by Liz Paffel
“Your female has been requested in the women’s quarters.”
Sasha righted herself behind him and peered around his body. “Has something happened to the women I came here with?”
“A human is in labor and it is not going well. Please. Come.”
Chapter Twelve
Not Angel. Not Angel. Don’t let it be Angel.
Sasha chanted the wish silently in her mind as she followed the group. Her body still pulsed with the remnant of pleasure from Hahn’s touch. Holy hell, what had she done?
He’d asked for some of her control. She’d given it to him, and it had been incredible. Her chest felt as if it had expanded. Maybe it was her heart. Maybe, it was finally ready to make room for something other than fear.
They navigated a series of hallways and went down white cement steps to a lower level to a hallway with a series of doors. At the end was a large room with a clear wall.
Her heart fluttered when she spied Blume, Angel and Fran. Angel was sitting in a large chair and appeared to be sleeping, while Blume paced the length of the room and Fran stretched out on a cot. She slid to a stop and placed her palms on the glass.
All three women leapt up and raced over. Blume made a face, pointed at her outfit, then banged on the glass.
“This way, slut.”
She ignored the dig, but hands grabbed at her and pulled her away.
In a flurry, Hahn had Lorelt by the neck and slammed him into the opposite wall. The other lizard guard was on him in a second. Hahn spun, grabbing them with a neck in each hand and brought them inward, slamming their heads together. The creatures didn’t go down easily, jumping back up with a hiss. One drew a long, silver wand. It sparked thin bolts of electricity.
“One touch, your Highness, and you’ll be asleep for a week.”
Hahn’s jaw ground hard, a muscle in his cheek jumping. Sasha put her hands in the air, and with a dragging look at her friends, turned toward the hall. “Let’s go. I’m going. Okay? Come on.”
She was relieved that Angel was okay, yet curious over what she might find when they reached their destination. They curved to the left. She heard the woman’s cries before they reached the room.
The tiny little woman opened the door and ushered Sasha inside, and then disappeared. Hahn was right behind her, but the lizards blocked him from coming inside.
“You may not have contact with the human.”
“She goes nowhere without me.”
“Not your slut. The Director.”
An auburn-haired female lay half-curled on a wide medical bed in the center of the room. Her pale face was dotted with freckles, eyes clenched in pain. She looked fully human. Had the Lorelt said she was a director?
“Are you blended?” Sasha asked as she approached the bed.
The woman’s eyes flew open. Her mouth gaped before she came around. “No. I’m of my own mind. So are you!”
“Yes. I’ve been asked to help you. I’m a nurse midwife.”
“Wait, a real midwife. Like, from Earth?”
Sasha grinned. “Yes. I promise. Fully licensed and well experienced.”
A tear slipped down the woman’s face. “Oh, thank God. Thank all the gods, I don’t even care which one.”
Lorelt entered and took a wide-legged stance a few feet from the side of the bed. Sasha eyed him cautiously, angry at his intrusion.
“Is there a reason you have to stand there?”
He lifted his chin. “I do not answer to you, human slut.”
There was a scuffle at the door, the crackle of electricity and a thump. Sasha spun to find Hahn had put the other lizard in a headlock. The prod had fallen on the ground. Bringing his hand around the beast’s neck, he pressed three fingers between the Lorelt’s eyes and held on while the man tried to twist away. Within two seconds, the body slumped to the floor.
Hahn burst inside, meeting the second guard halfway. The lizard didn’t get a chance to throwing a punch before Hahn had him on the ground, his fingers pressed between his eyes. He slept almost instantly.
“You can put people to sleep?”
Hahn grinned as he rose. “I want the getting-to-know-you thing to be a surprise.” He came to stand beside them and put a hand on Sasha’s back. His touch lingered, growing warmer. She shivered.
Focus, for God’s sake! “Find me a gown or something to put over this strip of cloth I’m wearing?”
He spun on a heel and went to search the cabinets and drawers. Returning to her patient, Sasha took a breath and smiled.
“Where is your doctor or whatever?”
“They dragged him out of here when I—oh, shit.” She tensed with a twist of pain. Sasha held her hand until the contraction passed. “I’m Becca, by the way. Becca. I’m Becca-- shit, oh, shit.”
Sasha frowned at the quickness of the second contraction. Looking around for gloves, she found a pair in a container on the wall. Much to her surprise, there was an adjustable light on a pole and a tray of medical equipment she’d need for the delivery.
Hahn returned and stepped behind her. “Arms out.” She thrust her arms in front of her and he slid a long sleeve white gown onto her and tied it in the back. It was similar to the one Becca wore.
“Can you tell me your history? How far along are you? First baby?”
“I’m term as best I can tell. There’s no way to really tell. Medical care isn’t well versed for humans in this place. It’s my first baby.”
“How long have you been in labor?”
“Since early morning. It got bad about, I don’t know, two hours ago. I feel like I have to push but nothing happens, and then the feeling goes away.”
Sasha soothed her with a rub on her knee. “Lie back if you can. I need to check your cervix. Do you know what that means?”
“Yes,” Becca said with a groan. “I was abducted from Fort Carson in Colorado. I've had my share of pap smears in the Army.”
Sasha glanced at Hahn. Two female soldiers here? That didn’t feel like a coincidence. Becca seemed not to have noticed Hahn was there. She indicated with a nod of her head that he should go stand on the other side of the room.
Becca waved a dismissive hand. “He can stay. If he’s keeping you safe, he needs to stay. I know how these Axxeon men are.”
Hahn visibly tensed, but Sasha made eyes at him. Not now.
Becca cried out with another contraction, holding Sasha’s hand in a death grip until it was over. There was no monitor for her to see how the baby’s heart rate was, or the stability of Becca’s vital signs. Anything could go wrong. She had a quick flash to the alien mother she couldn’t save on the sand planet.
“That’s right. Fuck it up so I can laugh.”
Her head snapped up, eyes going to the corner. Darren slouched there again, dressed in the blue and white plaid shirt and jeans he’d worn on their fateful date. He had his hands crossed in front of him as if he couldn’t wait to see the show.
Like he’d made her watch as he pressed a gun to his head and threatened to pull the trigger.
Sweat started along her hairline. Not now. He’s not real.
Ignoring the hallucination, she proceeded to check Becca. Her fingers met a firm, round projection.
“Becca, I have to ask. Is the father human?”
She shook her head.
“Does he have any appendages, like horns or a tail or anything?”
She shook her head again.
“Your baby is breech, why your labor has gone haywire. Baby’s butt is down instead of the head. We’re going to see if we can get baby to turn by itself. Either way, you’re fully dilated, so I’m going to help you push through this. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Aware that Hahn was watching her every move, Sasha helped Becca onto her hands and knees, and then pulled the back of the bed up into a sitting position. “Lean over that and hug it with your arms the best you can. There you go.”
“Shit, this hurts!”
Sasha gripped Becca’s hips an
d helped her slowly rotate them in a circle. They paused for the next contraction, and then resumed. After several repeats, Becca tensed and gripped the bed until her knuckles turned white.
“Gonna push now. Right now. Holy. Shit.”
“Go with it, Becca. Nice and easy.”
They worked the process and Sasha became so immersed in it that she forgot about Darren’s presence. She was hyper aware of Hahn standing slightly behind her. She caught his movement from the corner of her eye and spared him a glance.
His normally green hue was paler than normal.
“Are you okay?”
He made a nondescript sound.
“You can wait outside. I don’t need you passing out. We have enough alien dudes on the floor.”
He huffed a laugh and slapped a hand on the counter next to him. “I will not pass out.”
“Lots of men pass out while watching childbirth. Nothing to be ashamed of. Just sit down and put your head between your knees.”
“I’ll do no such—”
She looked just as Hahn sat and closed his eyes. “Deep breaths, big guy. Nice and deep.”
Becca pushed with a scream, bearing down as her thighs shook and her body trembled. The baby began to descend. “Keep pushing, Becca. There you go. Almost there.”
Sasha guided the baby, gently cradling it in her palms as Becca pushed the body free. Quickly, she placed the baby on a thick square of cloth and began to rub its back. At the baby’s small cry, she turned it over. “It’s a girl!”
Becca slumped over the back of the bed.
Sasha stared at the baby; not sure she was seeing what she thought she was. Carefully stimulating the infant with the towel, she took in the child’s soft green hue and the thin, delicate pattern covering her torso.
“Hahn. Look.”
Becca perked up. “Is something wrong?”
The infant began to wail, her little chest expanding with life-giving breath. Hahn jumped to his feet and peered over Sasha’s shoulder. Their eyes caught and the glisten of sudden tears twinkled in his eyes.
Becca turned carefully on the bed and settled against the back, reaching for her daughter.
“I should have mentioned that my mate is Flight Commander E’on, pilot of the Zeph. From Axxeon 8.”
Chapter Thirteen
Hahn couldn’t control the rush of emotion that came over him, even if he’d wanted to.
The child was Axxeon and human, her little body patterned the way her people had been since the beginning of time. Her hair lay in a pale blue tuft on the top of her head. Everything about her features were human, but her flesh and coloring were all Axxeon. Would she have parasympath abilities, and enhanced senses as her father did?
It felt like a hundred years since he’d seen an Axxeon infant, and a female one at that.
He was standing witness to the very regeneration of his people, and a promise to their future. A female Axxeon had been born. And it was glorious.
“Where is your husband now?”
Hahn drew his eyes from the child. Sasha assisted Becca in completing the birthing process, then cut the umbilical cord. The new mother observed her baby with extreme tenderness though deep sorrow crossed her face.
“I don’t know where he is. He was taken from here several days ago. I’m not at liberty to say more.” She eyed Hahn as if to beg him to stop asking questions. So many things needed to be said, but he refrained.
“Axxeon 8 has been destroyed. Your mate was on a mission to scout for unclaimed planets to be considered for our new home.”
“I know about the deep freeze. The base station—was it ever completed?”
“Yes.” Hahn ran a hand over his mouth. “There has been great sadness in our inability to look for the Zeph until now. Can you tell me anything about the rest of the crew?”
She smiled softly. “They were all here. Please don’t ask me more. Just know that they were alive and well. I haven’t seen any of them since my husband was taken.”
They were alive! His freefall into this galaxy hadn’t been for nothing.
“Listen carefully,” Becca whispered. She never took her eyes off the infant. “I’m the flight director for all the ships that come in and out. I can get you out, but I can’t guarantee that you’ll make it alive.”
Sasha fiddled with Becca’s gown and moved to take the baby. “I’ll give her a once-over. Make sure everything is good. Since she’s half human, I should have some idea of normal.”
Noise from outside drew Hahn’s attention. He’d moved both guards to the hallway and sat them against the wall. Lorelt had woken up, looking right confused as he scanned the room. Hahn stood nonchalantly in the corner; arms crossed.
He grinned. Dumb beast.
“The human said most males pass out during childbirth. I guess lizards aren’t immune.”
The second guard rushed in, touching his head and wincing. “We did not lose consciousness.”
Hahn shrugged. “The humans said you would say that. Something about being too masculine to admit weakness.”
Both guards growled, the one peering into the room just enough to see the baby. “The spawn has been born. Both of you, come now.”
Sasha shook her head. “I can’t leave. Mom and baby need aftercare.”
“You will come now, slut. Or you will be removed.”
Hahn bristled. The taller guard pointed the wand at him. “You and the female have business. We go now. Come.”
Sasha handed the baby back while giving Hahn a helpless look. “Who is going to check on them tonight? They’ll need monitoring.”
“The healers will return.”
“Do they know human biology?”
“Human! Now.”
Sasha gave Becca a long last look before joining Hahn at the door. She hesitantly shed the gown. He wished he had another to cover her with. They walked in silence through the building back to the upper level. The scent of roasted meat wafted through the air. Sasha’s stomach growled and he was reminded that she hadn’t eaten but two bites of the cake that he’d fed her. The memory of it warmed his skin.
He slid his hand inside the pocket of his pants to make sure what he had stolen from Lorelt was still there and smiled when it touched his fingers. He had much thinking to do and he needed a clear head. These boiling emotions of joy in knowing his fellow Axxeon were alive, combined with the awe of the new child and the headiness of lusting for Sasha did not conduce clear thinking.
Now more than ever, they needed off this planet. He needed a recovery party of skilled warriors to join him in the search for their lost brothers.
The guards stopped outside the quarters Hahn had been in earlier and pushed in the door. “The observation master will be along soon.”
Hahn guided Sasha inside. “What is the observation master?”
Lorelt laughed with a twisted, hate-filled smile. “It is your good fortune, your Highness. The observation master is reserved for genetically desirable pairs. He’ll be coming in to watch you breed. What else?”
The door slammed, the sound of a lock quickly following.
Sasha sank onto the edge of the mattress and looked into space. “Did he really just say someone is going to watch us fuck?”
Hahn gave a humorless laugh. “I will not subject you to it, Sasha.”
Restless, he began to pace. The opulent room was little more than a prison. Nothing about the plush chairs and bed, the high arching windows, or softly braided rugs could offer him comfort. They were treating him like the royalty he was, banking on the price of his release. Were his brother and Quixx looking for him? Had they launched an emergency search when the Threv’s location went offline? The thought of Tryllin plagued by the pain of worry filled Hahn with guilt.
His only desire had always been to keep his family together. Even when his brother was overprotective, even when the two of them went to war on each other. He couldn’t lose Tryllin, nor could he give up Metetto. The only way to keep them together was to complete
this mission with honor he could claim in his father’s name.
He needed the damn coordinates. And he needed them now.
He circled his wrist with his hand, wishing he had his comlet. But they’d stripped him bare when he’d arrived and taken his things who-knew-where.
He looked at Sasha and his heart sank. He couldn’t smuggle the other women out. His only hope was to find a way back and come with help. Lots of help. There was always the chance that they’d never make it back.
What if he wasn’t able to get any of them out?
“You have to cut me.”
Her soft voice sounded like a bomb in his ears. Sasha stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “I want out of this stupid dress. Do you have any other clothes?”
Unsure, he ruffled around until he found a simple shirt and drawstring pants. Standing close as he handed them to her, he curved a hand around the back of her neck. She shivered.
“Of course, I won’t cut you.”
“If they think I’m having my period, they won’t make us have sex. Human women can’t conceive during their period—usually.”
He’d learned the basics of human biology in his time on Earth, so he was familiar with the menstrual cycle. If she thought it would work, it was worth a try. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Let’s look for something sharp and I can do it myself.”
“No. I will do it. You tell me where you’d like the cut to be. And when.”
“It has to be somewhere they won’t notice.” Her eyes went wide, then she crossed her hand over his on the back of her neck. “Back here, at the hairline. Scalps bleed like a son of a bitch. We’d better do it now, so I have time to make it look real and stop the actual bleeding.”
He eyed the narrow room that housed the cleanser unit and a tall tube with a seat that served as a toilet. “Go inside. I have a tool that can be used.”
It was a tight squeeze, but they managed to face each other inside between the toilet and a small basin that held water for washing. She felt amazing pressed up against him again, her breasts against his chest, the narrow bones of her hips against his thighs.