"Nae!" he snarled. "He sleeps. Rouse him."
"Nae, my triath. The child is stillborn. I'm truly sorry."
Nynia wept in his arms. "I am so sorry, Speirr, that I couldn't give you your son. I didn't mean to fail you."
"You didn't fail me, Nyn. You could never fail me."
Horrified and heartbroken, Talon held Nynia close as the midwife washed and dressed their son's small body.
He couldn't take his gaze from the babe.
His son had ten tiny fingers, ten perfect toes. A mop of thick, black hair. His face was beautiful and serene. Perfect.
Why did the child not live?
Why did he not breathe?
Grinding his teeth to stave off the pain, Talon willed the child to wake. Silently demanded his son to cry out and live.
How could something so perfect not breathe? Why couldn't the baby move and squall?
He was their son.
Their precious babe.
There was no reason why the child should not be alive and well. No reason other than the fact that Talon was a fool.
He had killed his own son.
Tears welled in his eyes. How many times had he held his hand over Nynia's stomach and felt the strength of his son's movements? Felt the loving pride of a father?
They had marked the days to the baby's birth. Had shared their hopes and dreams for him.
And now he would never know the boy who had already won his heart. Never see the child smile or grow.
"I am so sorry, Speirr," Nynia murmured over and over again, weeping.
He tightened his arms around her and whispered words of comfort. He had to be strong for her. She needed him now.
Kissing her cheek, Talon forced his tears away and offered her solace. "It's all right, my love. We'll have more children." But in his heart, he knew the truth. The god Camulus would never permit a child of his to live, and Talon would never again put Nynia through this. He loved her too much.
He was still holding her an hour later when all the color had faded from her face. When the last of his hopes had shattered and left him bereft of anything except resounding agony.
Nynia was dying from blood loss.
The midwife had done all she could, but in the end she had left them alone to say their goodbyes.
Nynia was leaving him.
He couldn't breathe.
He couldn't function.
She was dying.
Talon had picked Nynia up and cradled her against him. He was covered in her blood, but he didn't even notice. All he could think of was keeping her with him, making her well.
Live for me!