Page 30 of Hainn

Frowning, Aydarr said, “The decision is mine, not yours. Do I want to risk my people on this attempt, taking resources away from the evacuation planning?” There was silence in the room.

“I’ll lead the expedition,” Daegan said. “It’s my mate who is at direct risk here. And my men who are the best swimmers.” He shot a tight grin at Jezari. “Aside from the Daughter of course.”

“I’ll guide you,” she said, pleased at the South Seas Alpha’s seizing the initiative.

“We can do this without further risking you,” Daegan said.

Losing her temper now wouldn’t do any good so she hung onto her angry retort and made a reasoned argument. “It’s a long dive, the bottom of the lake is treacherous muck and there are creatures living there. I know the best ways in and out of the wreck. I can take you directly to the module you’re after. I warn you, yes, we Badari can go without air for a long time and we can see in the dark and the changes in pressure don’t affect us but this dive is anything but easy to do. The brothers who divewith meneed to be able to handle all aspects of being two miles under the surface for a long time. With respect, Alpha, even I had to work up to it in stages and you and your men won’t have the opportunity to do such preparation due to the urgency of the mission.”

“Did you say you took a breather?” Hainn asked before Daegan or anyone else could speak.

He knew she did, since she’d been wearing it the day he rescued her from the whirlpool but she answered the question forthrightly. “I did. I still had mine from the time in the hospital and it was a vital piece of equipment for ensuring I could manage an extended dive with peace of mind and a margin for error.”

“The Daughter goes,” Aydarr said.

Keshara made an involuntary sound of protest behind her but Jezari refused to be distracted. “I have one condition to impose.”

Leaning back in his chair, the Supreme Alpha didn’t seem upset by her demand. “The nature of this request?”

“We have to bring the lady of the lake to the surface. She didn’t deserve to be taken from her life and then left in a cold watery tomb. She was a creature of light and air like us and I need to see her buried in the sunlight with respect and honor. She—she haunts me and I believe will do so until she’s been properly interred.”

“As a healer, I support this request,” Hainn said immediately. “And will pledge myself to lead this part of the expedition.”

“I believe the Great Mother has tied the two issues together,” Timtur said, speaking for the first time in the meeting. “I agree with the Daughter this poor alien woman must be brought home, as much as she can be. It’s our duty to right the wrong done to her, much as the Khagrish wronged our ancestors and us.”

“It’s settled then,” Aydarr said. “Best efforts will be made to bring the woman to the surface but the first priority is the module MARL needs.” He stared at Jezari as if challenging her to disagree but she was satisfied. The fact Hainn had volunteered to lead the effort warmed her heart and increased her confidence they could succeed.

The rest of the meeting revolved around who Daegan would take into the depths with him and the tactical details of the dive, which would commence at dawn. Planning for a mass evacuation was also to continue in case the module wasn’t located or proved to be inert or unusable.

After the meeting concluded, Jezari was excited but exhausted. She wasn’t used to being in the center of missionplanning, especially not with a group of Alphas and other high ranking Badari. She was eager to escape the room and get outside, to take a deep breath and relax.

“I wish to meet with Jezari alone,” Aydarr said. “If the rest of you will clear the room for us.” He tapped the chair next to him, which Jill had vacated. “Come sit here, Daughter.”

I’ll be right outside, Hainn said in her head as she reluctantly walked to take the indicated seat.There’s nothing to worry about—you did an incredible job just now.

Thanks. I’m glad you’re going on the dive with me,she said rapidly. There was no time for more conversation as the door closed after the last person to leave and Aydarr focused on her.

Tapping one massive black talon on the table he eyed her for an uncomfortably long time. “You’re pregnant,” he said. Before she could draw a breath, he added, “Hainn is the father. Is there a reason he appears to be unaware of this?”

“How can you tell?” she asked in a panic. “No one else knows.”

He leaned back in his chair. “Being the Supreme Alpha over all Badari brings with it heightened abilities from the Great Mother. I confess I find it interesting every Badari knows when a human woman is pregnant yet you appear to be able to mask the knowledge effectively.”

“It only happened recently, on the surfing trip in fact,” she said, blushing and twisting her hands in her lap.

“Were you unwilling?” he asked, voice soft and dangerous.

Hainn would be dead if she didn’t answer the question to Aydarr’s satisfaction. Fortunately the truth was easy. “Not at all, I was completely on board with our relationship’s evolving intimacy. Our times together were totally consensual and—and enjoyable.”Which is a lot more detail than I really want to share with the Supreme Alpha.She hoped she wasn’t blushing.

“Yet you aren’t mated.” Steepling his fingers, the Alpha studied her. “Surely you’re aware Hainn is intended by the goddess to be your fated mate. I can also tell that to be true and I don’t require any extra power to gain the knowledge.”

“It’s my choice,” she said, holding her head high.

“As the Great Mother dictates, yes. Do you have reservations?”

“I did, before we went on the trip together and I got to know him away from here. I didn’t want to rush into the commitment before giving myself time to consider. I didn’t want to return from the three day trip mated. My sisters and all the brothers would talk about how impulsive I’d been. Neither Hainn nor I ever expected or dreamt I could get pregnant.”

“You’re talking to the wrong man when it comes to claiming a mate you barely know.” Aydarr’s lips curved in a warm smile. “Jill and I had only a few days and we became true marked mates in one night when we were held together by the Khagrish but I’d already claimed her.”

---