The moans started up again. If he didn’t know better, he would think that she was being tortured. Skinned alive, broken, battered, bleeding. That she was dying.

No!

Fuck!

He stopped marching for a second and grit his teeth, trying to drown out the sounds.

“Brother,” Tide’s voice was softer. “Why are you doing this to yourself? Come with me. We spoke with the healer twenty minutes ago, all is well with your female. You do not have to be here.”

Torrent shook his head. “She is human.” His voice was thick.

“It does not matter. It is tradition that…”

Tide continued to talk but Torrent no longer heard him. He could only hear his mate, his beloved. She was in agony. He could hear how she tried to be quiet. How she tried to hold it in.

Fuck that.

It wasn’t right. He knew that she needed him and yet, not once had she called his name. She was trying to be strong. He hated it.

He rushed to the door and barged inside.

“Torrent.” Her face was a mask of hurt. Her hair was plastered to her face. Her cheeks red. Her eyes glassy.

“Fuck,” he growled as he walked to her. The elderly she-dragon gave him a look of disapproval.

“This would’ve been over by now if she had been in one of the tidal pools.” The healer stated.

“The queen is a human.” He took her hand. It was customary for female water dragons to take to the sea within the shelter of the pools. They gave birth there. Candy was not a dragon. “What can I do? I’m so sorry for not coming earlier.” His voice mirrored the tension he was feeling. He had been out in that hallway the entire time but it wasn’t enough.

Torrent could see that she was fighting her way through a contraction. She was breathing deeply, her belly looked tight. Instead of answering, Candy moaned. It was a guttural sound from deep inside her throat.

After about another minute, she slumped back, completely out of breath.

“I should have come sooner.” He cupped her overly warm cheek.

She shook her head, swallowing thickly. Her eyes didn’t focus on him properly. This is what thirteen hours of labor looked like. The last four had been hard. Impossible even, but his female wasn’t giving up. She had both strength and stamina in spades. She was the greatest warrior he had ever seen.

“You shouldn’t be here.” The she-dragon chided him.

“I’m so glad you came.” His female grabbed ahold of him. “Please don’t leave me. Please. I tried to be brave, but I’m scared.”

“I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.”

The healer cleared her throat. “My lord, you…”

“I’m not going anywhere.” His voice was a deep rasp.