.
So many questions ran through his mind, but he willed his attention to his daughter. Haley was playing quietly near the trees planted by the training area. He was showing her how to tie string around her squirrels' necks to form collars.
"You must let them roam free sometimes, little one." He said. "They are after all wild animals."
With their collars in place, Pika and Gury scampered about amongst the grass and leaves, running as far as the length of the string would allow them. Haley watched with delight as they nibbled and played.
"What sort of name is Gury anyway?" He asked, amused that she would name her second squirrel such.
"Rham named him." The girl said of her new friend, Rhamnes, the one who'd gifted her the second animal. Momentarily, her attention was drawn to the lads training behind the fence. "I want to train, too."
"You aren't old enough."
She thought for a moment. "I'll be older in the spring. Can I start training after that?"
He chuckled. "You cannot, little one. Only Centaurian males are allowed to train and in this, they learn to hunt, protect and provide, as well as gain skills that benefit the camp."
"What will I do?" Haley looked up from where she sat, tilting her head innocently. Her long flame colored hair, so much like her mother's fell over her dainty shoulder. Even darker lashed framed those big green eyes of hers and they stared back at him innocently.
"For now, you will just play with the other children. Then when you are old enough, you will mate."
The answer seemed to satisfy his daughter for now and she went back to playing with her squirrels. Thayer suddenly appeared.
"Uncle, look! I have another squirrel." Haley greeted, pointing to Gury.
Thayer leaned down to ruffle the girl's hair. "And how did you come to have another? Did your father catch it for you?"
Haley shook her head. "No, a boy named Rham caught Gury for me."
Soren grinned. "We do not call young ones like Rhamnes a boy, little one. They are colts."
One of Thayer's eyebrows lifted, murmuring, "Gury? A strange name."
Soren shrugged in agreement.
His older brother pulled him aside.
"One of the prisoners tried to escape."
"What has been done?" Soren frowned, hoping it was Paul so he would have more reason to punish the man.
"His attempt got himself killed." Thayer answered in a low voice. "When he saw he could not get away as he thought, he ran himself into the sword Corwin was holding."
"Suicide." Soren said.
"We have taken the men back inside, but the Elders think it wise to isolate the leader."
"Good." Soren didn't want any plans for escape to hatch, nor did he want that man thinking himself safe enough with his men around. "I will see to him later."
***
Meanwhile, Julia's walk took her to the longhouses containing the prisoners. She hesitated before going in, not sure if she was ready to see Paul. Forcing her legs forward, she walked in. The dimness had eyes adjusting slowly to the interior, but she recognized his voice when he called her name.
"Paul." She said calmly. She kept her arms at her side, looking down at the man who was tied kneeling down next to a heavy wooden pole. He looked terrible, his clothes damp and stained, his face showing several ugly bruises.
He looked genuinely relieved to see her. "You look well." He said. "At least they do not harm you. And Haley?"
Confused by his concern, she answered, "She is well."
