Rescued by the Alien Warrior Hope Hart (literature books to read TXT) 📖

such agony that my heart flips in sympathy. “Rakiz needs to be here.”

“Well, he isn’t. Pass me that shirt.”

“She can’t die without him.”

I swing my head so fast I’m surprised I don’t get whiplash. “Excuse me?”

Nevada stares at him, her face creased in exhaustion as she recovers from her last contraction. “You think I’m going to die?”

“The baby…” His voice trails off as he glances between Nevada and me. Then he seems to get some courage from somewhere because his jaw tightens. “The-The size of the baby. Human females cannot birth it.”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen this kind of fear in Nevada’s eyes before, and the sight makes me tremble with rage as I get to my feet.

“Get out.”

“But—”

I point to the entrance. “Stand there, guard us, and don’t say another fucking word.”

I narrow my eyes at Tagiz as Nevada lets out a sound that reminds me of a wounded animal.

It’s followed by a masculine roar. “Nevada!”

Oh, thank God. Rakiz runs into the cave, his eyes wild as he reaches for his mate. Nevada is in the middle of a contraction, and she slaps his hands away as he attempts to cup her face.

“Give her a moment,” I murmur. “Where’s Moni?”

“We had to send the healers back when we were attacked. She’s on the way now.”

Nevada reaches for Rakiz’s hand, panting. “I knew you’d get here. I knew you’d make it. If I die, you have to tell the baby all about me. Teach them to be brave and strong but to ask for help when they need it. Teach them about family and friendship and tell them their mama loved them more than anything in the world.”

Rakiz’s face pales. “You’re not dying.” His eyes are wild when they meet mine. “Tell her she’s not dying.”

I throw my hands up into the air. “For the love of God, enough with the dramatics,” I say, keeping my voice light. “Women have been birthing babies—even huge babies—for thousands of years.”

Nevada ignores that. “Promise.”

“I promise,” he says, and then his eyes meet mine again, and my chest aches at the sight of our tribe king filled with fear.

Chapter Twelve

Tagiz

“I need to push,” Nevada says.

“Go ahead,” Zoey replies, her voice calm. But I know the little healer better than anyone else. I have studied her expressions, her body language, the tilt of her head, everything about her since the moment I first laid eyes on her.

She is not calm. Not at all.

She rinses her hands in the water, scrubbing them over and over.

Nevada clutches at Rakiz, pushes him away, and then pulls him close again, wailing. “You did this to me, you bastard. If I die, I’m going to haunt you forever.”

Rakiz leans over and presses a kiss to her forehead. “I would welcome your presence any way I could have it, karja, but you will not die. You would not leave our baby without a mother.”

I move closer to the cave entrance in an attempt to give them more privacy, but I can’t help but be fascinated by the way my tiny healer takes control. She directs Rakiz into position until he is sitting behind Nevada.

At one point, Zoey glances at me and orders more water, and I relay the instruction to Jozet, who jumps into action, his shoulders still hunched in shame.

Nevada vomits, noisily, and Zoey declares it “perfectly normal,” gently wiping her mouth.

Jozet arrives with more water.

“I saw Moni through the trees,” he says.

“Oh, thank God,” Zoey murmurs, her eyes still on Nevada as she pushes.

“Don’t leave me,” Nevada groans.

“I won’t. I promise.”

Nevada screams a curse, and Rakiz flinches. His eyes meet mine for a long moment, and I can see the regret.

He knows this was a mistake.

Zoey raises her voice, drawing Nevada’s attention. “Mouth closed, Vada. If you’re yelling, the energy is going out of the wrong hole.”

Nevada manages to choke out a laugh. “I hate you.”

“I know. The head is almost out. Push.”

Nevada pants. “I can’t do this.”

“Look at me. At me. You only have a few more pushes and you’ll get to meet your baby. You can do this. I promise.”

Nevada shakes her head, but then she lets out a scream that’s filled with so much pain that I instinctively move closer, wishing I could do something…anything to help.

“What do you need?” I ask Zoey.

She glances at me, wincing in sympathy as she murmurs something about a “ring of fire.” “More water.”

I jump into action, striding out of the cave, and it’s not until I return that I realize there are still two full bowls of water next to her. Zoey is clearly just trying to keep us busy.

Rakiz’s eyes meet mine, and I know he feels even more useless than I do.

Zoey glances at me. “I need that sharp knife. Boil it in water and bring it to me.”

I do as she says, and as soon as I return, Moni comes bustling in.

She kneels next to Zoey between Nevada’s legs, nodding approvingly at whatever she sees.

Zoey glances up at me. “Hold the knife and don’t let anything touch the blade.”

I nod, moving next to Rakiz. From here, I can see Zoey’s face, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“The head is out, Nevada,” she says, her voice low, encouraging. “I can see a beautiful head of hair. It’s just the shoulders now. One more push and your baby is here.”

I glance down at Nevada’s face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone look so exhausted before.

Rakiz nuzzles her hair. “You can do it, karja. Let’s meet our child.”

One more howl, and Moni and Zoey jump into action. Within moments, Zoey is holding a tiny creature, one of her fingers gently stroking its nose. She takes Jozet’s shirt and uses it to vigorously rub the baby’s back until it lets out a wail that makes everyone smile in relief.

Zoey’s eyes are damp as she grins up at Nevada. “You have a baby girl.”

Rakiz takes the knife from me, slicing through something long and coiled that makes my stomach