by Lucy Kelly
Reeko rushed out of the room then came right back with the large blanket from the bed. Peet wrapped Natalie in the blanket while Reeko was contacting medical. Since Natalie started bleeding, she was in too much pain to make love. So she wore long t-shirts and her mates had started to wear cotton lounge pants she had replicated for them.
Natalie was clutching her stomach and moaning as her mates rushed her to medical. Catherine met them in the medical bay.
“Bring her in here,” she said as she led the way to an examination room. “Put her down on the table. I’ll come and get you once I’ve examined her.”
“Can’t we stay here with her?” Peet asked.
“It would be better if I examined her first. Please wait outside.”
Reluctantly, they left the room. Catherine was worried about the amount of blood Natalie was losing. When she removed the blanket, she saw Natalie’s t-shirt and underpants were soaked with blood. Working quickly, she started cutting her clothes off. She wanted to give Natalie something for the pain but needed to complete her preliminary examination first.
“Natalie, can you tell me when this started?” she asked.
“I started my period the morning after we joined. I guess my body has gone so long without a period, it’s catching up. These cramps are bad; can I have an aspirin or something?” she begged, even as she pushed her hands into her stomach. Another gush of blood poured out of her.
Catherine knew this was more than a heavy period. Her mates usually let her handle examining the women on her own, but she didn’t want to wake Maggie, who was a nurse and normally acted as her assistant. She’d only gotten Makor back yesterday and it was the middle of the night. Still, she was going to need help so she called out for the on-duty medical to assist. Pulling out a scanner, she started running Natalie’s vitals.
Her blood pressure was too low. She was obviously hemorrhaging and Catherine was concerned she might be going into shock. She had stripped Natalie of her clothes, the tampon and pad, and was attempting to slow the blood flow with packing when Rapha arrived.
“She’s going into shock; we need to make sure her blood pressure doesn’t bottom out,” she said, as he rushed in. She would find out later why the on-duty medical called her mate instead of coming himself.
They worked well as a team and soon had Natalie stabilized. Then they took Natalie into surgery to stop the blood flow and save her life. Two hours later, Natalie was resting comfortably and Catherine went into the waiting room to speak to her Ankida while Rapha organized some orderlies to clean up the surgery and examination rooms.
Both Peet and Reeko stopped their pacing when she entered.
“She’s doing fine. She’s sleeping right now. Please, come and sit; we need to talk,” she said, gesturing to a grouping of chairs in a corner. She carried a tablet in her hand and had a stylus to take notes with.
“I’m afraid Natalie has suffered a miscarriage,” Catherine explained.
“What does that mean? Is she going to be alright? Is she dying?” asked Reeko. Coming from a planet that hadn’t seen the birth of a child in over five hundred years, meant they were unfamiliar with the term.
“It means Natalie was pregnant with your child and she lost the baby. She was bleeding too much. You were right to bring her in; she could have bled to death if we hadn’t stopped it,” explained Catherine.
“But you did stop it? She’s going to be alright?” Peet wanted to know.
He and his brother exchanged looks. They were sorrowful their child was no more, but more concerned about their mate. They would mourn the loss later.
“Yes, she is and she’s going to make a full recovery. I can’t find any reason for her miscarriage. It’s not uncommon for a spontaneous miscarriage under certain circumstances. Natalie is a healthy woman, in good physical shape. I need you to tell me everything Natalie has done since you joined. Where has she been, what has she eaten, everything. There are other pregnant women on this ship; we need to make sure none of them lose their babies, too,” she said.
They spent the next two hours going over everything that happened from the time they joined to the next morning when Natalie had begun to bleed. Catherine sent word to the kitchens to have various foods pulled from the menu until she could check them in the lab. She had samples sent over.
Rapha came in to tell them Natalie was awake. They could come in and see her now. The two of them rushed to follow Rapha as Catherine looked over her notes.
To cover all her bases, she needed to make a transmission to the medical facility on KowLer. She got up from the chair in the waiting room and went directly to her office. Just as she was sitting down, Rapha appeared in the doorway.
“My love, it’s the middle of the night. You are also pregnant and you need to rest, too,” he said.
Rubbing her hand over her own burgeoning belly, she realized he was right. “I’m thinking of the possibility of my own miscarriage. Let me just record a message to be sent to the various medical facilities on the planet. I’ll send it to the KowLer’s Health Administration and let them disseminate it. This is too important to wait until morning, and for half the planet below, it’s daytime, anyway. I told Peet and Reeko not to mention the miscarriage to Natalie. She needs to sleep, too. I’d like to put off the explanation until I can tell her why it happened,” she said to her mate pleadingly.
“Alright, I know you won’t rest until you’ve sent the message. Just remember every medical on staff will be working on this. The lab is already testing the foods we took on board from KowLer. We should have those results by early morning,” he said.
She explained her plan to talk to the doctors on KowLer as they walked. She wanted to know of any miscarriages which had occurred there. Rapha agreed with everything she had to say as he gently steered her out of medical and back to their quarters across the hall.
Back in her room in medical, Natalie was feeling groggy. She knew something more serious than a heavy period had occurred. At the edge of her brain, the answer hovered. She wasn’t ready to face it. When Peet and Reeko were shown in, she could see by the look in their eyes she was right. Refusing to ask, so it wouldn’t be acknowledged, she held out her arms. The bed wasn’t large enough for all three of them. Peet sat on the chair facing her and clasped her hand while Reeko spooned her from behind. Soon she was asleep again. Peet gently reached up with his free hand and wiped the tears from her face. He looked over at his brother and saw the same worries reflected there.
“Whatever she needs,” he started to say.
“Yes, we’ll support her and grieve with her,” his brother answered.
****
The next morning, armed with information she’d received from KowLer, Catherine went to give Addie her daily examination. She would bring up the test results at the same time.
“Good morning, Lady Catherine,” said one of the guards at the door to the queen’s quarters. He passed a hand over the door chime to let them know of an approved guest.
“Good morning, Warrior Arno. How is Rachel doing?” she asked.
“She is well, as are the babes. My brother is with her this morning. She has stopped working in the library. She grows tired easily these days. She spends most of her time doing something she calls knitting. Her moods are such, I’ve avoided asking her what it is,” he said with a quizzical voice.
Arjun opened the door to find Catherine explaining something to one of the guards. Arno had become concerned for his mate, so Arjun did not interrupt their conversation. A few minutes later, Catherine finished, patted the warrior on the shoulder and entered the apartment.
“How is she this morning?” she asked as they walked down the hall.
“Addie is well. I’m more concerned about you. I understand you were called out late again. How is your own health?” he asked as they entered the living room, which had become the center of Addie’s existence for the last two months.
“I’m just six months along and I’m only carrying one child.
I’m fine; I should be able to work right up until I deliver.”
She turned to Addie and began pulling out her instruments.
“I do have some news. The emergency last night was Natalie Warren. She has suffered a miscarriage within ten hours of becoming pregnant. I contacted the KowLer and they are also suffering from a higher than normal incidence rate for miscarriages.”
As she continued to speak, she carefully monitored Addie’s pulse and blood pressure. “I’m happy to say you suffered no ill effects from healing Makor and BianCa. While I’m happy you did, I’m also glad you didn’t come rushing into medical last night to try to heal Natalie.”
Addie waved Catherine’s comment aside. She didn’t want to discuss what she had done. She was still trying to figure it out for herself.
“How is Natalie?” she asked.
“As well as we can expect under the circumstances. Even though she had only been pregnant for less than a day, it’s still knocked her into depression. I released her from medical this morning. She’s clinging to her mates. They’ll support each other through this. I gave them some condoms. I don’t want her becoming pregnant again right away. Though her body has healed, her mind and heart need to catch up,” said Catherine.
“You said you had spoken to medicals down on the planet?” Arjun asked, as he watched Catherine run her portable scanner over Addie’s belly, checking on each of the baby’s vital signs.
“Yes, Natalie and her mates joined and most likely became pregnant while down on KowLer. They are gathering information and statistics for me. I hope to hear back from them in a few days. When is Glynnis leaving for HeVan?” she asked.
“She is packing all her things. She doesn’t want to have to move over and over again. So probably in a couple more days,” said Addie.
“Is it possible for her to leave sooner? I only ask because the medical archives on Explorer give very little information on Nephilim pregnancy. I would like to have updated information as soon as possible.”
Rune answered her. “I’ll take care of it. If you think it’s so important, I’ll see that her packing is completed today. Should we abandon Addie’s plan and take both ships on to HeVan immediately?” he asked from the other side of the chair.
As far as he was concerned, everything had been fine before now. Something on KowLer was to blame.
Addie knew he was worried for her and the other pregnant women on the ship. She wasn’t surprised he was arguing that they leave for HeVan immediately.
“I thought of it, but Addie’s presence could be the only thing preventing further miscarriages. Can we really just leave and have the possible fact of millions of women losing their babies on our conscience?” asked Catherine.
She finished her exam, pronouncing Addie and the babies in good health.
Rune’s brows creased as he considered Catherine’s words. She was right, Addie would never forgive them if they took her away and that happened. So he didn’t make any objections when Addie insisted they stay.
****
Many decks below from where Addie was talking with Catherine and her Ankida, in a cabin over the engineering section, BianCa was just waking up. She saw Thors sitting on the edge of the bed trying to scratch an itchy spot on his back. Silently, she moved up behind him and ran her fingers up his back. She felt two indentations on either side of his spine, even with his shoulder blades. She could feel knobby protrusions just below the surface of his skin. Pressing down on them with her hands, Thors let out a long groan. Looking over his shoulder, she saw he’d had an orgasm and shot his seed, hitting the wall by the bed.
“What did I do?” she asked.
Thors reached around and pulled her into his lap. “It’s my mating wings. They are getting ready to break through. That area of my body is hypersensitive right now and will remain so until they erupt.”
“You have a sad look on your face; does it hurt? Don’t you want them to break through? Don’t you want to mate with me?” she asked, getting a sad look of her own.
“Of course I want to mate with you. But I’m a fourth son and only a Commander. You’re a princess,” he said.
“Well, if you mate with me, then you’ll be a duke. You’ll have to stay here on KowLer, though, and act as Proctor for Clan LucenTio,” she explained.
“I would do anything if it meant I could have you, BianCa. Your brother won’t object?” he asked.
“I have already wed once to please my family. I thought I would have to again. I gave myself to you last night as a gift. Only now, I realize having experienced what it means to be with someone I care for, I’m not willing to give that up. I am the Duchess of Clan LucenTio and I choose you as my future husband,” she stated emphatically. She put her arms around his neck and pulled his head down so she could kiss him.
As he bent over, his wings burst forth and they were both flooded with the pheromones released in the small enclosed space of her bedroom.
“There is no place to fly—which is alright, as long as I can join with you. Will you join with me?” he asked in a whisper.
“Yes, Thors, I love you. Can’t you feel my womb weeping with its emptiness? I need you to fill me, only you.”
Thors picked her up as he stood. He pressed her back into the wall as he kissed her deeply. Slowly, he moved his wings back and forth, pushing more pheromones into the room. Wrapping her legs around his waist, he thrust home. Then they began the age-old dance.
****
Once again, King Ben KowLer was awakened in the middle of the night. Worried about his sister, he woke suddenly. He wasn’t going to need to take a dunk in the cold pool this time. When he answered the com link, he was confronted with the head of his world’s Health Organization. After being assured BianCa was doing well―and, in fact, had been healed, he listened carefully to what was being said. His face grew hard at the implications. It seemed Duke LucenTio might be causing problems from the grave.
****
In the afternoon, Glynnis went to see her granddaughter to say goodbye. She didn’t like leaving when she knew there was a crisis on board ship but knew it was more important for her to go. Addie told her to take Cassandra’s parents with her. They had tried for so long to get pregnant; she knew it would destroy them to lose the child. Since they were such a close family, it would work out well and provide a cover for Cassandra being there. Glynnis promised Addie she would say nothing of Cassie’s abilities. Instead, she would make a point of having Cassandra meet as many members of the governing Council as she could. Addie told her to always keep her guardian warriors near. It was a tearful goodbye; however, Addie knew it was the best way to proceed. Glynnis wasn’t happy about Addie going into labor without her and made her promise to come to HeVan as soon as she’d dealt with Malpha.
Chapter Fourteen
Glynnis walked quickly down the corridor toward the Bridge. They had been traveling for six days. She liked this shuttle a lot better than the Explorer. She didn’t get turned around as much, since this ship was only the size of a three-story office building compared to the larger ship. She didn’t need people to show her where things were.
As she walked, she worried about her granddaughters a lot and about where she was going only a little. Some would say she should be more concerned with her upcoming confrontation with Malpha. She wasn’t; she had her Ankida with her. Her Ankida, her three mates—she couldn’t stop smiling, they gave her so much. She was still surprised at getting this second chance at a life. Like those characters in the movie Cocoon, she’d had her genes tweaked. In a way, it was as if she’d taken a bath in the fountain of youth. Instead of looking all of her 85 years, she now looked like a fit and healthy 55. She was glad she wouldn’t revert all the way back to her twenties. It would be uncomfortable to be the same physical age as her grandchildren. She wouldn’t want to deal with all the drama again, anyway.
She was going to enjoy her golden years all over again. Only this time, she had three husbands instead of one and no children to
rear. She blushed, thinking of what they got up to in their bedroom. She’d never―well―she patted her suddenly hot cheeks. She needed to get a glass of water.
Fifteen minutes later, she had herself under control again. In addition to drinking a glass of water, she’d changed her clothes and splashed water on her face. She wasn’t having hot flashes; she was having lust flashes. She hadn’t had sex since her first husband’s death. Now―well, she was making up for lost time. She actually believed she’d had more orgasms in the past three months than she’d had in the last twenty years of her marriage.
It was an exaggeration, and unkind, she thought.
Colum MacTavish and she had had a wonderful sixty years together. If the last twenty years had been more living in companionship than hot sheets, she was as equally to blame as he. She was thinking about her past life and trying hard not to compare it to the life she was living now as she left her quarters and headed back in the direction of the Bridge.
They were going to be landing on HeVan today and she was making plans on how she was going to deal with this Malpha person. She had some ideas.
****
Malpha was alone in her private quarters. It had been another long day and she was beginning to worry. Based on the high-speed transmission she’d received from the KowLer people, the Venger and the Explorer should have arrived weeks ago. She couldn’t understand what was causing the delay. The landing facility had strict orders to contact her as soon as the ships entered orbit. She was thinking about the men soon to be her mates and wondered why it no longer caused her to feel flushed and aroused.
Drinking her brandy, she walked over to a door which led to her bedroom suite. Walking through, she put down her glass and began to remove her clothing. Nude, she picked up her glass again and continued on into the bathroom.
She was so tired. She had been holding this world together since the death of her own mother three hundred years ago.