Free Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) by A.D. Trosper

tightening at the corners that suggested strain. “That is because I have already pulled as much from you as Tellnox will allow.”
    Serena frowned at him. “This isn’t life threatening, Mckale. It’s only childbirth. There is no reason to put strain on yourself for this.”
    He barely glanced at her. “Which is why she feels any of it. Tellnox is blocking me from taking more than the edge off.”
    Serena tapped a finger against her lips as she studied him. “How does the pain feel?”
    Mckale shrugged. “How it feels anytime I take pain from her, a general all over feeling. When she was in the Kormai, it was akin to being kicked down a hill by a horse.”
    “What a shame,” Serena said with a sigh, and turned back to the tray on the table.
    A furrow appeared between his eyes. “Why is that?”
    Serena smiled and poured a cup of tea. “Because if you truly felt what a woman feels when giving birth, I would have Tellnox stop blocking you. It would do men good to actually feel such a thing.”
    Maleena laughed softly and reached for the cup as Serena handed it to her. She’d only taken a small drink when another heavy contraction gripped. Mckale held her hand as the pain and pressure washed over her. The muscles in her body began to tremble on their own accord, and her stomach rolled. She clamped a hand to her mouth and looked frantically around.
    Serena understood what she needed almost as soon as she needed it and produced a ceramic basin just in time. Maleena felt Mckale’s warm hand rubbing her back as she suffered through her stomach emptying itself in the middle of a contraction.
    When her stomach was empty and the pain past, Serena looked sternly at Mckale. “You, out—and fetch me Marda. Tell her it’s time.”
    Mckale looked back and forth between them. “I will stay.”
    “Oh no, you won’t.” Serena stood and ushered him toward the door. “This is no place for a man.”
    “My mother died giving birth.” Mckale gazed at Maleena, and she could sense his reluctance to leave.
    “Really, McKale?” Serena rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to let anything go wrong. Now get out of here.”
    Still, Mckale hesitated in the doorway. “But Gideon is going to be here, and he’s a man.”
    “He would be yes, except he is attending a birth in the city right now. Besides, he’s a healer. Are you a healer? No, I didn’t think so. Go now and tell Marda to attend Maleena. Then find the other riders and be patient.”
    Mckale frowned and left the room, his reluctance coming off him in waves.
    Another contraction took Maleena’s attention. “Serena?” When her friend appeared in front of her, Maleena focused on her and tried to squash the panic rising inside. “I think the baby is coming.”
    Serena smiled gently. “I know. Calm down, your body was designed to do this. Everything will be fine. While we wait for Marda and for your baby to make its long-awaited arrival, let me fix the pillows so you can be more comfortable.”
    Serena fluffed and propped the pillows to give her more support. Two more contractions came in quick succession. Maleena panted through them, feeling the clean shift and the wool pad beneath her grow wet.
    Marda came through the door, her heavy bulk a comforting sight. She beamed at Maleena. “Well, it’s about time. I was beginning to wonder if you planned on ever giving birth to this babe.”
    Taela came through on her heels along with Jocelynn, Belynn, Nira, and Sumara. Taela shot Serena a hard look. “Don’t even think about trying to throw us out.”
    “I wouldn’t dream of it,” Serena said with a chuckle.
    As the last of her labor progressed, Maleena breathed through the contractions while Taela held her hand. Nydara’s head in the doorway between the sleeping chamber and the lair, Marda’s comforting presence, Taela’s determined thoughts, Serena’s no-nonsense attitude, and the gathering of the other female members of her Dragon Rider family gave her the