Chapter Five

 

 

Ystella collected the dishes much to her hosts’ disagreement, but they had provided the food, it was her job to tidy up.

Kenzi waddled in, and she leaned against the counter. “So, why is your name Ystella?”

“Because my grandmother wanted all of our names to start with a Y.”

“May I ask why?”

“You can, but I still haven’t gotten an answer, so I am guessing you wouldn’t get one either.” She smiled.

“Why did your grandmother have so much influence?”

“She is our herd master.” Ystella saw Kenzi’s surprise. “Oh, yeah, women can run the herd. She also ran my grandpa into the ground. Folks said he died with a smile on his face because he didn’t have to go to work in the morning.”

Kenzi covered her mouth. “Oh man.”

“I know. So, are you going to have to run tests on me or something?”

“I think that observing you at this point is the best thing I can do. Do you have a mate?”

The question came out of thin air. “Um, no. I actually ran into your hunter at a matchmaking dance.”

“Did you? How was it?”

Ystella blushed. “It was fine. He was very persistent.”

“He? Wait, Magnus?”

Ystella finished drying the dishes. “Yes. He’s an excellent dancer. He was even able to locate me in the shadows where I was hiding before we took our turn on the floor.”

“But, you danced with him?”

“I did. Like I said, he is a good dancer.”

Kenzi nodded. “You did say that.” She suddenly yawned. “I am off to bed.”

Roman chuckled and came in from outside. “I will help you up the stairs, pet. Ystella, I wish you good evening as well.”

Ystella nodded. “I will just keep myself awake a bit longer. The stars are coming out.”

The other two smiled and wished her a good night.

Ystella wished them the same and wandered outside to try and figure out her place in the universe.

She was out until midnight and still had no answers.

 

With regular shifting, her horn grew to full length in three days. It felt weird. There was a lot of power in that magically hardened horn. It felt like she was walking around with a cannon strapped to her forehead, no matter her form.

When Kenzi came in to breakfast, Ystella paused and slowly turned around. Casually, she asked, “Do you have a doctor or a midwife or a doula?”

“I have a midwife. Why?”

Ystella turned back to the eggs she was scrambling. “You might want to call her. The baby will be here before lunch.”

Roman was spreading butter on toast and a piece of bread ended up crushed in his hand. “What?”

Ystella took the eggs off the heat and tumbled them into a bowl. “She has been in labour since yesterday afternoon.”

Kenzi quirked her lips. “How can you tell?”

Ystella tapped her forehead. “The waves of energy around you have changed. This thing acts like a magical sonar array.”

Roman was staring at his wife, and when the corner of her lips tightened slightly, he realized, “You are in pain.”

Kenzi waved it off. “I have a high threshold but make that call.” She stroked her belly slowly. “Our little one is going to be making an appearance.”

Ystella grabbed a piece of toast and piled eggs on top of it. She ate it quickly. This mother and child were going to need an extra set of hands.

 

The midwife was a shifter council midwife. She was being assigned to some of the higher-ranking balanced couples, and it appeared that she enjoyed the power.

Midwife Heather was wrapped in the security that she could handle whatever happened. She gave Roman strict orders and looked at Ystella with contempt.

Ystella smiled brightly and followed to the bedroom to help Kenzi with her clothing.

The midwife frowned at her. “What are you doing?”

“Helping a friend. You can either assist me, or we can have words that are four lettered and very to the point.” Ystella smiled softly.

The midwife blinked. “What?”

Kenzi chuckled. “I want Ystella here.”

“She will get in the way.”

Ystella laughed. “I have attended over nine hundred births. Thirteen of them were human. I know what to do.”

The midwife blinked. “Right. As long as you stay out of my way.”

“I will work the head and shoulders. You can do the rest.”

The deal was struck, and soon, Kenzi’s contractions took over.

Roman came in and held Kenzi’s hand, swearing that one child was more than enough. Kenzi rolled to the side and slapped his cheek. “I say when we stop having kids.”

He leaned back and smiled slightly. “Yes, Kenzi.”

Ystella sat with her hands on Kenzi’s shoulders, and she kept the soon-to-be mother’s energy from draining.

Kenzi gave her a look through sweaty lashes. “Thanks for that.”

Ystella smiled. “You have had some trauma in the past. This will heal it if you survive it. I am trying to make that happen.”

Kenzi nodded. “I know. Thank you.”

Anything else that would have been said was lost in a rush of activity as the little wolf-merman made his way into the world.

Ystella stayed by Kenzi’s head, and she concentrated on sending the rejuvenating magic through her friend from head to toe. The golden wash of energy patched every injury in her body and soul as it ran through her and down to her feet. When Heather handed over the baby, she was healed.

Kenzi sighed and leaned back. “I wish you could bottle that.”

The midwife was blinking. “What just happened?”

Kenzi jerked her head toward Ystella. “Wild unicorn.”

Heather was still tidying up down below, and her head jerked up, staring at Ystella. “That can’t be. There hasn’t been a sighting in seven hundred years.”

Ystella shrugged. “Then I guess that can’t possibly be what I am.”

Heather blushed.

Ystella helped clean up and left the new parents alone. She went downstairs and prepared lunch for everyone. A new mom needed to eat.

Heather came down looking slightly deflated. “Thank you for that.”

“What?”

“She was losing blood and energy. I don’t know what you did, but I know you did it.”

“I took power from nature and used it to heal her. It was a simple energy transfer.” She set out the platter with sandwiches and prepared a tray for the new family.

“You didn’t take anything. That all came from you. My skill is to track energy patterns. It is what makes me so good at my job. You powered that entire healing from within.”

Ystella smiled brightly and hefted the tray with food and beverages. “Of course, I didn’t. This was all you. Have a sandwich and some tea. I will be back in a moment.”

The new couple was glowing with happiness, and their son was looking up at them with swollen eyes. He was still fluffing out.

“I brought you something. You need to keep your strength up. You have quite a recovery ahead of you.” She set the food on a side table.

Kenzi smiled. “I feel fine.”

“I wasn’t talking about you. Roman had three nervous breakdowns during delivery. I am just happy you both made it out okay.”

The new family laughed softly together, and Kenzi went to feed the new arrival.

Ystella asked Roman, “You have contacted your family?”

“They are on their way.”

“Good. I will contact the council and tell them what I have decided.”

Roman blinked. “You are leaving?”

“I am. My parents met and wed at the Crossroads, and being around the baby has made me broody. If I have to start a family of my own to be surrounded by my own blood, there is no time to waste.”

Kenzi cocked her head. “Is that an actual impulse?”

“Horse’s don’t live alone. This unicorn isn’t a fan of it either. I want to be surrounded by me and mine, so it is off to the Crossroads to set that plan in motion.”

Roman smiled. “I wish you the same luck that we have had.”

“I wish me that, too.” She winked, gave them each a careful hug, stroked the forehead of the new arrival while he found his first meal, and then, she left.

Heather was downstairs and having lunch and tea. Ystella cocked her head. “Can you contact a transporter for me?”

Heather swallowed and nodded. “Sure. Why?”

“I want to go to the Crossroads.” She nodded and reached for a sandwich of her own. “The finances will be a little tricky, but it is my next move.”

“I think the shifter council might cover it.”

“Why would they?”

“If you are a wild unicorn, the chances are that you could have another one of your kind. The world needs more magic, and you are how it gets here.”

Ystella smiled. “How do you know that?”

“I studied mythical shifters and their peculiarities. We are desperate to see more of them in the population. It is part of the reason that the fey have been welcomed so readily. The combination of bloodlines is bound to produce something new.”

“So, the shifters are counting on mutations?”

“We are counting on magic.” Heather fished her phone out of her purse. “I am going to make that call.”

Five minutes later, Ystella had an appointment to go to the Crossroads.