“As you wish.” The she-dragon didn’t sound pleased. She was the opposite of pleased. He couldn’t give a shit.

There was a creaking noise as the door closed. Tide had decided to leave him to it. Good. He was the king and if he wanted to be at his mate’s side, he would be here. It would take an entire army to remove him and even then, it wouldn’t be without casualty.

“Oh god.” Candy grit her teeth. “Here comes another one. It’s happening more quickly…” Her face turned red and she groaned while grabbing her belly.

“What should I do?” He felt desperate.

“Breathe, my lady,” the healer said.

Candy began to suck in air, pushing it in and out in hard pants.

The healer looked at him. “There is nothing you can do. The baby will be here soon, we are nearing the end of the birthing process.” She peered between Candy’s legs.

His female breathed as though her life depended on it. Deep inhalations. Her eyes went from being wide and anguished to tightly shut and back again. She seemed to barely be holding it together. It seemed to last for an age before she slumped back. The shirt she was wearing was damp and clung to her body.

She looked delirious. Her eyelids drooped. His female began to shake. “C-cold,” she whispered. “I-I’m really c-cold.”

“What’s wrong with her?” he tried not to snarl.

“Calm down, my lord. The baby has entered the birthing passage. This too is normal.” The she-dragon pointed to a blanket on the sofa. “Put that around her shoulders.”

Torrent nodded. He raced to fetch the woolen blanket and draped it around his female’s shoulders and upper torso. A few minutes later, Candy began to doze off.

“What’s going on?” he asked the healer. “Why has it stopped?”

The she-dragon signaled for him to be quiet. “All is progressing as it should. It is the calm before the storm. Let your mate rest.” She shook her head. “It won’t last very long.”

Not even five minutes later, Candy moaned. Her eyes opened and her face contorted with pain. She gripped her distended belly with both hands. “Oh god!” she groaned. “Oh.” She pushed the blanket away. “I’m too hot.” She moaned.

“Won’t be long now,” the elderly female said. “Breathe, my queen.” She began to huff and puff.

His mate locked eyes with the she-dragon for a beat and copied her. This went on for about a half a minute. “I want to push,” she ground out between pants.

“Not yet, my lady.”

“I have to,” she ground out. Torrent could tell that she was already bearing down.

“Do it then, but not too hard. Slow and easy.”

Candy pushed. She made a grunting sound.

“That’s it. Slowly. Keep breathing.” The healer glanced from between Candy’s legs to his mate’s face.