Alexa's Warrior Mate (Guardian Warrior Mates, Prophecy of Salvation Book 1)

by Bernard, Lynnette

  Sebastian knelt beside her, pulling down the drenched leggings that Lexi wore. Her light blue tunic hung to her thighs, affording her a measure of privacy as he slipped his hand between her legs and carefully pressed the palm of his left hand against her. He could feel the bulge of their child’s head.

  “We will do this together, my love,” he told her calmly. “I will not allow anything to happen to you or our child.”

  “Promise?” Lexi asked him, turning to look at him, her violet eyes pleading.

  He touched her cheek gently with his right hand, his thumb caressing small arcs of tenderness over her cheekbone. Even in pain and filled with fear, he had never seen a more beautiful woman or had been as impressed with anyone’s strength as he was with this woman.

  “You have my vow,” he told her firmly, meaning it with all that he was. He could not allow one bit of doubt within his mind. Lexi was everything to him—his wife, the mother of his child, and the keeper of his heart.

  She searched his face and saw the determination he had to keep them safe. Another pain gripped her, making her clench her jaw and take a deep breath through her nose and exhale through her mouth.

  “I have to push,” Lexi said, gasping as the pain became so intense, she could barely control her body.

  She gave herself over to her husband’s care. He turned her carefully, allowing Jayna to sit behind her on the wide seat against the shuttle wall. He lifted her arms so that her forearms rested on Jayna’s thighs and her hands gripped the young woman’s knees to keep her steady as she squatted.

  Bree knelt beside them, aiding Sebastian in pulling the wet leggings from Lexi’s body. Torin handed her two blankets from the overhead storage. Bree slid one folded one onto the shuttle floor beneath Lexi’s spread legs. She placed the other one on the seat beside Jayna in preparation for wrapping the baby in once she was born.

  “Sebastian,” Lexi moaned as another contraction hit and she squatted forward, pushing with all of her might.

  “I have you, Lexi,” he told her, gently holding his palm against her body to press against their baby’s head and ease their child into the world.

  Lexi bore down, grunting with the effort, and concentrating on opening her body to allow her baby to push free. She drew in a deep breath and pushed again, unable to keep her whimpers silent or her tears from falling. She had never done anything as difficult as this in her life.

  She gripped Jayna’s hands, pulling down on them as she directed every bit of energy she had into pushing her baby from her body. She felt Sebastian’s hands touching her, cradling their daughter’s head, and was relieved to feel his strength and his surety. The pressure he was using to hold their daughter’s head felt right. She didn’t know how she knew, but she did. He was doing exactly what he needed to do to help her birth their child safely.

  She bit her lower lip to keep her scream of pain contained as the baby’s head breached her body. She looked at Sebastian in a panic. She couldn’t do this. It was too hard.

  “You can do this, my love,” he told her gently, his eyes flashing golden as he shared his magic with her.

  The violet flecks within his eyes sparked significantly as he surrounded her with his shield of protection and infused her with the healing ability he had gleaned from a lifetime of experiencing the mystical properties of the clonar stones.

  “Accept the healing I am giving you, Lexi. It is not much, but it will see you through the birthing. I will bring you to the healing pool once our little one is born.”

  Lexi nodded, feeling the warmth of his magic filling her. It wasn’t so much that anything she felt during the contraction and birthing disappeared, but it was enough so that it definitely took the edge off the level of pain. It was exactly what she needed to be able to focus on what she had to do in order to successfully birth their baby.

  She gripped Jayna’s hands tighter, pushed herself forward to be more steady on her feet as she squatted, and took another deep breath through her nose. Bearing down with everything within her, she groaned as she felt her baby slip from her body.

  Looking down between her legs, she saw her daughter cradled within Sebastian’s large hands and was touched by the tender way in which he held her. She panted softly as she fought to control her urge to push again to expel the afterbirth. She needed her daughter to be taken care of first.

  Sebastian drew their daughter to his chest and hugged her gently. Their little girl was pink and healthy, with a full head of dark hair. He wanted to see her open her eyes and look at him—his little girl.

  Bree slipped the second clean blanket beneath their baby and reached for the medical kit that Torin handed her. She opened it and took out the material that had often been used to stitch up wounded warriors. Pulling a length of it from the spool it was wrapped around, she cut two pieces from it with her dagger then tied one around the umbilical cord close to the baby’s belly and the other about an inch from it. Slipping her left hand beneath the blanket to steady her niece, she handed Sebastian the dagger and smiled.

  “Cut your daughter’s cord, Sebastian,” she told him, her eyes sparkling with happiness as she faced him.

  Sebastian took the dagger from her, trusting that Bree had firm hold of his beautiful daughter, and carefully cut through the cord between the ties. Placing the dagger on the deck of the shuttle, he gathered his daughter within his arms and looked down at her sweet face. Despite the blood and birth membranes covering her, he had to admit to himself that he had never seen anything more beautiful in his life—except for her mother.

  He looked up and saw Lexi’s gentle smile as she watched him hold their baby. He leaned forward and kissed his wife’s lips lightly.

  “Thank you for this beautiful gift, my love,” he whispered. “She is just as beautiful as you are.”

  “I think she looks just like you,” Lexi told him, laughing softly at the pride that radiated around him at her words.

  Their daughter took that moment to scrunch up her face and let out a bellow that made everyone smile. He touched her face with the back of his index finger, caressing her cheek and laughing softly as their little one quieted down immediately and opened her eyes to look at him with such awareness, he gasped in surprise. Her beautiful violet eyes with golden flecks were filled with intelligence and power.

  “Hello, little girl,” he told her softly. “Welcome home.”

  Lexi couldn’t have felt more in love with him than she did at that moment.

  Chapter 41

  Sebastian carried Lexi and their daughter down the steps of the healing pool. He settled on the ledge seat and held Lexi within his arms as she held their baby. The clonar stones began to glow brightly, filling the room with the blue radiance of its healing.

  Lexi sighed with pleasure as she rested against his shoulder, smiling down at their daughter as she slept peacefully within her arms. She couldn’t believe that she was actually holding this new life that had come from her body.

  Using the warm water to wash away the blood and birthing fluids from their daughter, Lexi was glad to see their daughter’s skin glow with health. She ran her hands over the baby’s head, cleaning her hair and marveling in the rich beauty of it. It looked like she was going to have dark hair, but you never knew for sure. So many things could change as she grew.

  “I can’t believe she’s really here,” she whispered, touching their baby’s forehead lightly with the tip of her index finger and tracing it down her cheek.

  “I understand what you mean,” Sebastian said quietly. “Nothing prepares you for the moment when you actually hold your child within your arms. It is wondrous.”

  Lexi was quiet for a while, soaking in the happiness and the love that surrounded her little family. She gave herself over to the energy that was filling her and healing her. She would never take the miracles of this world for granted.

  “What should we name her, Sebastian?” Lexi asked, easing back and looking up at him.

  “The honor of naming he
r is yours, my love,” Sebastian reminded her, brushing her hair back from her forehead. He cuddled her to him, loving the way their baby moved against him and rested her hand against his chest.

  “I have an idea, but I want you to help me name her,” Lexi told him, quietly. “I want to include my mother’s name and our names, but I don’t know about her first name. Do you have words from your world that can help me?”

  Sebastian thought about it as he looked down at their daughter. So many thoughts ran through his mind. Naming a child was a very important thing and should not be taken lightly.

  “She is strong. She will be a loving child and a determined warrior,” Sebastian said thoughtfully. “She has great magic within her already.”

  “How can you possibly know that?” Lexi asked, laughing softly.

  “When the Gorin were attacking you and Jayna, our daughter called out to me to tell me that you were being hurt by bad people.”

  “She did?” Lexi whispered, looking down at their baby in awe.

  “She did.” Sebastian caressed their daughter’s tiny head, looking forward to a lifetime of loving this little one. “She also told me that she loved me.”

  “That’s amazing,” Lexi whispered. “I already knew that she loved you, Sebastian. Every time you talked to my belly, she moved and pressed closer to you.”

  “Yes, but to hear her tell me was wonderful.”

  Lexi was filled with love for their child and for the man who felt joy at the love his daughter had for him. Their daughter was truly a gift.

  The baby started to fuss, turning her head and rooting for Lexi’s breast. Sebastian helped her to find Lexi’s nipple, amazed by the beauty of her nursing their daughter. Caressing their baby’s head, he watched as she suckled and drew the milk from her mother’s breast. It was not long before her sucking eased, and she fell asleep.

  Lexi moved the baby to her shoulder, patting her back lightly as their little one cuddled against her. Sebastian traced his finger around Lexi’s nipple, capturing a dribble of milk. He drew it to his mouth and sucked it from his finger.

  “Your milk is sweet,” he told her quietly.

  Lexi moved carefully, offering her breast to her husband. He leaned forward and opened his mouth, carefully licking around her nipple before drawing it into his mouth and sucking slowly. When he hummed with pleasure, Lexi felt her womb tightening.

  “I love you,” she whispered, holding his head against her breast and sighing as he kissed his way up her body to claim her mouth. She could taste the sweetness of her milk and smiled against his lips. “I taste good.”

  “You do.”

  He settled her more securely against him, holding her carefully as she rested. Their daughter moved slightly, her body resting on both of their chests. He caressed her little head carefully, loving the dark tresses of her hair.

  “She looks like you, my love,” he told her.

  “I think she looks like you, Sebastian.”

  “She looks like both of us.”

  “Yeah. She does,” Lexi whispered finally.

  “I am so very proud of you, Lexi,” Sebastian said gently. “You were so brave. You endured great pain at the hand of the Gorin and during childbirth.”

  “I had you to help me.”

  “I will always help you.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that vow, you know.”

  “It is a vow that I make freely. I love you, Lexi Gallagher.”

  “Lexi Gallagher Mathieson,” she corrected him.

  “As you wish,” he conceded.

  “What do you wish, Sebastian?” she asked him, her voice soft as sleep tugged at her.

  “I wish to spend the rest of my life with you and our children,” he told her, caressing her back lightly. “I wish to make love to you, watch you grow with each child, watch as you nurse them and love them, and never be apart from you.”

  Sebastian’s words comforted her and gave her joy. She watched as their baby gripped her daddy’s finger and held on. The bright golden glow of the clonar stones made the water warmer and the room brighter. The magic that grew with each pulsing glow showed her that their little girl was going to be as strong on her own, as she and Sebastian were together. It made sense, really. This little one was a combination of them both. Of course she would glean the gifts that each of them possessed.

  “She’s strong. She’s determined. She’s ours,” Lexi whispered.

  “Imari,” Sebastian said gently.

  “What?”

  “Imari. It means strong and resolute.”

  Lexi looked down at their baby and saw the sweet smile that came to her beautiful face. Everything that needed to be decided was now set.

  “Imari Elizabeth Gallagher Mathieson, we love you so very much, honey,” she whispered, placing a kiss upon Imari’s forehead and settling within Sebastian’s hold.

  She fell asleep cradled within her husband’s arms with their baby snuggled against them both.

  Life was absolutely perfect.

  Epilogue

  “Imari Elizabeth Gallagher Mathieson!”

  Imari froze. It was never a good thing when her mother used her full name. She turned and faced her, taking a soft breath and looking up at her calmly.

  “Mommy, we didn’t do anything bad,” she told her honestly.

  “Really? Then why are your little brothers hiding behind you?” Lexi asked, pointing to the two little boys who were gripping Imari’s shirt and peeking around their big sister’s arms. “Juris Lucas, Kalem Sebastian, don’t hide behind your sister. The three of you are absolutely filthy. I am not pleased.”

  Lexi did her best not to smile, but it was so very difficult. These three little imps gave her such joy. Just knowing that Imari had taken her two little brothers on another adventure made her happy.

  “Juris?”

  “Yes, Mommy?”

  “You’re covered in dirt. What were you doing?”

  “Mommy, we had so much fun,” Juris said excitedly, stepping around his big sister and running toward his mother.

  “What did you do?”

  She knelt down and accepted the excited hug that Juris gave her. She couldn’t help but laugh as Kalem joined them in that hug.

  “Imari took us to Dante and Millie’s farm,” Juris told her happily. “Me, and Kalem, and Imari, and Mikail, and Hanna, and Tarak got to plant taytos.”

  “Potatoes,” Imari corrected him.

  “Right. Potatoes,” Juris agreed. “It was fun. We got to dig in the soil, and plant the potatoes, and cover them with dirt, and water them.”

  Lexi laughed as the words rushed from Juris. He was definitely going to be a farming man just as his name had labeled him to be. It was amazing to her that Sebastian had been able to give her insight into each of their children before they were even born. Each of their sons had been able to connect with him while in Lexi’s womb, just as Imari had.

  She was happy that her children had become close to the other children of their world. Millie and her scientists had each mated and had children of their own, each of them true friends to all of them. Lexi had a feeling that there was going to be love matches among them. She hoped so. She wanted their children to be as lucky in love as she was.

  She turned to Kalem and saw the sweet smile on his face. “And what about you, Kalem? Did you enjoy working on the farm today?” she asked him, laughing softly.

  Kalem was completely honest in his words and his emotions. Sebastian had said that Kalem meant truthful man. That certainly described their third child perfectly.

  “I liked it, Mommy,” Kalem said quietly, nodding his head and sending the curls of his long blond hair bouncing.

  “Did you want to do something else?” Lexi prompted him, knowing her sweet little boy.

  She looked to the left of them, seeing that Jayna was leaning against the stone wall watching over all three of the children. Jayna had been a wonderful protector for Imari. She had naturally accepted each of the boys as her cha
rges, as well. The children loved her. So did she and Sebastian.

  “I liked taking care of the animals with Benton,” Kalem whispered.

  “You are very good with the animals, Kalem,” Lexi told him proudly. “How is Benton, Jayna?”

  “He is wonderful,” Jayna answered without hesitation. “I am very proud of him.” She hesitated a moment, her eyes taking on a faraway look as she thought about the man that she loved with all of her heart.

  “Mommy, did you know that Benton is a warrior like Daddy and Uncle Torin?” Kalem asked, his violet eyes sparkling with excitement, the golden specks within them glowing softly.

  “I did,” Lexi said, touching her youngest son’s hair that was exactly the same shade as his father’s. “Did you know that Daddy, Uncle Torin, and Benton have said that they think that you, Juris, and Tarak will be warriors someday, too?”

  “We will?” Kalem asked, his voice filled with wonder.

  “If you want to be,” Lexi assured him. “I think that Juris will be a good warrior who will have a farm of his own to grow potatoes.”

  “And pornar !” Juris added excitedly. “You like to drink pornar juice, Mommy.”

  “I certainly do,” she agreed, thinking about the juice that had quickly become her one craving during each of her pregnancies. “And, Kalem, I believe that you will be a warrior with lots of animals of your own.”

  “Yes, Mommy!” Kalem agreed, nodding his head as he smiled up at her. “Benton will show me how to care for the animals.”

  “We will have to ask Benton,” Lexi cautioned him.

  “Benton would love to continue to teach Kalem,” Jayna spoke up from her place beside Imari. “He is wonderful with the children, Lexi.”

  “He is,” Lexi agreed, thinking about the strong man with the full beard who was well known for his gentleness with animals and children. His strength and skill as a warrior were also held in high regard within the kingdom. “That’s an important quality to have.”