Nightmare at the North Pole (Frost & Crowe Mystery #5)

Prologue

I love my husband. I want to make that perfectly clear.

But if he asked me to try some calming breathing techniques one more time while I was trying to give birth to our son, I was going to use my magic to turn him into a giant, necromancer-shaped ice cube.

That felt fair, all things considered. All things being the fact that I was currently not in a position to have a conversation about breathing or anything else due to, you know, contractions.

Jack Jr. was on his way, eighteen days early, I might add, and I was doing my best to bring him into the world.

Along with the help of Dr. Lumi Northwind, who was undoubtedly the calmest one in the birthing suite at North Pole General Hospital. And that was with the snow falling in the suite and the reduced temperature that had Sinclair wearing his coat indoors.

Felt pretty good to me, but I was hot and sweaty and in no mood to worry about anyone else’s comfort.

“All right, Jayne,” she said, her breath trailing out in icy vapor. “You’ve got this. One more big push and Jack Jr. will be here.”

Sweat trickled down my back as the pain started to build again. I needed my husband’s reassurance, even if he was mentioning the breathing techniques too much. I glanced at him, my steadfast, ever-protective Sinclair.

He gave me a reassuring nod. “I’m here.”

I reached for his hand. “I’m not mad at you, I swear.”

“I know. You’re doing great.” He came closer and took it, his gaze filled with a rare sense of vulnerability. “You’ve got this, sweetheart.”

“Thanks,” I panted as another contraction took hold. I closed my eyes, tried and failed to ignore the pain, and bore down. “Son of a nutcracker!”

A cry pierced the air. I gasped for breath.

His royal highness Jack Jr., Winter Prince, second in line for the Winter Throne, had just become the newest citizen of the North Pole.