“What in the stars was that?”
Cautiously peering through the strands of my hair, I studied the group surrounding me. They were as stunned as I was.
“Have you ever done that before?” Xylo asked, voice awed.
“Never.”
“Let us get you checked out then.”
I tucked my hair back behind my ears as Xylo turned toward the group in the doorway.
“Selena needs her communicator activated, and I would like to use the infirmary’s equipment. I want to show her the images of her offspring. Perhaps we will be able to figure out what species the sire is.”
The group parted as Xylo walked past them into the infirmary. I scrambled to catch up to him.
As we neared an examination table surrounded by equipment, I halted in my tracks. My heart raced as fear pounded through me. My fingers trembled and I began hyperventilating. I closed my eyes, fisting my hands in my gown.
“Selena?” Xylo whispered.
Movement sounded behind me, and I flinched. A low, rolling growl vibrated through me.
“Chyox. Stop. She is scared,” Xylo ordered.
The room stilled, only my growl and the soft beep of machinery to punctuate the silence.
“Selena. Everything will be all right. Open your eyes. We are not going to hurt you. I promised, remember?” Xylo’s mental voice was comforting.
Shuddering as tears leaked from my tightly closed eyes, I forced myself to get my breathing under control. The growling gradually ceased.
I opened my eyes.
Xylo’s hands reached out as if he wanted to reassure me but was uncertain of my reaction to his touch.
I turned to survey the room, backing up until I ran into something hard. Not wanting to take my eyes from the others, I reached down to see what I’d run into—the examination table.
“Everything will be fine, Selena. We are not the Yaarkins. I will not allow anything you do not want to happen to you,” Xylo’s deep voice soothed.
I eyed the other three Circuli and winced as another loud hiss escaped.
I shook my head to clear it. What was with these weird noises? Why was I reacting like this? I turned and looked at Xylo. Okay, so maybe there were things we really needed to figure out.
“I just want to figure out what’s going on. Make sure that we are all healthy...” My hand crept up to cover my belly protectively.
Xylo glanced at the other three, then met my gaze with reassurance in his teal eyes. “Would it be all right if I had assistance? They are the medical specialists and would be a great help.”
Taking in a deep breath, then releasing it slowly, I nodded as I came decision. “Yes. I want the best for my children—but I want you in charge. I only trust you.”
A dazzling smile appeared on Xylo’s face. I stared, entranced.
“Thank you. I promise we will only do what you are comfortable with and will explain everything as we proceed.”
Xylo folded back the white blanket on the exam table and assisted me as I climbed up. After I laid down, Xylo pulled the blanket up and adjusted the table until I was in a sitting position. The others took this as a sign to join us.
“I can activate her communicator first,” the Ulax Xylo had called Chyox spoke up.
“Perhaps you could first introduce yourselves?” I interjected wryly.
The Ulax looked at Xylo, then turned back to me. “I am Senior Healer Chyox. The Wudox beside me is my assistant, Usthu and the Ulax behind me is Hatchery Manager Ayces.” His eyes roamed over me before he locked his violet eyes on mine. “If I am to assist Master Scholar Xylo, I request you restrain yourself. I do not wish to be attacked again.”
Senior Healer Chyox was light-green striped with a darker green and gray. He had gray anemone-like hair and violet irises surrounding black pupils. His assistant, Usthu, was darker green with purple and maroon swirls. Hatchery Manager Ayces was light blue with yellow speckles and bright green eyes.
“I wouldn’t call it attacking but defending. I can hardly be blamed for reacting when you crept up on me in the wash facility,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.
Senior Healer Chyox glanced grudgingly at Xylo and let out a huff.
“She is right, and I have observed human females are easier to scare. You should respect her wishes,” Xylo advised.
“It must be due to their singular lack of defensive—”
“Please disregard Senior Healer Chyox,” Hatchery Manager Ayces interrupted. “We will respect your feelings. It will be an honor to assist you, Master Scholar Xylo with regards to this female human and her offspring.” Sincerity filled his gentle tenor voice.
“First off, I’m not ‘this female human.’ My name is Selena. See-leen-ah. Second, can we use first names? I’m sure you all know what positions you each hold, and those full names are a mouthful. Not to mention, I don’t see the point other than to emphasize one person’s authority over another.” I rolled my eyes. “Xylo. Chyox. Usthu. Ayces. Selena. It would be much simpler.”
“Seleenah is right. We should call her by her name, and we can dispense with the titles,” Usthu agreed.
Ayces nodded.
Chyox sourly inspected his colleagues before answering with a sniff, “I will agree to these terms. Our ship has not had any pregnancies yet or offspring born... assisting Xylo with Selena’s pregnancy would give us experience outside our species.”
Xylo and Chyox were careful to explain each piece of equipment as it was needed, and I didn’t sense any animosity between Xylo and the others. The four of them worked well together. Chyox activated my communicator, and Xylo injected a booster spray that he said would supply updated vaccines and vitamins helpful for my pregnancy.
Chyox pulled a large, thin, transparent screen attached to the side of the exam table across my stomach and turned it
