Christine Feehan - Dark Celebration 17

moment, that that is Gregori in that sleigh.»

Even as «Santa» finished handing out presents, Gregori appeared at the back of the room, frowning at his lifemate. «Savannah! Why in the world are you dressed like that? What do you think you're doing?»

Children giggled when Savannah turned around with a mock guilty look on her face. She held a finger to her lips and made a little face. «I've got to go, and I'll have to bring down the curtain on St. Nick before I do. We wouldn't want to reveal his secrets to the entire world.»

Santa Claus gathered up his sack and hurried over to the fireplace. Although the flames burned hot, he simply disappeared up the chimney. Another gasp of awe spread through the room.

«Savannah makes magic wherever she goes,» Jacques agreed. «Those children will never forget this night.»

Savannah waved her wand just as the footsteps overhead indicated St. Nick was climbing back into the sleigh. He swung his black boots expertly over the edging and picked up a long whip, cracking it over the head of the reindeer. They took to the air. The sleigh and bag of toys, now considerably less filled, lifted into the air and glided away to the sound of Santa's laughter.

Another ripple of pain slid maliciously through Shea's body. Her fingers clamped down hard around Jacques, even as she breathed slowly in an effort to control it. This time the pain was hard enough and lasted long enough to make the other Carpathians in the room fully aware that she was in active labor. Heads turned. Warriors, lifemates and even some of the children turned their attention to her.

Shea tried a small smile and nodded. «It is time. Where is Slavica? I must thank her for such a wonderful evening. It was filled with delightful surprises.»

Francesca and Mikhail with several others closed rank around Shea.

«We need to get you to the birthing chamber now,» Francesca declared. «We can do this, don't be afraid.»

«I'm anxious, but not afraid. Jacques won't let anything happen to us, will you?» Shea asked, holding her lifemate's gaze.

«Not a single thing. This is going to be a beautiful, unforgettable birth,» he assured her.

Shea took a few more steps toward the door and stopped, one hand pushing at her hair to get it off her brow as the swelling pain tightened across her stomach and down through her back. «Do you realize the latest report on babies is that they are sitting in a terrible chemical brew, just the way the animal and bird young have been doing, which is what is putting so

many species on the endangered list?»

«Shea,» Jacques cautioned. «Now isn't the time to think about that.»

«No, Jacques. We all have to think about it.» She gasped as the pain rushed over her, stealing her breath. She grit her teeth and recited statistics. «Cord blood reflects what the mother passes to the baby through the placenta. Of the two hundred and eighty-seven chemicals detected in umbilical cord blood, one hundred and eighty of them are known to cause cancer in humans or animals, two hundred and seventeen are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and two hundred and eight cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. And I'm quoting a report done by an environmental group out of Washington,» Shea added, taking a breath as the pain subsided. «Everyone should be paying more attention to it. Among the chemicals found in the cord blood were methylmercury, produced by coal-fired power plants and certain industrial processes. People can breathe it in or eat it in seafood and it causes brain and nerve damage.»

«Shea, our baby isn't going to have brain or nerve damage.»

«You haven't read this report. The researchers also found polyaromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which are produced by burning gasoline and garbage; flame-retardant chemicals called polybrominated dibenzodioxins and furans; and pesticides including DDT and chlordane.»

«I don't know what half those things are,» Jacques said, trying to soothe her. He ran his hand over her arm, but she shrugged him off.

«That's exactly why no one listens. Because they don't know what it is, they figure they don't have to pay attention.» Panic filled her voice. «I know that's what's been happening to our children. We're so connected to the soil and the earth has become so toxic that we're now on the endangered species list as well.»

«It's time to go,» Jacques urged.

Get her out of here now, Mikhail ordered his brother. We cannot afford to have her overheard by the villagers.

It is her way of coping with pain and fear, Mikhail.

I am aware of that, Jacques.

«I have to thank Slavica first,» Shea insisted, fighting back another swelling pain.

Mikhail leaned down to whisper to Raven. «Find her fast. We need to take Shea out of here before anyone else figures out what is happening.»

«She's coming now and she has that older woman from San Francisco with her,» Raven said, relief in her voice.

Mikhail swept his hand to help part the crowd, making it easier for Slavica and the woman to make their way across the room.

Raven hurried to them. «Shea has gone into labor and we need to take her home. She wants to quickly say good-bye and thank you for the lovely evening, Slavica,» she said. «And of course, say a quick hello to you, Ms. Fitzpatrick. She's been waiting to meet you.»

«I'll just wish her good luck, then, dear,» Eileen said, leaning heavily on Slavica, using her cane to feel her way, her body bent slightly as she hobbled toward Shea and Jacques.

Aidan, standing across the room, frowned as the woman halted in front of Shea and stretched out her hand toward her.

«Finally. It is so good to meet you, my dear, and at such an eventful time.» She tapped the floor with the cane twice, judging the distance between them. «I'm afraid I have to wear these terrible dark glasses and I'm having trouble seeing you. I was hoping you would have an unmistakable family resemblance.»

Warriors. Using the common link of communication, Aidan called out to the others, his voice echoing his alarm. This makes no sense. The woman I met in San Francisco is the same as this one, but different. Old, yet not elderly. She walked spryly with a spring in her step and not at all bent. He was already moving, trying to use his speed to get through the crowd to Shea.

At once there was a stir as the men rushed toward Shea.

Jacques stepped in front of his lifemate as Eileen swung the cane straight up from the floor, stabbing at Shea's rounded stomach. Manolito, who had positioned himself closest to the couple, shoved Jacques aside and took the sharp needle buried in the cane deep in his abdomen. He stood for a moment staring at the mild-looking old woman, noting the nearly blind eyes and the wrinkled face. For a moment she wavered in his vision and he could see another face superimposed over hers, a face bearing long rake marks and torn eyes from a harpy eagle.

The creature from the burrow. She has been possessed. Manolito gasped. The mage dwells within the same body as the old woman. His body had already gone numb, and agony ripped at his chest as his heart seized. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, his eyes glazing over as the air stilled in his lungs and his heart ceased to beat.

Across the room, MaryAnn grabbed her chest with both hands to still the sudden twisting pain spreading through her body. Her legs went out from under her and she sat down abruptly. As suddenly as the pain started, it ended, leaving her feeling empty and lost, grieving, but for what-she didn't know.

Rafael leapt to his brother's side, crouching over the dead body, reaching with his spirit to force air through lungs, and blood through an uncooperative heart.

Mikhail and Jacques dragged Shea back, thrusting her behind them. Other hands caught her and thrust her even further away so that they made a wall of warriors around her. The cane arced toward Raven.