The decision was made for him. “They’re fine, Rhyasha,” he said, putting an arm round her and drawing her back until she rested against his chest. Then he told her it all.
She listened in silence, but he could feel her rising anguish and fear for their son.
“How could you ask that of him! Don’t you realize that if he leaves, he won’t get back his Link to Carrie?”
“That’s not very likely, Rhyasha,” he said gently. “We had no option but to ask him to go. We need to know why Kezule left K’oish’ik. There’s unrest on the Prime world and it might affect our treaty with them.”
“But to send him into Kezule’s claws, Konis! What were you all thinking of? He eats living creatures! He tortured our bond-son Dzaka, kidnapped Kashini! It was a miracle Kitra and Dzaka were able to stop him trying to return to the past to change our history! Vartra knows what Kezule will do to our son!”
“We need to know what’s happening on the Prime world,” he repeated firmly. “Kusac’s in the Brotherhood, missions like this are what they do. We didn’t put any pressure on him, I promise you. It was almost as if he wanted to go.”
“Want to go? Why would he want to go?” she demanded, pulling away from him. “What could Kezule possibly have that would interest our son? And is it really so important that he has to steal a ship and be branded a criminal and a traitor? Who’s going to believe that rubbish about returning to the Primes because of the torture he suffered?”
“Everyone will,” he said quietly. “Because that’s what Rhyaz will tell the newsnets when they find out.”
“The ‘nets?” she moaned, closing her eyes and slumping back against the back of her daybed, clutching her belly. “Not the ‘nets, Konis!”
“Because of her feud with Stronghold, General Raiban will try to use this as an argument to have us integrated with the Forces.”
“Then make Lijou play it for sympathy, Konis! He’s our friend, he can do it even if Rhyaz won’t! You realize they’ll all be looking for Kusac? The Forces and the Brotherhood? His life could be at risk!” She stopped abruptly, her arms tightening over her belly as her eyes widened in shock.
“What’s wrong?” demanded Konis. “You haven’t gone into labor, have you?”
As she doubled up moaning, he held onto her with one arm while using his wrist comm to call Vanna, inwardly cursing himself for telling her.
Behind him, the door opened as Taizia came in at a run, her mate Meral remaining hovering outside, waiting to see if he was needed.
“Mother? Are you all right?” she demanded, leaning over her.
“It’s too soon!” Rhyasha whimpered. “They can’t come yet! I’ve a month still to go!”
Taizia beckoned Meral in as her father finished speaking to Vanna. “Father, we need to get her to Vanna. Let Meral help you.”
*
As soon as Rhyasha came round from the anesthetic, they took her from the recovery room to the infants’ IC ward to see her cubs. Lying on the soft bedding of the incubator, attached to drips and ventilators, the tiny cubs looked fragile, as if not long for the world.
Supported by Konis, she rested her hands on the transparent cover, tears running unheeded down her cheeks. “They’re so small, and I can’t even touch them!”
“They’re not as bad as they look, Rhyasha,” said Vanna gently, stroking the older female’s hair. “They’ll only be on the ventilators for a day or two as a precaution. Although they’re premature, they’re both healthy.”
“You’ve two grand little lads there, Rhyasha,” said Jack. “We wouldn’t lie to you. The next day or two will be worrying for us all, but there’s no reason for anything to go wrong.”
“They’ll be fine,” reassured Konis, folding her close. “Come away now. You should be in bed resting. You’ve just had major surgery.” He tried to urge her away and when she resisted, he solved the problem by lifting her carefully into his arms. “You must rest,” he said as he carried her out of the room. “I’ll stay with you.”
His heart ached for her as he shared her distress. She felt beaten, knowing there was nothing she could do for either her cubs, or Kusac. It cut him like a knife to feel her brought this low.
Noni’s cottage, Dzahai village, Zhal-S’Asha, 18th day (October)
The room seemed to lurch as he looked at the newborn cub in Noni’s arms, unsure what to do or say.
“She’s yours, Tallinu,” the familiar old voice said. “Your daughter. Take her from me, for Vartra’s sake! Let her know you accept your child!”
He reached down to take the child from her, holding the little one awkwardly in his arms.
She gave a soft mewl, mind and hands reaching out for him. He offered her a finger and she took it, holding onto him firmly as she began to purr. He was totally unprepared for the flood of emotions that rushed through him as he stroked the tiny brown-furred hand. Gathering her closer, he laid his face against her tiny head, taking in her scent, bonding to her. Suddenly, this cub he’d tried so hard to avoid conceiving because of his love for her mother, was even more precious.
“A daughter,” he said, looking over to where Carrie lay, exhausted from the birth. “We share a daughter.”
Dawn’s light, streaming in from the small window in Noni’s main room, blinded him.
“I know,” she said, her voice tired but holding a purr beneath the words.
He moved his head out of the autumn sunlight in an effort to see her clearly. As he blinked, his vision cleared— and the images he’d seen so many times were gone, replaced by reality.
Lowering his face to hers, he gently licked their cub’s cheek. Their daughter stirred in his arms as he moved closer to the bed, sitting down beside her. Leaning forward, he passed her to Carrie, watching as she cradled the still damp mewling cub against her breast.
“She’s beautiful,” he whispered, stroking the hair from her sweat-drenched forehead. “Which name shall we choose, Dzinae?”
“Layeesha,” she said, her voice faint as her face creased again in pain. “Noni…”
“Hush, child,” said Noni, pressing gently on her still distended belly. “Tallinu, take the cub from her and clean her up, if you please. ‘Tis only the afterbirth, child.”
“I’ll do that, Noni,” said Teusi quietly, moving closer. “You go call T’Chebbi, then Stronghold to tell Kusac the good news.”
Noni glanced at her apprentice and nodded. “Aye, it’s about time you did more, Teusi,” she said, turning and heading for the sink to wash her hands first.
“What did you want me to do?” asked Kaid.
“Just take the cub before she drops it,” said Noni tartly. “Clean her down and wrap her in the blanket you’ll find in the crib. Dammit, Tallinu, you did it with Kashini, didn’t you? And here I was believing you when you said you’d studied birthing!”
“I did,” said Kaid, carefully taking the slippery cub back from Carrie. “But that was books and vids, this is our daughter.” Even he could hear the pride in his voice.
Noni looked over at him and laughed. “Ah, you have the same besotted look on your face as any new father! Long is the time I’ve waited to see that look, Kaid Tallinu, and be made a grandmother again by you!”
He grinned sheepishly as he took the soft towel Teusi held out to him. “Would I spoil your pleasure, Noni?” he asked, spreading it across his lap then laying his daughter on it so he could gently wipe her face and body.
Stronghold
“Konis is here, Noni,” said Lijou when she called him. “Would you like to give him the news yourself?”
“What’s the Clan Lord doing there?” she asked, surprised. “With two new sons of his own, I’d have thought he’d be home looking after them and that pretty life-mate of his!”
“Business,” said Lijou briefly.
“Let me speak to Kusac.”
“I’m afraid Kusac’s in a strange mood and won’t speak to anyone right now. He’s shut himself up in one of the seniors’ common rooms. I
really think you should talk to Konis.”
“I’ll tell Kusac,” said Rhyaz, getting up. “It’s me that’s sending him on this mission.”
“I should be the one,” said Konis tiredly.
“You’ve already done more than enough,” said Rhyaz. “I know how difficult this is for you.”
Noni’s cottage
Teusi joined Noni at the table, leaving Carrie to feed her cub in peace. “She’s still very large, Noni. Is that normal?” he asked quietly, accepting the cup of coffee she handed him.
“You think so too? I been wondering about that myself these last few weeks. Thought it was just she was carrying a lot of fluid. Let’s wait and see what happens, shall we?”
“Should I get the aircar ready to take her to Stronghold?”
“Might be a good idea,” she said. “Have your drink first, though. Depends how immature the second cub is. I’ll warrant it’s not from the same pairing as Layeesha.”
“If we go to Stronghold, will Tallinu be a problem, given that Kusac’s there?”
“He’ll be too worried for her to care, which is as well because he’s still mad as fire about that row they had.” She wagged a finger at him. “When neither of them will talk about it, there’s more to it than meets the eye, my lad, you mark my words.”
Kaid sat on a chair beside the bed, holding Carrie’s free hand, her fingertips pressed gently to his mouth, just enjoying the mingled tastes of her and their daughter.
Carrie laughed gently. “You’re so different,” she said, easing her hand from him so she could cup it round his cheek. “I’ve never seen such a softness in your face before.”
He turned his head, touching his lips to her hand. “I’ve never had so much as I have at this moment,” he said. “You didn’t suffer too much pain, did you? Noni’s potion worked? I felt very little at all, not like it was with Kashini.”
She nodded, then her face creased in a mixture of surprise and pain as she bit back a cry.
“What is it?” Kaid asked anxiously, sitting up.
“Noni! Something’s wrong! I think I’m bleeding!” she called out in fear.
“Take the berran from her, Tallinu,” said Noni, getting to her feet. “Go put her in the crib, if you please, then fetch me some clean towels and a sheet from that pile on my bed. Teusi, you know what to do.”
Kaid lifted the cub away, hushing her when she complained with small mewling sounds of distress.
Teusi was at the bedside almost instantly, moving the chair aside and pulling back the covers.
“It’s all right, Carrie,” he said, helping her lie down. “It’s not blood, only a little fluid.” He moved aside for Noni.
“Don’t you fret, child, this is nothing to worry about,” said Noni. “I had a feeling there might be another cub in you. Tallinu, I want that clean sheet now if you please,” she said, raising her voice.
Kaid came running in from the other room as Carrie began to moan again. “What’s wrong?” he demanded, handing her the folded sheet.
“There’s a second cub,” she said briefly as Carrie doubled up with a shriek of pain. “You see to your mate, I’ll see to this cub.”
It was over in minutes. As Noni gently eased the dark furred cub into the world, she looked up at Carrie. “No guessing who this one’s father is, child. Kusac has a son.”
“It can’t be his,” said Carrie, trying to lean forward against Kaid and see as Noni wiped the cub’s face clean. “We’ve only paired once since we got back from Haven.”
“You don’t need me to tell you it only takes once, child,” Noni said dryly, carefully handing the newborn to her.
Carrie held him close, looking at the tiny black-furred face as it crinkled up and he began to wail in a thin voice. “What’s wrong with him? He’s so small. He’s sick, isn’t he?” she asked in a trembling voice.
“Not sick, premature.” As she severed the cord, Noni glanced at Teusi. “Call Stronghold, tell them why we’re coming in, then get the aircar started,” she ordered. “Tallinu, get two towels, one to clean him off and the other to wrap him in after.”
Stunned, Kaid did as she asked.
“How could he be Kusac’s? I was pregnant with Layeesha!”
“You just lie still and let me finish off, child,” said Noni. “How long after you got pregnant did you pair with Kusac?”
“Just over two weeks,” said Kaid as he tried to clean the tiny cub. He whimpered unhappily, head searching blindly for his mother, tiny hands waving aimlessly. “Noni’s right, this is Kusac’s cub, Carrie. I can sense the difference. We have to tell him.”
“Kusac’s left Stronghold,” said Teusi quietly, looking up from the comm. “His father doesn’t know where he’s gone, only that he left after a row with Master Rhyaz.”
Tears began to roll down Carrie’s cheeks as she took the cub back from Kaid and clutched him close, burying her head against the towel he was wrapped in. “He’s going to die, isn’t he, Noni? He’s too small. Why didn’t anyone tell me I was carrying two babies?”
“Because we didn’t know,” said Noni, handing the soiled linen to Kaid as Teusi ran out to the aircar. “Your daughter masked the presence of the second cub and you refused to have scans done. And there’s no reason why the cub should die if you can start him feeding!”
“Then why are we going to Stronghold? And where’s Kusac gone?”
Noni reached out to stroke her cheek gently. “We’re going to Stronghold because I want him to have every chance, child. It’s a precaution, nothing more. Now try to get him to suckle while we get ready. And think of a name for the wee mite! Make him feel he’s wanted too!” She said, glaring across at Kaid as he returned from the wash house in the back garden.
“Of course he’s wanted,” said Kaid sharply. “How could I turn my back on Layeesha’s twin?”
“Considering the row you two had, I was wondering,” sniffed Noni. “Twice a mother in one day! A reason to celebrate when you’re better, child,” she said to Carrie.
“The row’s between Kusac and me,” he said stiffly. “Nothing to do with his cub.”
“Kusac should help choose a name,” said Carrie, tears still rolling down her cheeks as she parted the towel round her son’s face so he could suckle. “I can’t choose it alone! Where’s he gone? Why has he left Stronghold? You shouldn’t have let him row with you, Tallinu, you know he’s not himself.”
Kaid grunted. “It wasn’t me, Dzinae. From anyone else, his insults would have been unforgivable. Let’s leave it. I don’t want to spoil this time with you.”
The cub began to whimper, resisting Carrie’s attempts to feed him until Kaid sat down beside her again, reaching out to try to soothe the crying infant. At that moment, Carrie’s mind exploded within his, reestablishing their Leska Link. Seconds later, scared and frightened, the cub’s mind joined theirs. Fretfully, he squirmed his arms free, searching with his hand until his fingers closed on Kaid’s. Only then did the tension leave his tiny body and he began to suckle.
Startled, they exchanged glances over the infant’s head.
“If you want your son to feed, then stop getting him all worked up with your worrying,” said Noni tartly. “You’ll all suffer for it later with a colicky cub yowling the place down! Tallinu, get moving, lad! I want this cub in the infirmary today, not tomorrow!”
CHAPTER 19
Stronghold
KONIS and Kha’Qwa were waiting for them with Physician Muushoi to help unload Carrie’s floating stretcher from the aircar.
“Twins!” said Kha’Qwa in surprise as she saw Kaid emerge carrying Layeesha. “Noni didn’t say she’d had twins. And so different,” she added, seeing the dark pelt of the cub Carrie still held cradled in her arms.
Konis, ears held back in distress, went to Carrie’s side. “Shall I take him, my dear?” he asked. “It might be safer while they move you up to the infirmary.”
Reluctantly, Carrie let Konis take her son.
“It’s Kusac
’s cub,” Konis said quietly to Kha’Qwa as they followed them up the front steps into the main building.
“In Vartra’s name! He doesn’t know, does he?” she said, shocked.
“No one knew,” he said, gently parting the wrappings to look at his grandson’s face. “He’s so tiny, Kha’Qwa! Almost as small as ours!”
“He’s early,” said Noni from behind them. “Thankfully not as premature as yours and Rhyasha’s were, Konis. There’s nothing to worry about, but given his size, I want him in an incubator being kept warm till he gains a bit of weight.”
“What’s she calling them?” asked Kha’Qwa.
Konis called out to Kaid who stopped and waited for them as Carrie was taken into the elevator. “My grandchildren, Kaid, what are their names?”
“Dhaykin,” he said. “We’ve called him Dhaykin, and our daughter Layeesha. Where’s Kusac gone?”
“We’ve just had word he’s left Shola,” said Kha’Qwa. “Vartra knows what he thinks he’s doing, or where he’s going!”
Kaid stared at them. “I know where he’s gone,” he said quietly. “Rezac was right. He’s headed for the Prime world. Whatever you do, don’t tell Carrie. She’s enough to worry about right now with his cub being so fragile.”
“I told you,” began Noni as Teusi helped her up the steps, “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Kaid rounded on her, holding his daughter close. “You don’t fool me, Noni.”
“He needs his father, Kaid, just as your daughter needs you,” she said quietly. “Only Kusac’s gone. You’ll have to fill that role till he returns. Can you do it? Can you be as much a father to Dhaykin as to Layeesha?”
“Sometimes you’re an old fool, Noni,” he said quietly, distress flitting briefly across his face. “If I didn’t love Kusac, what he said wouldn’t have hurt so much.”
She smiled, reaching out familiarly to touch his neck. “Then Dhaykin will be fine.”
*
Lijou looked up as Rhyaz came into his lounge.
“Didn’t expect to see you for a while yet,” said Kha’Qwa from her position curled up in front of the fire at her mate’s feet. “Where’s Alex?”
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