Hailee POV
"I don't care about rules or marks!" Frederick snarled, his voice breaking through the chaos. His arms tightened around me, his cold strength like iron holding my trembling body upright. "Find a way to save her. Now." The midwife nodded softly as she wrung her hands. The doctors exchanged helpless glances, their instruments gleaming under the light but useless.
And then another contraction slammed into me. My scream filled the chamber as I bowed forward against Frederick's chest. My vision went black at the edges. I couldn't breathe. My heart hammered painfully as though it might stop at any second.
"She's fading," the doctor muttered.
"No!" Frederick's voice roared with command, his composure breaking. His hand cupped my cheek, forcing me to look at him though my eyes were heavy with tears and pain. "Hailee—stay with me. Don't you dare leave me!"