“Sorry,” I began, but she interrupted me.

“No, it is not your fault. I flinch at everything. That is why I want to live amongst my kind again. I need normalcy to get better.”

I wasn’t totally convinced living in the middle of a bunch of unmated drakens would help, but I didn’t say anything. “What is your name?”

The hood of the clock shifted, and for a moment I caught a glimpse of heavily scarred skin. “Xana.”

I held out my hand again but more slowly. She grasped it, and we shifted back to the others.

Blood was everywhere. Benedict paced as Trego knelt in front of Cassie on the bed, the sheets stained crimson with her labors. She had ceased to scream, but I hazarded a guess it was from the blood loss. Not because the situation had improved at all. Her eyes were glassy and unfocused.

Xana took one look at the scene and calmly began barking orders. “All men out! Send for her coven leader.”

Benedict’s eyes bugged out at seeing Xana, but he scrambled to obey. Trego looked like he would protest, but Benedict put an arm around his waist and hauled him out of the small hut. I felt the fizzle of wards going up and made a mental note to thank my mate later. If he was smart, he’d have Kieran and Ronan to stand further guard. Perhaps even Wyrren.

“Can draken blood heal witches?”

Xana put two heavily scarred hands on Cassie’s pelvis, firmly feeling around to gauge the child’s position. “No.” I closed my eyes as she continued. “But her coven leader may be able to help.”

She hummed to herself as her fingers prodded a particular spot, then she looked down at the lodged head. “Hold her down by her arms.”

I moved to obey, unsure of what she planned to do. Her hood dropped over her face, leaving only her chin visible as she sighed heavily. “Just as well she’s nearly unconscious. This will hurt.”

In one smooth motion she slashed Cassie across from one hip bone to the other with her claws. Cassie’s face twisted in agony before her eyes rolled back into her head, and she passed out.

“Good. Get a needle and thread.”

I raced to do her bidding, rummaging messily through a side table until I found the items. Xana’s hands were inside Cassie, and then in one brutal tug, a dark mass was pulled forth. Astrid dove through the flap covering the door at that moment, literally stunned by the sight of blood and Xana pulling a babe from the giant slash in her witch’s abdomen.

“As soon as I get the afterbirth, you need to stitch quickly.”

I was so relieved someone else had that responsibility that I nearly dropped the needle and thread as I handed them to Astrid. Xana screeched in triumph as she pulled a dark sack from the wound, still attached to the child. As soon as she was clear of Cassie, Astrid pounced. I had to look away as she began sewing the witch’s skin back together with neat, precise stitches. I looked instead to Xana, who was cradling a tiny drakling in her hands. An eerie silence descended in the hut, and I held my breath.