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"Nina!" Jared yel ed, running to me He slid on his knees and released me from the restraints, and then slipped his backpack fro out supplies

Before I could speak, the overwhelulfed me I wailed, but I wouldn’t push

Jared checked between , sweetheart Push"

I shook my head "She’s dead"

"I know, but you have to push"

"I can’t"

Jared smiled "Yes, you can You’ve done so wel "

I peeked at Ki for him"

Jared touchedhappen to him"

"They abandoned us," I cried

"Who?" Jared said, laying out sterile cloths

"Heaven! Where are they? Where is Saain

"Nina, push!" Jared said

"They’l kill hirabbedme as I panted "I won’t let that happen We wil protect hiether"

Tears wel ed up in my eyes "I don’t know if I can"

"You can, and you wilNow, push!"

I nodded and pushed myself up on the heels of h it My voice was low and gruff and I grunted, using all of th

Claire and Bex ju Kiainst the door They walked over to her Claire gently shut her eyes, and then she rushed over to ot on her knees behind me, and hooked her elbows under my arms

I stared at Kiht "Don’t look, honey"

I wailed, ht "I’m so sorry I’m so sorry," she repeated, over and over

Ryan leaned against the opposite wal , his rifle in hand, tears drawing clean lines down his dirty face

"Could you grab a cloth and wipe her forehead?" Claire said Ryan didn’t hesitate, digging through the pack and then patting down ers and then kissed an to speak, but the urge to push caain, so I heaved I pushed so hard thatseemed to help, so I did I yel ed, and screamed, and cried out I cried for Kim, and for the pain, and for fear of ould happen once Bean was vulnerable

Jared held openknees "You’re almost there, Nina"

Just as he said the words, the baby seemed to spil out of hed out loud, in shock, holding his blood-covered child in his arainst the cushion, and then she assisted Jared in cleaning off the infant and cutting the cord

Bex pushed his back against the door "We’ve got soht froripped his rifle, and Claire stood "Oh ion"

Chapter Twenty-One

Mother

There is a distinct difference between the ability to create life and the innate need to protect it, to cherish it Appreciating that life is the one being you love most in the universe becolect all else to preserve it

Thecar, the eneric peaches when the last bit of food isn’t enough to share, the mother that wears a ratty dress to work so that she can keep much-needed shoes on those tiny, precious feet…that is the distinction of a mother’s love: self-sacrifice

The ooey baby in Jared’s ar else mattered Not even me

"Is he okay?" I asked

"Uhyeah She’s okay"

"She?" I said, stunned I had preparedthat could happen when I delivered A girl was not one of theirl?" Claire squealed

"It’s a girl?" Bex groaned

Jared wrapped her in a clean blanket, and careful y lifted the tiny bundle to look into her eyes He had no expression except for the smal est hint of a smile His eyes focused onon the ile, priceless, precious treasure in existence

I nestled her in the crook of ht I had sacrificed see and everyone in ent My life was simply an extension of the tiny, soft, innocent wonderment before me I kne mil ions of other wo, and so courageous My heart was no longer on the inside of my body It was in my arms

"Jared?" Bex said With one hand he held the door closed, with other, he gently slid Kiainst the wal

A loud bang vibrated the wal , and Bex flew back, skidding across the floor The door blew open, and creatures filed into the roo A foul odor fil ed the room, and I heldoff any deh to his family

Everyon the opposite wal from the door exploded Jared covered us with his body to shield us frolass When the dust cleared, Sa next to a familiar face in ful armor

"Michael," Jared breathed, stunned It was Isaac’s father; his entire arels behind him

The demons snarled and shrieked

"You shal not touch this child," Michael said, drawing a long sword

"Co his arms "We welcome Hel ’s most terrible wrath!"

The demon that had taken me from the Sepulchre lifted his head and bleated, and then led a charge into the street