This time the pain was hard enough and lasted long enough to make the other Carpathians in the room fully aware that she was in active labor. Heads turned. Warriors, lifemates and even some of the children turned their attention to her.
Shea tried a small smile and nodded. "It is time. Where is Slavica? I must thank her for such a wonderful evening. It was filled with delightful surprises."
Francesca and Mikhail with several others closed rank around Shea.
"We need to get you to the birthing chamber now," Francesca declared. "We can do this, don't be afraid."
"I'm anxious, but not afraid. Jacques won't let anything happen to us, will you?" Shea asked, holding her lifemate's gaze.
"Not a single thing. This is going to be a beautiful, unforgettable birth," he assured her.
Shea took a few more steps toward the door and stopped, one hand pushing at her hair to get it off her brow as the swelling pain tightened across her stomach and down through her back. "Do you realize the latest report on babies is that they are sitting in a terrible chemical brew, just the way the animal and bird young have been doing, which is what is putting so
many species on the endangered list?"
"Shea," Jacques cautioned. "Now isn't the time to think about that."
"No, Jacques. We all have to think about it." She gasped as the pain rushed over her, stealing her breath. She grit her teeth and recited statistics. "Cord blood reflects what the mother passes to the baby through the placenta. Of the two hundred and eighty-seven chemicals detected in umbilical cord blood, one hundred and eighty of them are known to cause cancer in humans or animals, two hundred and seventeen are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and two hundred and eight cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. And I'm quoting a report done by an environmental group out of Washington," Shea added, taking a breath as the pain subsided. "Everyone should be paying more attention to it. Among the chemicals found in the cord blood were methylmercury, produced by coal-fired power plants and certain industrial processes. People can breathe it in or eat it in seafood and it causes brain and nerve damage."
"Shea, our baby isn't going to have brain or nerve damage."
"You haven't read this report. The researchers also found polyaromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which are produced by burning gasoline and garbage; flame-retardant chemicals called polybrominated dibenzodioxins and furans; and pesticides including DDT and chlordane."
"I don't know what half those things are," Jacques said, trying to soothe her. He ran his hand over her arm, but she shrugged him off.
"That's exactly why no one listens. Because they don't know what it is, they figure they don't have to pay attention." Panic filled her voice. "I know that's what's been happening to our children. We're so connected to the soil and the earth has become so toxic that we're now on the endangered species list as well."
"It's time to go," Jacques urged.
Get her out of here now, Mikhail ordered his brother. We cannot afford to have her overheard by the villagers.
It is her way of coping with pain and fear, Mikhail.
I am aware of that, Jacques.
"I have to thank Slavica first," Shea insisted, fighting back another swelling pain.
Mikhail leaned down to whisper to Raven. "Find her fast. We need to take Shea out of here before anyone else figures out what is happening."
"She's coming now and she has that older woman from San Francisco with her," Raven said, relief in her voice.
Mikhail swept his hand to help part the crowd, making it easier for Slavica and the woman to make their way across the room.
Raven hurried to them. "Shea has gone into labor and we need to take her home. She wants to quickly say good-bye and thank you for the lovely evening, Slavica," she said. "And of course, say a quick hello to you, Ms. Fitzpatrick. She's been waiting to meet you."
"I'll just wish her good luck, then, dear," Eileen said, leaning heavily on Slavica, using her cane to feel her way, her body bent slightly as she hobbled toward Shea and Jacques.
Aidan, standing across the room, frowned as the woman halted in front of Shea and stretched out her hand toward her.
"Finally. It is so good to meet you, my dear, and at such an eventful time." She tapped the floor with the cane twice, judging the distance between them. "I'm afraid I have to wear these terrible