“I’m sorry,” I whispered, needing him to understand.

His nose nuzzled against my cheek. “I understand. You were incredible.”

I glowed under his praise, happy tears threatening to spill from the corner of my eyes. I twisted around and caught him staring at the thin white strip on my wings. My grin faded, and I turned back around, but not before his eyes caught mine. I didn’t want to voice what I was thinking, but I had a feeling he already knew and chose not to say anything. I snuggled deeper into him and fell asleep.

Chapter Eighteen

Wren

“Queen Wren! Are you there! I need help!”

I startled awake and flailed, the pained groans of my mates filtering through as I stumbled and crawled over them.

“Queen Wren!”

I stumbled out to the balcony, rubbing my eyes as I nearly ran face first into Trego, who was perched on the rails of my balcony, his wings flared to help keep his balance. His brown eyes were wide with panic. My mates were behind me, fangs and claws out. Trego took an alarmed step back but continued to plead with his hands held out in front of him.

“It’s Cassie! She’s gone into labor! I heard the others say you’ve delivered babies and—”

I held up my hands, too many things going through my head at once. “Who is Cassie?”

Trego leaned back, blinking. “My mate! Astrid isn’t here.”

“While you were gone, one of the air witches became pregnant.” Benedict blushed, and I rolled my eyes.

What a prude! I tried to roll this sudden realization around in my head. A draken took a witch as a mate? And she was pregnant? “I see Benedict missed a few important details when he was briefing me.”

Ronan blinked sleepily, and Kieran ducked his head.

“Are you coming?” Trego pressed, nearly sliding off the balcony.

“Yes.”

Trego turned and pushed off the balcony with his legs, his wings opening wide as he dove down into the valley. I followed without looking back at my mates, the cold night air stinging my eyes. We glided through the village, landing in front of one of the huts. I heard a woman’s screams, and suddenly I was back in the breeding house. Worse, back in the fortress, forced between a witch’s legs as my chains clanked around me.

“Wren?” Trego’s voice dragged me out of my nightmares, and I stepped inside the small hut. Cassie was an air witch, her face slicked with sweat and her features twisted in pain. Her rounded stomach made it abruptly clear Trego had been telling the truth.

I stared for only a moment before snapping into action. “Get out of the bed. It’s a horrible position for birthing.”

I waved my arms at Trego to assist, and we both lifted the sobbing witch into our arms, letting her hang off the bed between us.

“Just sit with her and hold her,” I said to Trego and then I addressed Cassie. “Do you feel the urge to push?”