Mate Claimed

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The cub is coming.

Iona dressed in record time, Eric right behind her. Iona charged out to find Cass in the kitchen in sweatpants and T-shirt, hanging on to the breakfast bar while she leaned over it, her breath coming in slow gasps.

Diego wasn’t there, having already departed for his office, Jace said, but he was on his way back.

“Iona,” Cassidy panted.

“I’m here.” Iona put her hands on Cassidy’s shoulders and nearly jerked away. Cassidy’s skin was roasting hot through the shirt. “You okay?”

“Except for being about to drop a cub in the kitchen? Fine.”

“You’re hot.”

“Supposed to be.” She looked up, her eyes full of both fear and excitement. “Say you’ll come, Iona. I need someone with me besides a bunch of males.”

“Hear the gratitude,” Jace said.

Eric was already out of the house, starting up Iona’s pickup.

“Time to go,” Jace said. “Diego will have to meet you at the clinic.”

“Probably a good idea,” Cassidy said, her voice nearly a whisper. “Iona?”

Iona thought about how Nicole had looked both glad and apprehensive when she’d confirmed that Iona had been right about her pregnancy. Cassidy’s scent conveyed the same kind of happy worry—and that this cub was on its way.

Iona kissed Cassidy’s burning cheek. “Of course I’ll come. I’ve got you.”

Cassidy looked relieved that Iona walked out with her, though Iona was uncertain how effective her help would be. Iona had been very young when Nicole had come along, and she was certainly no expert on children—let alone Shifter cubs.

But she could be a friendly face and a hand to hold. Iona slid into the middle of the truck’s cab next to Eric, and Jace helped Cassidy wedge herself into the seat. Jace leapt gracefully into the truck bed behind them, and Eric gunned the pickup into the street.

“Where are we going?” Iona asked.

“Clinic,” Eric said, as they shot down the road. Other Shifters seemed to figure out what was up, because they came out of houses, waving and looking excited. Eric acknowledged them with a return wave as they raced through Shiftertown and out the gates.

“A clinic?” Iona prompted.

“One that will help Shifters,” Eric said. “Not state-of-the-art, but better than nothing. We’ll have doctors and nurses standing by in case anything goes wrong.”

“I hate doctors,” Cassidy muttered.

“So do I,” Eric said, “but they can help if we need them to, and they have antibiotics and things.”

“And epidurals,” Iona said.

“It doesn’t hurt that much,” Cassidy said. “Except I want to shift, so bad.”

“Don’t,” Eric said. “Your cub will come out human, so stay human.”

“Why will her cub come out human?” Iona asked.

Cassidy answered, her words breathy. “Pure Shifters are born animal and learn to shift later. Half-human Shifters are born human. Mixed species come out whichever species happens to have the dominant gene.”

“What will my cubs come out as?” Iona asked. “He or she will be three-quarters Shifter.”

“Hell if I know,” Eric said. “But I guess we’ll find out.” He sounded smug.

“You won’t have long to wait,” Cassidy said with a laugh, “the way you two were going at it last night.”

Iona’s face went hot. “It’s too soon to tell, isn’t it?”

Cassidy glanced at her with the same knowledge in her eyes Iona knew she’d had when she’d sensed Nicole’s baby. “It’s not. This time next year, we’ll have two cubs in the house.”

Iona realized she was right. Too many distractions—and maybe a little denial—had prevented her from acknowledging what her panther knew to be true. “Crap,” Iona whispered.

Eric laughed. “Yes!” he shouted. He stomped on the accelerator, and they shot through the streets to his whoops of joy.

The clinic, only a few miles away, was so ordinary that Iona had to ask if they were in the right place. Jace grabbed someone with a wheelchair in the front, and he wheeled Cassidy inside a fairly generic clinic full of staff in scrubs or neat uniforms.

Shane and Brody walked in, followed closely by a wild-eyed Diego and his brother, as well as Neal the Guardian with his broadsword strapped to his back. Iona understood why Cassidy had begged her to be there. A Shifter birth was an Event, apparently, and everyone attending was male.

The staff of the clinic seemed to be used to the entourage that accompanied a Shifter mother about to bring in a cub, because they let the group into a large room upstairs in the back without question.

This was a delivery room, Iona saw when Jace wheeled Cassidy in. A delivery table waited in the exact center of the room, leaving plenty of space for family and friends to surround the mother. The walls were lined with counters and cabinets, one with a large sink. A sagging vinyl sofa had been shoved under the one window, the only seat.

Iona started for the delivery bed to make sure Cassidy would be comfortable, but Eric’s hand on her shoulder stopped her. The Shifters hung back, waiting for Neal to approach the bed first.

Neal drew the Sword of the Guardian, touched it to the mattress, and said, “Goddess, mother of all, attend our sister as she brings strength to her pride.”

The other Shifters responded: “We give our sister into the hands of the Goddess.”

Not the most reassuring of prayers. But Iona thought about Eric’s and Cassidy’s tales of how Shifter women often didn’t survive childbirth. In the past, they must have believed that all they could do was let the Goddess decide whether she lived or died.

Eric squeezed Iona’s shoulder. Iona would be in this room herself sooner or later, if Cassidy was right. Next year, they’d be saying the prayer for her.

Iona went to Cassidy’s side as Diego lifted her onto the bed. “If the pain gets too bad,” Iona said, “swear at all the men. My mother said that helps.”

Cassidy laughed weakly. “Sure thing.”

Diego held Cassidy’s hand after he settled her, not looking happy at all the Shifters around them. He didn’t argue, but he obviously didn’t like it.

Iona understood further why when the males, including Xavier, formed a ring around Cassidy, then, as one, turned their backs to her, standing like sentinels around her.

“What are they doing?” Iona asked.

“Guarding me.” Cassidy winced and touched her abdomen. “All the males of the clan form a ring around the female when she’s giving birth, to keep predators away, which includes other Shifters who might try to steal the woman and the cub. These days the pride plus friends of the family guard the female.”

“You expect predators in the clinic?” Iona asked Eric’s back.

“It’s tradition,” he said without turning around.

“Or Cassidy might want to be alone with her husband. I mean, her mate.”

Cassidy gave Iona a wan smile. “Give up. The ritual has been going on for centuries. They’ll stand there until this cub comes, whether I like it or not.”

“Or I could always tase them,” Diego growled.

Iona left Cassidy to walk around Eric. She looked up at the stubborn light in his green eyes and understood that he participated in the ritual from instinctive fear, his need to protect his sister.

“Eric, how much power do I have in Shiftertown now, as your mate?”

His gaze shifted slightly. “A lot.”

“Enough to speak for all the females in Shiftertown?”

“The ones who want you to, sure,” he said guardedly.

“Then on their behalf…” She rose on tiptoe and kissed Eric lightly on the lips. “Stand the guards outside the doors and let Cassidy have a little peace.”

“Hmm,” Eric said. “Not have my trackers in the room?”

“Diego’s here, and he’s pretty good at guarding. I’ll stay, if Cass wants me to, and she might concede to have you here too. There are two doors into this room, both of which can be defended from the outside, can’t they?”

Eric relaxed his stance and looked almost amused. “It will be a scandal, love. The old-guard Shifters will pass out when they learn my sister didn’t have a ring of protectors two feet away when she dropped her cub.”

“We can throw cold water on them,” Iona said. “Please, Eric?”

Eric studied her, and Iona looked straight back at him.

“Shane, Neal, guard outside the rear door,” Eric said. “Brody, Jace, Xav, the front. I’ll stay in here and liaise.”

Iona mouthed, Thank you. Eric returned her light kiss. “You’re a radical.”

“I hope so.”

Eric gave her a deeper kiss, then went out the front door. The other Shifters, looking surprised but a bit relieved not to have to be in the actual birthing room, left as well. Xav paused to kiss Cassidy’s cheek and clap his brother on the shoulder. “Good luck,” he said to Diego.

“This is why I want you here,” Cassidy said to Iona as Xav followed the others out. “The female voice of reason. That and I just feel better with you around.” She stopped and sucked in a loud breath. “Oh, not long now.”

Iona still felt a bit intrusive as the morning wore on, but Cassidy seemed relaxed and happy with her there. Cassidy had nowhere to lie but the table, but she didn’t appear to mind. Diego pulled up a chair next to her, and their clasped hands rested on her belly as they talked to each other in low voices.

Eric returned. He held Iona in the circle of his arms on the vinyl sofa under the window, the two of them cuddling while they waited.

“Is it always like this?” Iona whispered to him. “Why won’t they at least let her have a bed until it’s time?”

“Shifters are allowed this room, no others,” Eric said. “I’ve attended many births here—which is a good thing, love.”

“I’ll be fine,” Cassidy said from across the room. Iona still wasn’t used to Shifter hearing, which could pick up a whispered word at a hundred feet. “Eric and you are here, Diego’s with me, and I have guards outside the door. The cub will come, and we’ll go home and have another party.”

“After you rest,” Diego said sternly.

“Hey, I’m robust.”

“Have you picked out a name?” Iona broke in.

“Amanda Kirsten,” Cassidy said promptly.

“If it’s a girl,” Diego said. “If it’s a boy, Carlos Robert, after my father and hers.”

“Nice,” Iona said.

“It’s a girl,” Cassidy said with conviction. “But I guess we’re going to find out.” She sucked in another deep breath, then let out a wail.

Iona was on her feet. Cassidy pushed Diego’s hand away and fought to get up and turn over on her hands and knees. She wailed again.

“Call the doctor,” Iona said frantically to Eric.

“No,” Cassidy said. “No doctor. Not unless something’s wrong.”

“I’d be happier, Cass…” Diego began, his face damp with nervous perspiration.

“We’ve been over this, Diego. I do it myself. Eric.”

“I’ve got you. Iona, help her undress. Diego, stand over here with me. We guard, and the females do the work.”

Cassidy managed a laugh. “Isn’t that typical? It’s all right, Iona. I know what to do. I’ll tell you, and you’ll help me.”

Diego did not want to leave her side. He scowled until Eric came to him, took him by the shoulders, and pulled him across the room to face the front door.

“Our job is to guard,” Eric said to him. “We don’t let anyone near her. You start protecting your cub now.”

“The males say they turn their backs because that’s the tradition,” Cassidy said to Iona. “Really, it’s because they’re squeamish.”

Iona didn’t smile as she helped Cassidy out of her pants, top, and underwear. Naked, Cassidy climbed to her hands and knees again.

“Everything you need is over there,” Cassidy said, gesturing at the longest of the counters.

Iona followed her direction and found a large basin, towels, and some scary-looking surgical instruments. She put everything on a cart and wheeled it over to Cassidy, feeling ineffectual.

“You really should have a doctor or a midwife,” Iona said.

“I am a midwife. I’ve assisted in quite a few Shifter births. Now, hold me steady and don’t let me fall. It’s going to be tough. I wish I could shift.”

“Hang in there, Cass,” Eric said without turning around.

Iona took a deep breath and put her arm around Cassidy’s bare back. “It’s all right. I’ll help.” Iona knew, as soon as she said it, that she could.

“Thanks.” Cassidy’s smile was laced with pain. “You’ll make a good alpha.”

Iona gave Cassidy the barest squeeze. That remained to be seen.

Cassidy groaned again, the groan ending on another sharp cry. “I think she’s coming.”

Iona skimmed her hand down Cassidy’s back. Cassidy had dilated quite a bit, though Iona saw nothing on its way.

“Help me,” Cassidy moaned. “This stupid table is for humans, damn it.”

Iona helped Cassidy spread her knees, making sure she didn’t fall off the narrow table. Iona then got towels ready and hoped she didn’t have to touch the gleaming instruments.

If anything went wrong enough for Iona to have to even think about grabbing an instrument, she was getting a doctor, to hell with Shifter tradition. Iona would not let Cassidy or her cub die on her watch.

Iona rubbed Cassidy’s back and hips. “You’re doing good, Cass.”

“Hope so.”

“I’m right here. Not going anywhere.”

“Thank you.”

The whisper ended in another cry of pain. Cassidy rocked her hips, her body shuddering, then suddenly, her skin became a leopard pelt, her hands, claws.

“No!” Iona shouted. “Cassidy, don’t shift.”

“Keep it together, Cass,” Eric called, and Iona heard Diego swearing in Spanish.

Cassidy shuddered again, and then she was human. “She’s coming!”

This time, Iona saw it, the head of a child coming from Cassidy’s birth canal. Iona had never seen a baby be born, and she’d feared she’d freak out and run when Cassidy’s cub actually started coming. But when Iona saw the top of the baby’s head, something inside her changed.

A new life, a new beginning, a cub struggling to take its place in the world. That cub needed help, and Iona wasn’t about to run away and abandon it.

“Come on, little one,” she said. “You can do it.”

“Do you see her?” Cassidy asked, excited.

“Yes, she’s on her way.” Iona wanted to cheer, to urge the cub on. Come on, girl!

Cassidy wailed again, the sound winding into a shriek. Iona spread the towels and reached for the cub as her head slid out. For some reason, Iona knew exactly what to do—not the human in her, but the Shifter.

“One more, Cass. You can do it.”

Cassidy screamed. Diego cried, “Fuck this!” and Iona heard his harried footfalls as he ran back to the table.

At the same time the cub, a human baby, slid into Iona’s hands.

Diego’s face nearly blotted out the baby Iona struggled to hold as he looked with great shock at his daughter. Then Eric was there, clearing the infant’s nose. The little one inhaled her first breath and blared her unhappiness to the world.

Cassidy turned, the cord still stretching from her to the cub. “Amanda,” she said.

She sounded so sure. “Yep,” Iona said in a choked voice. “It’s a little girl.”

“See?” Cassidy said to Diego, whose dark eyes streamed tears as he touched Amanda’s face. “I knew it was a girl.” And Cassidy reached to gather her into her arms.

Diego came over all fierce as soon as little Amanda was cleaned up, Cassidy nursing her, and went out to bully the staff into giving Cassidy a bedroom where she could rest. Cassidy protested that she was fine to go home, but when Diego and Eric got her to the back bedroom the clinic finally allowed them to use, she drooped.

Iona and Eric left Diego and Cass to be alone with their child, and went to celebrate with the other Shifters who waited in the lobby. Jace, all smiles, kept breaking into a gyrating dance. Because he was as handsome as his father at thirty years old, the nurses at the front desk enjoyed feasting their eyes on him.

Iona’s eyes were filled with tears. “That was so wonderful.”

Eric held her close, kissing the top of her head. Shane and Brody fell into teasing each other and laughing, loudly, the bear brothers excited. Bringing in a cub—successfully, with mother and cub alive and well—was a cause for great celebration.

Diego came down after a time to report that Cassidy and the baby were sleeping. He looked wrung out, triumphant, radiantly happy, and exhausted. Xavier put an arm around him and declared that Diego could use a drink.

Cassidy had asked for Iona before she’d fallen asleep, and Iona gladly went back upstairs. Shane, Brody, and Jace stayed as honorary guards, while Eric said it was his task to go back to Shiftertown and spread the glad news. Neal went with him, his usually taciturn face bathed in smiles, the Guardian happily not needed today.

Upstairs, the nurses had rolled a baby bed next to Cassidy’s so Cass could be near Amanda while they slept. Iona lay in an armchair, her feet over one of its arms, drowsing in the warmth of the room, the curtains pulled closed against the sunshine.

Iona didn’t mean to sleep, but she jumped awake into sudden silence, knowing someone had entered the room.

Her Shifter nose told her it wasn’t Diego or Eric or even another Shifter. She began to swing up from the chair, ready to fight.

Her hand contacted a human man hovering over her in the dim light, but though the man grunted in pain, Iona felt the prick of a needle in her skin, and her limbs suddenly stopped working.

Iona tried to shout to Cassidy, but the floor rushed up to her, and blackness closed in. The last thing Iona saw was a man in a white mask bending over Cassidy and Amanda, and then nothing.