“Kane,” I squeezed his hand. “I love you.” I wanted to tell him it was okay, but it wasn’t in his mind. And I knew that nothing I said would change that. He wanted forgiveness. So, forgiveness is what I gave him.
“I love you, too.” His attention shifted to the woman. “I want to discuss this more, but will she be alright?”
“Yes.” Her fingers ran over my abdomen once again with more of the mixture. This time, distorting the original pattern into a new one. She placed a hand on my belly. "They are fine... healthy... growing fast. She will need help with the pregnancy constantly. The pain will continue." She wet the cloth with the warm tea and soaked my stomach completely with it. She then used another dry towel and cleaned it off before she pulled my top back down and pulled something else out of her bag that I could not see. "My apologies. I was not aware that you were this protective of her."
“Yes. With my life.” He looked relieved. "Would you be for hire? I would pay you handsomely. I need the best care for them. I cannot provide what you do." It looked like it hurt him to admit what he did to her.
The Emalne glanced to Thaid who was stationed by the door and nodded in return. She turned back to Kane. "I would be honored to be of service to you and your human partner." She went back to work. "We will need a lot of herbs, and I may need another person's help if this drains her too much. I gather you want this human's life saved as well? Or is she disposable? If so, then we would need less."
His eyes lit with anger. "I am sorry. Did I not make myself clear? I am protective of Auriena and my offspring. No lives will be lost between them, at all costs." He looked from her to me. "The human is not disposable. She will be your queen if she chooses it."
My eyes went wide. So much flooded my mind with those words, but nothing more came out of me that a gasp as my breath caught in my throat.
“Then I would need quite a supply and an assistant at times.” Leaves from a small branch grazed over my entire abdomen before she returned it and the crystal to her bag, closing it and standing.
Kane nodded as if making a final decision. "I would be happy to hire you and provide anything you will need. I would like to take her back to my kingdom as soon as she can travel again. There, her handmaiden is waiting, and she can assist you in whatever way she is needed." A quick exchange is shared between he and Thaid in expressions, and Kane adds, “You will be under our protection. No harm will come to you while under our employ.”
"If you accept, I will start to gather the supplies you will need." Thaid spoke from the doorway. "This, King Rathmore, is indeed an honor. I congratulate you on the continuation of your bloodline, despite such difficulties."
The Emalne woman thought for a moment, leaning down and taking my hand in hers as she exhales. "My name is Indrell. I will also need a few things from my home. They are all in a chest in my room. Please have someone fetch that. I will not leave her side.” She spoke to Kane but looking at me as if studying something.
“Right away.” Thaid didn’t wait for further instruction and opened the door, ordering one of the men to fetch the items requested.
Now, speaking to me, she smiled, “May I have your name… from you?”
“Auriena.” I answered her question of my name.
“I gather, since this is all fairly new news for you that you do not have names for them yet? If not, you will want to decide fast. You will not have the same amount of time as my race does or other humans.” Placing her hand on my forehead, she closed her eyes and nodded. Opening them again, she said, “This human is different. Her energies are strong. They are fueling the process and keeping them alive, but it will only do so much. Your blood is in her veins, keeping her strong as well. Something about the bond between you two is special. I can feel that. This is certainly not a typical pregnancy... you being vampire aside."
Kane tossed the man some gold and walked back to my side. He eyed Indrell for a long moment. "I am trusting you with her care. How long do you think she has? And what are you feeling that is different? Is it because of her magic?”
He hadn’t spoken to anyone of my gifts. On Naelyra, magic was a given. Anyone could wield the energies. Just, not like I could. So much about me being there and what I could do was dangerous to tell people about. I was surprised he told her anything.
Watching Kane’s expression, she pulled away from me. "She has a couple of months before giving birth I would think. But I know not of her race. Her energy signature is different. So, I cannot be certain. If her magic is something not of this world, that could change a lot."
Wulfgar appeared in the doorway, moving Thaid out of his way. “Kanedraven? Auriena?”
“Who is this man that greets you so casually, my liege?” Thaid pushed his way back in.
“I am fine. We are both fine.” I waved him in.
He looked around the room, taking in the scene. “Not all appears as if all is fine. There is a crowd. Part of the structure is damaged. There is blood. And you are on your back with someone attending to you.
