I leaned in and kissed him, breathing him in. Partly to try to calm his strain but mostly because I needed him to calm me. It all felt surreal. The entire situation. And in moments like that, I felt like I was losing grip on myself. All that was happening was not easy to grasp. After all, teleporting to a new world, falling for a vampire king, getting impregnated by him and getting engaged to be his queen wasn’t exactly on my radar only weeks before back on Earth.
Sensing my rising anxiety, Kane pulled me into his arms. “You are home, and I will ensure that you are safe. Now, let’s get you food. You need to eat and rest more. Indrell will make you more of her mixtures.
I looked up at him, my eyes pleaded for something I was not sure how to put into words. All I knew to say was, “I need something normal.”
His lips brushed against my ear. “Later, once I have spoken to the men and the staff, we will have a bath, and you can teach me more of that music on your device. Just us.”
The thought was nearly intoxicating. “Yes. Please.”
He kissed my forehead and stood. “I shall return soon. Until then, the ladies will take good care of you.”
Indrell opened the door as Sarah and Oberlea came in, giggling as the Voirechoes woman chattered away. Seeing me in the chair, wrapped up, Sarah ran to my side, signing, “Are you unwell? Hurt? Should I worry?”
“She is fine. She needs food and to be tended to. Please see that she gets that.” Kane glanced over at me and smiled before walking the direction the ladies came in.
Wulfgar appeared in the doorway, his eyes on Sarah as she signed away at me. His lips curved up into a smile, but he didn’t interrupt her or try to distract her. He just watched wistfully.
I smiled as Kane watched the raider’s reaction, patting him on the shoulder. “She is a fine woman, my friend. The man who is willing to see past her misfortunes will be very fortunate.”
Both men turned back, watching us. I nudged Sarah, motioning toward the door with a tilt of my chin. At first, she looked confused, but following my line of sight, she quickly looked back, her cheeks stained a deep red. Her reaction completely obvious, which brought a smile to Wulfgar’s face.
Again, Kane patted his friend’s shoulder. The two of them turned, leaving the room, leaving us women to our chattering.
Kane stopped at the door, addressing the two new females in the room, “You will be shown your chambers when I return. Until then, Indrell, tell Sarah what you need if she is not busy aiding Auriena. Then later, she can show you around. The same for you, Oberlea. Assist Auriena with whatever she needs.”
All three women bowed. “Thank you, my liege.” Of course, Sarah signed her reply.
Once the door was closed and it was just us women, Sarah held her hand out to me. I lifted the one in question, knowing exactly what she wanted. Fanning my fingers out, I waited for her reaction. A reaction that was no less than I expected as she took my hand in both her hers and tilted it so she could get a better view. Her eyes wide, mouth agape, she squealed.
I laughed. Not only at how perfectly on cue her reaction was. But a couple of things dawned on me in that moment. First, how some emotions and reactions were more or less universal. Here I was, on a planet who knew how far from my own, and I was seeing the same reaction, the same emotions, the same emotional processes as I was used to in the races back home.
But second, it was not lost on me that I’d spent my life seeing people develop close ties, bonds with people like family and have all of the closeness of friendships that I never even allowed myself to want, let alone had. But there, in that room, I saw that. Especially from the kind, humble vampire that served me but saw me as no less than a friend in return.
I started signing to Sarah, letting her know the news of the babies and how Indrell was helping. I told her of the proposal and how he did it. And I let her know of the horrifying events that transpired and how we came to have so many new people in our caravan home. All of which she eagerly listened to while watching me sign as well.
To my healer, I said, "Indrell, please pay attention as well. I am sure that you and Sarah will be around each other quite often. It would be best for you to learn how she will be speaking as well. You, too, Oberlea."
"Yes. I shall." Indrell's eyebrows went up as if surprised. "I have never seen a mute's language before."
"Sarah can hear and can speak some words. She just has no tongue. So, words are difficult for her. This will ease that burden," I explained.
Sarah signed, "Thank you."
We all started working on signs and chatted as Indrell began mixing the herbal teas to help me with the pains. Then, she went on to apply the tea water as she had been, showing Sarah how it was done, explaining that she should know in case she would need to be the person to apply it someday.
Sarah signed her concern and for how fast the babies were growing.
"Yes. I am." I put a hand on my friend's arm. "But Indrell is a fantastic healer. She will
