“I don’t know.” Grim swallows and has tears swimming in his eyes.
“Right, this little one is all set. Push!”
I take a deep breath and give it all I have. I clutch onto Grim’s hand with all my might and scream.
“Now that is a warrior call,” Grim whispers in my ear. “I love you.”
And the loud crying from our baby fills the room. I can’t help but laugh with relief.
“You have a healthy baby boy!” the midwife shouts, passing my son to a nurse.
“You hear that, Princess? You gave me a son. You’re so fucking strong. I’m so proud of you.” Grim places a hard kiss on my lips, but I pull away when another sharp pain hits. “What is it, Sassa?”
I don’t have time to say. My hands go to my stomach, and that warrior cry leaves my throat raw again. The midwife runs over and peers between my legs. Her brows raise to her hairline. “Well, in all my years, I have never seen this before. You better get ready to push. You’re having another one. You’re having twins. That’s rare. I hear it means luck.”
Right, luck. Unimaginable pain that makes me question if I’m dying is luck.
“It shall be quick. So, when you’re ready to push, I’ll catch the baby.” The midwife stands between my legs with her hands out.
When the contraction hits, I don’t have time to push. The baby just flies out, falling right into the midwife’s hands. Wow, that was so much easier than the first.
“Oh, Lady Sassa, Lord Grimkael. You must have patience. You have a little girl.”
“A daughter?” Grim croaks, and a small, single tear breaks free from his eyes. “My gods and goddesses, you’ve given me everything.” He peppers kisses all over my sweaty face.
“Is this normal?” I slur. Everything is getting fuzzy.
“Sassa. Sassa! Stay with me. Hey, look at me. Keep your eyes open.”
“—She’s losing blood. I can’t get it to stop.”
“Fucking figure it out. I’m not losing her.”
“I need to find the bleeder.”
Grim’s handsome face fills my view. “You must stay with me, alright? I can’t lose you. Don’t leave me. Think of that. Think about how much I love you. Keep your heart beating.” His voice fades the more I try to listen.
Babies cry in the distance. Babies. I had two. I had twins. I smile as I let darkness take me under.
The next time I wake up, I’m back in my room. I groan and try to turn over, and my vagina feels like it is about to rip in two. I gasp, and my hands feel over my stomach. “No, babies. No babies.” I panic. “Grim!”
He runs through the door so fast he falls, and I wince. His elbow breaks off a piece of stone. That has to hurt. “Sassa. You’re awake!” He presses his forehead against mine. “You frightened me to death.”
“What happened?”
“You don’t remember?” he asks.
“I remember being in the nursery. Where are the babies?”
Grim’s smile lights up the room. “I’ll be right back.”
I sit up the best I can, and that’s when I notice my breasts hurt. I look down to see my nipples raw. Well, I guess they had to eat somehow, even if I was unconscious for it. Grim comes back in carrying two perfect bundles, swaddled in white cloths.
“Oh my…” I hold out my arms and clench my palms together. “Give me.”
He sets the boy in my arms first, and then the girl. They are chunky and small at the same time. My eyes water as I look at their faces. The boy has a little dimple in his cheek like his father, and the girl has dark hair like her brother. “They are so beautiful, Grim. Look what we made.”
“I know. Do you still not want more?”
The thought of having more sends a ripping pain through the place he loves most. “I think we should wait for now. We have two. That’s perfect. But maybe in a few years. Do they have names?” I ask.
“I would never name our children without you.” He rolls his eyes and settles next to me, taking our son in his arms. He looks so hot holding a baby. “Do you have any ideas?”
“Well, for our girl.” I run my finger down her plump cheek. “I’d love to name her after my mum, Katorina.”
“Katorina Marie?” he asks. “My mother’s name.”
“I love it. Hello, Katorina Marie. I’m your mum. Hi, Precious,” I croon. “And do you have a name for our son?” I ask Grim.
“Well, how about Erik Callen? After your dad.”
I can’t breathe as I stare at the most perfect man. I grab his hand with mine and try to pull myself together. I’ve done enough crying for the rest of my life.
“I love it,” I rasp. “Thank you.”
“Erik Callen. You’re going to be a heartbreaker, aren’t ye?”
A knock on the door grabs our attention, and Thyra, Einarr, Lord Troy, Abram, and Aala are standing in the doorway when we open the door. “I hear someone finally woke up. You scared us, ma’am, you did,” Aala scolds with a gleam in her eye.
“I’m sorry. You want to come meet the babies?” I ask with excitement. “We have named them.”
“Oh, tell me.” Thyra pushes through everyone, but I notice how her hand lingers on Einarr before rushing over to my side. “Oh, she is too cute. I can’t wait to have children. I want an entire lot of them.”
“You want to hold her?” I ask.
“I’d love to.” She holds out her arms and cradles my daughter just right. “What’s her name?”
Einarr hasn’t taken his eyes off her as she sways with the baby.
“Katorina Marie. And our son is Erik Callen.”
“Oh, how beautiful,” Aala sniffles.
“Congratulations, the two of you,” Lord Troy states, slapping Einarr on the back.
I smile, holding out my hand for Grim to take. When he laces his fingers through mine, and I look around, seeing the life I have and feeling love from everyone in this room, nothing has ever been more beautiful.
My life with the Viking isn’t all that grim after all.
THE END
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The Viking's Bride (Viking Warriors Book 1) Page 24