His red eyes widened.
For one second, his face softened in a way nobody would have expected from him. Then another enemy scream from the lower hall snapped him back, and he turned his head sharply, shadows gathering again.
Ophelia, who had been waiting farther down the passage with Valen, started crying properly this time.
"They have another one," she said through tears. "Another baby."
Valen held her closer, but his own face had softened. "Yes."
Shelia pressed both hands to her mouth. She looked relieved, but she did not smile fully because Isabella was still inside and there had been no word that it was over.
Luca was fighting near the inner stairs now, keeping two attackers from getting any closer to the birth room. He heard the baby cries through the noise and looked over his shoulder for half a breath. That half breath almost cost him. An enemy lunged at him, but he twisted aside and drove his blade into the man's side.
