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“Darius, we need this space. Now.”

I looked past him at Elowen, then left the room with a ringing in my ears and her last words repeating beneath it.

The surgical team passed me with a floating operating platform and several large pieces of equipment, including a station for each baby. Eira joined me in the corridor as they guided everything into the room.

Inside, the physicians lifted Elowen from the nest onto the platform and began cutting away her soiled clothes.

The nursery and dressing-room doors were sealed, and a translucent membrane closed across the main entrance. A fine sterilising mist spread through the room from the filtration units, briefly obscuring Elowen before clearing to reveal the team working around her.

Blood marked the knees of Eira’s uniform. She looked down at her hands, then clasped them together.

“Tell me what happened.”

“She thought the guards meant to hurt the babies, Master. After they refused to leave, she believed they were impostors. I tried to explain, but she was too frightened to listen.” Eira swallowed. “She asked me to steal a gun. When I refused and tried to hold her, she became frightened of me too.”

“Was she in pain?”

“Her head hurt after the impact. Physician Vale was speaking to Mehun, but Elowen refused to answer any of his questions. The more I insisted, the more distressed she became, so I had to stop. I only noticed the blood just before he came in. I would have mentioned it sooner if I had seen it.”

I looked at the blood on her knees before meeting her eyes.

“Go to Livia. Wash and change, then remain nearby. When Elowen wakes, she may ask for you.”

“Yes, Master.”

I opened a secure connection to the Pack. Alaric answered from Command and Lucien from Intelligence; Leon and Caius remained on audio as they travelled home.

“Elowen developed severe symptoms and bleeding. Both babies are in distress. They are preparing an emergency delivery.”

“Can she hear us?” Alaric asked.

“She is sedated.”

“Keep the connection open.”

I secured the pad beside the doorway, where they could see into the room.

“Does the team need anything?” Lucien asked.

“Nothing at present. Thaddeus prepared for an emergency.”

“As he should have,” Alaric replied, turning to an officer beside him. “Are they providing live updates?”

“The medical channel is open. One of the physicians inside will keep us informed.” I connected it to our Pack call so we could all hear the updates.

Beyond the membrane, the physicians were arranging drapes around the operating platform. I lost sight of Elowen, and my hand lifted towards the barrier before I stopped myself.

When one of the physicians moved aside, I could see her face again. A breathing tube was secured at her mouth, and her hair had been drawn away from the place where I had kissed her that morning.

I felt Leon’s presence before he reached me. He hurried past the guards and stopped beside me, his hand closing around my forearm as he caught sight of Elowen on the operating platform.

“Is she going to live?”

“I do not know.”

“The girls?”

“They are delivering them.” I rested my hand on the back of his neck until his breathing steadied, and neither of us looked away.