"You are holding your breath in your chest," Alaric corrected gently, watching her tense shoulders. "It will only make the muscle spasms feel worse."
"I know!" she snapped back, her sudden flash of temper flaring through her exhaustion.
Alaric offered her a small, reassuring smile, entirely unfazed by her sharp tone.
"Then stop doing it."
Lin Wan glared at the old man, though her grip on Wei Xiang's hand loosened slightly as the sharp edge of the contraction began to ease.
"You are very annoying right now, Alaric."
"Good," the old physician chuckled softly, taking a fresh linen towel from a side tray. "That means you still have plenty of strength left to complain. It is a very healthy sign."
Nearby, Physician Nessa quickly arranged the glass bottles and rolled bandages on the polished wooden medicine table.
"Everything is prepared for the delivery, Master Alaric."
