She crossed the room without introduction, kneeling down next to me and opening her bag. As she started to pull something out, Kane grasped her wrist. “She is everything to me. Without her, none of you matter.”
For a moment, I saw her jaw flex. But she relaxed, looking up at him with soft eyes. “Then you had better let me help her, haven’t you?”
Kane stood out of the way but behind her, watched her every move and inspected everything she used. "She is with child and fell trying to get away from Gael.”
"I am aware of the fight." The woman spoke airily. "And I am aware of her condition. Everyone here is." She pulled out a large crystal and set it on my abdomen.
He looked annoyed. "Imagine if people just minded their business. I could have just gotten her the necessary herbs and taken her home.”
"My kind is not exactly excited when a vampire brings someone here since usually, the women are in fear for their lives either from the vampire that is keeping them captive or from your kind as a whole. You must be aware that my race holds women on high. Your kind, as a whole, hold nothing on high." She set the crystal under the lounger then rubbed her hands together before holding them over her head, palms facing up. "But Gael should respect who you are. You have shown our people generosity. He is simply more effected, more prone to such violent reactions, since his sister was killed for being in your human's condition, for being impregnated by a vampire."
Kane stood and put his arms behind his back as he paced. He was visibly upset and rightfully so. "Yes, I understand all sides of it. But if his sister was having a vampire's child, why would he want to kill others for the same thing? That doesn't seem like the right motivation."
The woman sprinkled a handful of herbs into a mug of hot water that Thaid brought her and stirred it slowly. "He felt she was forced into the situation. I believe his sister was paying off a debt owed to another vampire. Some woman that was running Everwinter while you were away. From what I understand, his sister could not fulfill a leather order the woman demanded, so, in trade, she was gifted to one of the woman's men for a period of time. And in that time, she became with child. But despite his efforts to show her mercy by bringing her here, the woman came and ended Gael's sister's life... and the baby's." She tipped my head up and pressed the mug to my lips.
Parting them slightly and allowing the mixture to coat my tongue, I swallowed. Laying my head back down, she used her finger to wet my lips with the liquid, followed by my temples, a line across my neck. Then she pulled my top up above my stomach, reaching for a small towel.
She continued, “This woman spoke of the prophecy and how it would ruin us all. Ever since, there’s been a growing number of Emalne that have banded together to stop all pregnancies that have resulted between any race and a vampire. They are not often, as you know. But Gael searches for them. It is as if he’s taking his rage over his sister’s death out on all of those poor women.” She looked up and met Kane’s gaze. “He is trying to hurt every vampire by hoping he’s killing someone he loves. I do not believe that he is concerned with the prophecy. I believe he uses it as a tool to gather allies in his endeavors.”
She went back to nursing me, draping the towel over my hips after lowering my pants quite low and rolling my top up just under my breasts. Kane growled, and I heard Thaid’s footsteps grow distant and the door shut.
Dipping her fingers into the herbal mixture, the Emalne woman painted a swirling design over my skin as she chanted something in her language. Instantly, I felt the pain start to ease.
Turning my head to find Kane, I saw him pace back. When his eyes fell on me, he smiled. But his smile changed when they landed on my belly.
“What?” I tried to look down, but the woman pressed my forehead back, still chanting something softly.
“Your belly,” he breathed.
I started to feel panicked. “What? Is something wrong?”
She huffed. “This would be easier if I didn’t have to fight your emotions.” She went back to her ritual.
I looked back at Kane. His expression held something different once again. If I wasn’t second guessing everything, I would have said it was… bliss.
His eyes snapped back to mine. “Sorry. It’s just that…” He blinked, confusion tugging at his brows. “You’re showing more.”
“Showing more?” I reached to try to cover myself.
“Shhh…” She pushed my arms down.
He knelt down next to the woman and took my hand. “You have the tummy of a woman that is expecting child… round. I saw it when we were with Boutrol, but you were clothed. Seeing it now, bare, it’s…”
“Scary?” I tried to finish his sentence.
“Beautiful,” he corrected me.
My head dropped back, and I sighed in relief. “So, you’re calling me fat?”
“No!” He practically jumped up. “Not. I would never call you…”
I started laughing. “I am just kidding!” I reached out for him. “This explains the pains if it’s growing that fast.”
He took my hand again, his fingers entwining with mine. Kneeling down again, he pressed his lips to my temple next to the herb mixture. “Yes. That it does. And I’m sorry for
