Page 139 of Enchantment of a Highlander

Which, in and of itself, was an uncomfortable thought.

Celia was certainly nothing divine.

“Thank you, Duncan,” she said softly when they neared the bottom of the stairs. Truth be told, his assistance was of great help.

Her breath came a little harder. Some of it had to do with the babe not leaving room for breathing, some of it had do with the way her lungs had never fully recovered from when she’d almost died.

Alec stood at the fireplace below, staring pensively into the flames. He looked fine as always in a crisp, golden-colored leine and a fresh kilt. So fine he made her heartbeat quicken.

He turned when he heard them and rushed over. Concern pulled at his brows and creased a deep line on his forehead. “Celia, ye should be in bed.”

He clapped Duncan on the shoulder and gave him an appreciative nod before taking his place at Celia’s elbow.

“You know I don’t agree with that,” Celia replied. “It’s good to—”

A deep pain squeezed inside her lower stomach. She clutched her hands to her belly.

Alec’s eyes went wide. “Wynda!”

The cook ran in, her hands busily wipe, wipe, wiping on her apron.

She took one look at Celia and pressed her hands against her chest. It was what she did when she wanted to hug Celia after Alec had strictly forbidden any Wynda hugs after having learned of Celia’s pregnancy.

“Is it time?” the cook asked.

The pain eased, the way it’d done all morning—coming and going.

Celia nodded. “It’s time.”

She looked at Alec and all the love and happiness of her life swelled in her heart. “Are you ready to be a father?”

He grinned like a boy. “Let’s get ye to bed. This time I’ll no have ye walking around, aye?” His touch on her arm was gentle, his fingers stroking the delicate skin inside her elbow. “I love ye too much to have anything happen to ye,” he whispered.

“You needn’t worry,” Celia said just as softly. “Because I love you too much to leave you.”

She let him lead her toward the room they’d set up for the birthing. Excitement shot through her and left her fingers trembling and her heart fluttering.

She was going to be a mother.

Her eyes found Alec’s anxious gaze.

They were going to be a family.

• • •

Alec paced the room.

It was too damn hot.

It was too damn quiet.

The wait was too damn long.

Ruadh paced alongside him, his tail flicking with mirrored impatience. The fox always came inside now.

Alec stopped and stared at the door to the room where his wife labored to birth their child. A long, low moan sounded from the other side. It grappled at his heart and squeezed.

Was that a good moan?