Chapter 21: Five Heartbeats

Bastian's POV

Elspeth's labor began in the middle of the night, twenty-one weeks after the Assembly, and eight weeks too soon.

I woke to her hand clamped on my arm.

"Bastian," she said, quite calmly. "Get the doctor."

I was out of bed before I knew I had moved.

I had been alive for a hundred and seventy-five years, and I had never once been afraid in the dark of my own bedroom.

I was afraid now.

The doctor was a human woman we had brought to Hollin Hall in the fall.

She was a calm, gray-haired obstetrician who had delivered a thousand babies.

She came in with her bag and took one look at Elspeth.

"How far apart?"

"Four minutes," Elspeth said, between her teeth.

"Then we're having them tonight."

Eileen ran for towels.

Merrick stood in the doorway with his arms crossed and a dry look I had not seen on him in months.

"The old lord from the front row is downstairs," he said. "The Eldest of the Houses."

I turned.

"With the Registrar, and six nursery attendants. They arrived at midnight. They say the heirs are the Court's, and they will wait."

"They will wait in the cold," I said.

"They're in the hall. They've lit a fire."

"Then put it out."

"Sire."

"Put it out, Merrick, and put yourself at the foot of the stairs. Nobody comes up."

He nodded and went.

I closed the door and turned back.

Elspeth was bent double against the bedpost, with a low sound in her throat.

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