The Scent (The Bryn and Sinjin Series Book 2) (5 page)

Clearly, not any longer.

“Can you see the baby’s head?” Sinjin responded patiently. Well, good thing one of us was seemingly unconcerned, because I felt like I was going to have a mental breakdown at any minute. My skin was clammy with sweat even though it was freezing in the cave and I didn’t imagine my nerves could be on higher alert. I was a heart attack just waiting to happen.

“Do I see the baby’s head?” I repeated his words to myself and brought my attention back to Jolie. After taking a deep breath and talking myself off the ledge, I tried to figure out what I was supposed to be looking for. “Maybe?” I called back with a frown. “I’m not really sure.” Of one thing I was certain, though; there was no way in hell I would ever have sex if it could result in this!

Hands down. One hundred percent. No freaking way in hell.

“I feel … like I need to … push,” Jolie announced. Lifting her head, she struggled with another contraction while I prayed she wouldn’t feel the need to roar like she had earlier. I doubted if my nerves could handle it.

“Okay,” I said, imagining that she should go with whatever her body told her to do. “Push; that sounds like a good idea, I guess.” Then, thinking better of it, I eyed the hole in the cave roof. “She says she wants to push!” I yelled out to Sinjin. “Is that good or bad?”

“Good!” he replied immediately. “Encourage her to push between the contractions!”

“Okay!”

“And tell her to exhale through her mouth when the contraction reaches its peak, and then push when the contraction eases,” Sinjin finished, sounding like he’d been through this birthing stuff a thousand times over. Damn him.

“It really sounds like he used to be a doctor, but whatever,” I muttered to myself as I faced my sister again and wondered about the enigma that was Sinjin Sinclair. “Did you hear everything he just said?”

She nodded and opened her mouth, exhaling. Then she clenched her eyes shut tightly in what I assumed was another painful contraction. She opened her eyes a few seconds later and inhaled again before breathing out for a count of three. “The contraction is on its way out so I’m going to push now,” she informed me.

“Okay.” It sounded like she was following Sinjin’s instructions to the letter. “Once the next contraction comes, stop pushing,” I coached her, remembering Sinjin’s instructions. Surprisingly, I actually sounded like I knew what I was talking about.

“Do you see the baby’s head yet?” Sinjin called.

I glanced back down at Jolie just as she started pushing again. And that was when I saw my niece or nephew’s head. A huge smile immediately spread on my face as a mixture of relief and joy overcame me. “Jolie! I can see her head!” I said gleefully as I squeezed my sister’s leg encouragingly. A rush of euphoria overcame me because this had to mean my role of midwife was nearing its end. “She’s coming!”

“Has the baby’s head crowned?” Sinjin called out again.

“Yes!” I responded, with a sense of triumph in my tone. “I see her head!” I wasn’t sure why I kept referring to the baby as a girl, but figured since Sinjin had, maybe he knew something I didn’t. Well, clearly, that went without saying …

“Very good, Bête Noire! Your job is nearing its end, thankfully,” he started with a chuckle that I didn’t find very amusing. “Now support the baby’s head as it begins to emerge,” he continued. “Whatever you do, do not pull on the baby’s head! Let your sister do all the work!”

“Okay!” I called back, feeling inordinately proud of myself. Taking another deep breath, I faced Jolie and smiled. “I see your baby, Jolie,” I said softly, attempting to sound encouraging. I only hoped I was doing a good job because I was more than aware that I wasn’t exactly good when it came to emotional support. “She’s almost here so just keep on doing whatever it is that you’re doing!”

Jolie didn’t respond, but took another deep breath and pushed. I put my hands underneath the baby’s head as soon as it appeared fully. “The baby’s head is out!” I yelled to Sinjin.

“Very good!” he responded. “Now guide the baby’s head and turn it to the side so her body can slide out more easily.”

“Okay!” I yelled back as I continued to support the baby’s head. Jolie ground down and pushed again, this time allowing the baby’s entire body to emerge. I felt like I wanted to cry as I glanced down and saw my niece for the very first time. She was so tiny and helpless, and so perfectly beautiful. She had an exact replica of Jolie’s rosebud mouth with Rand’s big eyes and long lashes. “She’s beautiful!” I said in awe as my voice caught. I bit my lip and forced the tears to subside. Luckily, Jolie’s daughter, who did turn out to be just that, opened her mouth and released a loud cry, sparing me from doing so myself.

“She’s really … a she?” Jolie asked. She sounded completely exhausted, but at the same time, thoroughly overjoyed. I could feel as much through our bond.

“Yes, you have a lovely, little girl,” I answered in an awestruck voice. I lifted the baby, being careful to support her head and neck, and felt completely awkward doing so. She was just such a tiny and fragile little thing, I was scared of hurting her. I placed her on Jolie’s chest and watched as Jolie leaned over and kissed her forehead, grinning from ear to ear. She didn’t say anything for a few seconds, but just studied her baby as her eyes filled with tears.

“She’s so perfect,” Jolie finally said.

“Yes,” I answered. It was all I could say because it felt like there was a frog the size of my fist currently residing in my throat. Needing to find something to focus on so I wouldn’t become a blubbering mess, I closed my eyes and centered myself so I could hone my powers around Jolie and her daughter. Once focused, I cocooned them in an envelope of heat, preventing either of them from feeling the icy cold of the cave. I, however, could feel the burn of the frigid air, but it didn’t bother me. At that very moment, I seriously doubted if there was anything that could have.

I watched Jolie close her eyes and it almost looked like she was asleep. Moments later, though, a large pink blanket appeared out of thin air. It wafted down on top of them both, tucking itself underneath both sides of Jolie’s waist. Seconds later, a little, pink beanie appeared on top of the baby’s head.

“Impressive,” I said with a smile.

Jolie shrugged as she lifted the blanket and encouraged her baby to start suckling on her right breast. “Just another day as a witch,” she answered. The baby struggled. “Come on, little doe,” Jolie crooned at her. “You need to eat if you want to grow up and be big and strong like your daddy.”

At the mention of the baby’s “daddy,” I felt an inordinate sense of sorrow descending on me and knew I must have been channeling Jolie’s feelings. “He’s going to be fine, Jolie,” I whispered. I reached out and patted one of her swollen ankles. “Please trust that he will be fine,” I finished but couldn’t help doubting my own words because I had no idea what was going on back at Kinloch Kirk. All I could rely on was my knowledge that Rand was a truly gifted and powerful warlock.

I refused to allow myself to ponder Luce and his abilities. Some things were better left unthought.

Jolie didn’t respond but just nodded sadly. She held her baby closer and shut her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. I felt my heart constricting as I wrapped my arms around my sister. I didn’t know what to say so I let the quiet speak for me. I just held Jolie and allowed her to cry, figuring she probably needed it.

“I’m … okay now,” she said after a few minutes. Nodding, she wiped the tears from her cheeks and steeled any remaining strength she could muster.

“Are you warm enough?” I asked, not exactly sure what to do with myself now that the hard part was behind us. “I could make it warmer in here if you aren’t.”

“We’re fine,” Jolie answered with a sad, little smile. “Sinjin can come back in now if he wants.”

I stood up and walked toward the hole in the ceiling of the cave as I continued to receive Jolie’s melancholic feelings. I had to forcibly turn off our connection because I couldn’t think straight with all the worry that was passing from her into me. Once I could think clearly, I noticed the rain had stopped. When I looked at the sky, though, I found the moonlight still obscured by dark grey storm clouds that appeared ominous and threatening. I stood directly underneath the hole in the cave’s ceiling and called out to Sinjin. “Did you hear that? You can come back now!”

“Of course I heard it,” Sinjin responded before appearing directly in front of me a split second later. “As you are well aware, I can hear everything,” he finished with a cheeky grin. His self-adoration knew no bounds.

I rolled my eyes but didn’t say anything as I watched him approaching Jolie. “How are you faring, my queen?”

“I’m fine,” Jolie answered and then nodded with a big smile.

“And the royal sprog?” Sinjin continued with a boyish grin that immediately melted my sister’s heart. Apparently I wasn’t doing a great job of deadening the bond between us …

“We’re both just fine,” she answered as she gently pulled the corner of the blanket down to reveal her little daughter.

“Ah, she is quite lovely, just like her mother,” Sinjin said as he brought his eyes from the baby back to Jolie. “Randall will be very proud.”

“Thank you, Sinjin,” Jolie said, obviously ignoring Sinjin’s play on Rand’s name. I could hear the adoration in her voice and it made me half wonder if maybe Jolie hadn’t loved Sinjin at one time, or possibly still did. Of course, her love for him couldn’t compare to her love for Rand, but there was definitely a connection that my sister and Sinjin had, which ran deep.

I wasn’t sure why, but their closeness bothered me. Or maybe it wasn’t that it bothered me as much as it made me feel things I wasn’t used to—like jealousy. I didn’t really understand the feelings of pain and longing that manifested inside of me whenever I was around Sinjin, so I angrily pushed them away. I had to keep reminding myself that I had no business feeling emotions because I couldn’t process them. I didn’t understand them. They were like another language to which I wasn’t privy.

“No need to thank me,” Sinjin said, his voice soft and caring. “I am and always will remain your loyal guardian, my queen.”

I felt like an eavesdropper—like I shouldn’t have been witnessing the exchange between them. I faced the other side of the cave and took a few steps away from them, feigning extreme interest in the stalagmites that grew out of the cave’s floor.

“You did well,” Sinjin said, his voice right beside my right ear. My breath rode up into my throat as my heartbeat started to pound.

“Was that really necessary?” I barked, taking deep breaths to calm my fight or flight response. I just hated it when he crept up on me, and he knew it. That was why he did it so much. Pain in the ass …

Sinjin chuckled from where he stood right beside me. I took another few steps and turned to face him, not at all comfortable at finding him so close. Especially given the completely bizarre and uncomfortable feelings I’d experienced earlier with regard to his relationship with my sister. I had no business being jealous because, in general, I wasn’t a jealous person. No, instead my temperament was calm and collected. Or at least that’s what I had to keep reminding myself.

“I do enjoy keeping you on your toes, my paramour,” Sinjin said and his eyes seemed to sparkle in the moonlight.

“So are you going to come clean about how you know so much about childbirth?” I demanded, changing the subject, because I started feeling anxious under his scrutiny. “I refuse to believe that you just happened to know all those things …”

Sinjin chuckled as he studied me before opening his mouth to answer. “What is my position at Kinloch Kirk, little tempest?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” I spat back, throwing my hands on my hips to show him that I wasn’t amused.

“Everything.”

“Fine, you’re the queen’s guardian,” I answered as I rolled my eyes but figured I’d have to play by his rules if I wanted to learn the answer to my question.

“Exactly. And as the queen’s guardian, I thought it would behoove me to prepare myself in case the incident, which just happened, should happen while on my watch,” he finished. He arched his left eyebrow as if he were pleased with himself.

“Then you taught yourself about timing her contractions, and breathing, and all that stuff?” I asked him, sounding dubious.

“Quite so, Princess,” he responded calmly. “I believe it is better to be prepared than to find oneself in a potentially complicated situation.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, I was struck by an acute pain right behind my eyes and between my ears. It was the same pain I’d felt earlier, during Jolie’s wedding, when Luce announced his plans for imminent attack. This time, however, it was much more intense. The pain felt like someone was stabbing me right through the ear.

My knees buckled as I dropped down to the ground and instinctively brought my hands up to my ears to ward away the agony. Sinjin was by my side instantly. He gripped my arm and pulled me upright as I took a deep breath and rallied any residual magical power I possessed to fight the pain. I clenched my eyes shut tightly and subdued the agony with my magic until I finally felt a reprieve. When I opened my eyes, I faced Sinjin and Jolie, only to find both of them were staring at me.

“Bryn?” Jolie asked, her eyes wide as she studied me. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Luce,” I announced. Looking around, I suddenly felt as if the walls of the cave were shutting in on me. What was only moments ago a safe haven now felt like a cage—like we were trapped, just waiting for Luce to find us.