Chapter Four
The last of the excited Preor warriors vanished through the doorway to the stairwell, intent on reaching Preor Choosing Station Tau, which was next door to Preor Tower. Meanwhile, Whelon was intent on getting to Preor Tower’s med bay. No, he believed they called it a “clinic” on Earth. No matter, the intention of the location was the same—to see to the health of Preor and human-Preor mates.
He navigated Preor Tower’s halls with ease, taking the elevator down to the main floor before continuing to the clinic. Once inside, the scent of sterilizer and the bright lights comforted him with their familiarity. Healing centers were all the same, no matter their location. It was easy to turn his mind from the events going on next door and clear his mind of any conflict.
Choosings happen all the time. Why does this one seem to affect me so greatly?
Inside the clinic, Whelon spied a small crowd gathered at the back of the large room, and he was relieved to see the familiar faces of Esteemed Warrior Jarek and Healing Master Chashan standing beside Melissa joi Jarek. She sat upon a ryaapir unit, leaning on a stack of pillows and appearing quite annoyed. He had to smile at the situation. If the female was able to appear annoyed with the fawning men, all must be well with her.
“Healing Master Whelon!” Chashan called out, relief in his tone and his tense features softening. “Will you please tell this female that she needs to stay put and let us examine her properly?”
Whelon smiled as Melissa’s eyes swiveled to him with a warning look.
Smiling warmly, he kept his voice soft as he approached the group. “I know enough by now not to ‘tell’ a human woman anything.”
Female was the correct term for her sex, but Whelon had learned that humans preferred to be referred to as women, not females. Bothersome, as he preferred being accurate, but he would acquiesce to his patients’ desires to be sure of their happiness.
Melissa smiled back, rolling her eyes at both her mate and her healer. “Whelon, will you please tell these men I don’t need to be watched over like an invalid?”
Jarek straightened and his wings ruffled as if her words stung. “Melissa, you fainted this morning. Now is not the time to be stubborn. The health of you and my dragonlet is at stake. If you think I will simply let you walk out of here—”
“Walk!” she snapped and glared at her mate. Whelon did not envy the male at that moment. “With the weight of this child, I don’t walk. I stagger and waddle. Besides, I didn’t faint. I simply felt a bit dizzy. It’s entirely normal in the late stages of pregnancy.”
Whelon stepped forward and gently touched Melissa’s wrist. Yes, he had fancy instruments at his disposal, but sometimes feeling the rush of blood directly through the skin with his own fingertips was a far more useful tool. Through his years as a healing warrior and eventually a healing master, he had learned that bearing females preferred a light touch to a barrage of medical equipment. Even though all of the mated females accepted the medical advancements of the Preor, instinctively they preferred face-to-face contact with their healer. It was even more important to treat them gently at this late stage of pregnancy, when their blood pressure was high, and their patience was stretched taut like their massive bellies.
“Whelon, tell me you’re on my side,” Melissa muttered.
He laughed softly. “I’m always on the side of a distraught woman,” he whispered. “There is no other place to be.” He let go of her wrist and gently rubbed her huge belly.
Chashan frowned, stepping closer to observe Whelon. “I’ve already checked on the baby, Whelon.” Chashan’s words held a hint of annoyance. “I’ve determined that they are well with the very best equipment that human and Preor technology can provide.”
“Of course,” Whelon answered, smiling when his right hand received a strong kick from the dragonlet within its dam. “I wanted to ask the little dragonlet, personally.” He shot Melissa a wink and she smiled back gratefully. “What were you arguing about when I entered?”
“My mate has gone mad,” Jarek stated firmly, crossing his arms over his chest and spreading his wings slightly to affirm his seriousness. “Pregnancy has stolen her good sense. She needs to be in the clinic—”
“I need to go home and rest.” Melissa snapped in return, eyes blazing with fury. Not good for a bearing female. Not good at all. “I’ll rest far better in my own bed!”
Whelon observed with some concern that her heart rate and blood pressure increased with their argument. He could see why Chashan and Jarek wished her to remain, but he also knew she would do far better in her own quarters. He’d argued with human women too many times—and failed in his arguments—to try and do it again with Melissa.
“How about we send you home with a human nurse?” he asked carefully. He would prefer a healing warrior, but mated males preferred to keep other males at bay—especially when their female was bearing. “They can stay nearby or with you at your apartment. It will be someone who can administer immediate care if needed. I’m sure Chashan has told you that your vital signs are slightly… erratic.”
Melissa rubbed her extended belly, staring down at herself somewhat bashfully. “Well… Yes…”
“So, we can let you go home, for now, and you are happy to have a human nurse go with you?”
“Yes,” she grumbled.
Whelon stepped away and Chashan followed, scowl firmly in place. “What are you about here, Whelon?” Chashan whispered furiously. “She needs to stay in the clinic. You know this!”
“I know she will not stay no matter what you say to her.” Whelon whispered back. “She will work herself into an agitated state. She is not at full term yet and we wish for her to reach the full forty
