Chapter 15: Brianna's Confession

"Please," Corbin said into the stone. "Save her. Save them both. I will give you anything."

Sorcha looked down at the back of his head.

"You have nothing to give me," she said.

"I have my name."

"You have your mother's name. Get up."

"I can't."

"Then stay there."

She turned and went back into the birthing room, and she shut the door on him.

The room smelled of blood and herbs.

Brianna lay on the bed with her braid soaked dark, and her face was the color of tallow.

Four women stood around her. The midwife was elbow deep in a basin of red water.

Margaret sat at the head of the bed holding Brianna's wrist. She looked up, and her gray eyes were swollen.

"Eleven hours," Margaret said. "The pup is turned wrong, and she has lost too much. I cannot find the pup's heartbeat anymore."

"Move," Sorcha said.

Margaret moved.

Sorcha laid both hands on Brianna's belly, and the silver went out of her so fast that her knees buckled.

She felt the pup at once.

It was small, and the cord was wrapped around its neck. Its heart was a faint, fluttering thing, nearly gone.

She did not care who the father was. She did not care who the mother was.

She reached for it with her whole strength.

The pup turned under her palms.

Brianna screamed, high and raw, and her eyes flew open and found Sorcha's face.

"Sorcha?"

"Push."

"Sorcha, I'm dying."

"You aren't. Push."

"I can't."

"You can, Brianna. Push now."

Brianna pushed.

The midwife caught the pup in a rush of blood and water. It lay limp and blue in her hands for a long, terrible moment.

Sorcha put one finger on its chest and gave it the last silver she had.

The pup drew a breath and howled.

Every woman in the room let out a sound that was half a sob.

"A girl," the midwife said. "A girl, and she's whole."

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