Page 31 of Hainn

There was nothing Jezari could say to his declaration, which was a well known fact among the Badari.

“I intend to claim Hainn,” she said, heart beating faster at making the declaration out loud and to Aydarr no less. “We were supposed to have a date tonight and I was going to do it then.”

“And tell him about the baby?”

“I didn’t want any doubt in my own mind whether he would mate me simply because of the baby,” she said. “If we claim each other it has to be independent of my accidental pregnancy.”

Aydarr put his hand under her chin and tipped her face up to his. “The conception of a full blooded Badari baby is a miracle directly from the Great Mother, not an accident, Jezari. She’s blessed you and Hainn. Your pregnancy will be greeted by the packs as nothing short of a miracle and a portent for our future.”

“I know,” she said. “Another reason I wanted to conceal my condition as long as possible. I don’t want all the fuss and the attention. I had enough notoriety after Gabe and my sisters saved me from the life sucking pod and brought me here People telling me what I ought to do and judging my actions and my attitude—it’s one reason I started diving in the lake, to get away from all of it.”

“You’ll have my full protection and that of all the Badari, whether you mate Hainn or not,” he said. “I’m afraid the attention is a given but we’ll do our best to ensure your privacy and peace.”

“Thank you. I’m going to tell him and I’m going to Claim him, but not until after the dive tomorrow. He’d worry too much if he knew about the baby. We need to focus on doing the dive safely and salvaging what we’re going down there for.”

“And you’re sure it’s safe for you to do the dive? Do you want to consult Timtur? He won’t speak of it to anyone.”

She crossed her arms over her abdomen protectively. “No, thank you. I’m sure and my inner beast is sure this will be safe at this early stage. My body protects the child.”

He studied her, eyes glowing, and nodded slowly. “It’s between you, your predator and the Great Mother. I’m merely a bystander who wishes you well. Congratulations, Daughter.”

The concept of Aydarr asmerelyanything took Jezari’s breath away. He rose from his chair so belatedly she did the same and he offered a hug. She stepped into his embrace and felt comforted and cared for, his Alpha strength flowing into her body in a wave of refreshing power. He kissed her forehead and then released her, going to the door and exiting without another word. In a daze she followed, practically running into Hainn at the threshold.

He caught her and watched Aydarr walk away towards his office before saying a word. “I won’t ask what he wantedas that’s between you and the Supreme Alpha but are you all right?”

“I’m fine, a bit dazed from the entire meeting,” she said.

“You did great—I was totally impressed. And stunned at the risks you’ve been taking, doing the dive by yourself.” His expression was troubled as they exited the building. “Promise me you won’t do such things on your own again. Badari strength is in the pack, in watching each other’s backs.”

“I can promise you I won’t ever be doing the dive again after tomorrow,” she said with a shudder. “There’ll be no reason to go there.” She punched him lightly in the arm. “Now you’ve shown me the intoxication of surfing and exploring the coral reefs at the sea mount, I don’t need any other adrenaline producing activities.”

“Has she been haunting you, the lady of the lake as you’ve named her?”

Jezari decided to trust Hainn with the full picture of what she’d been enduring. “Yes, in my dreams and my thoughts, especially when I look at the damn lake. I think she drew me down there, you know? She and I share a similar fate although I was able to escape mine and she perished.”

“You’re made of stern stuff, Badari Daughter.” Hainn’s comment was admiring. “But you have me to help you now, not to mention the rest of the packs.”

They walked toward the residences in silence for a while before Hainn asked, “Do you think we’ll salvage anything to repair MARL?”

She shrugged. “All I can tell you is what I said in there. On the flight deck there are a few modules still powered up. Whether any of them will be what MARL needs, or whether the gadgets will work once brought to the surface, I have no idea. It’s up to the goddess.”

“Does she get involved with ancient alien AI’s?” he asked with a wry grin. “Never mind, I don’t want to attract her ire by suggesting she doesn’t have purview over all things on Ushandirr. Hey, want to go grab an early dinner? We don’t have to talk about the dive tomorrow.”

Although tempted, Jezari refused. “I’m tired and emotionally worn out after my outburst in the meeting and then the long planning session. I’ll take a raincheck, maybe after the dive is over. I think I need rest now more than I need food. We have odds and ends in the stasis keeper in our residence if I get hungry later. Thank you again for the moral support and for volunteering to lead the team to bring the lady to the surface for a proper burial.”

Hainn took her hands and stared into her eyes. “I’d do anything for you. If recovering this woman’s body and having a Badari service for her will easeyoursoul, then I’m in.” He leaned down to kiss her on the lips and Jezari wanted to melt into his embrace but the walkway in front of her residence where any of her sisters might make an appearance wasn’t the place.

When they separated, she gave him a wave and walked inside, to find Keshara waiting, avid to ask a ton of questions and to chide her less gently than Hainn had done about the risks she’d taken on her solo dives. Escaping from that conversation with difficulty and only because Gabe arrived home to distract Keshara, Jezari fled to her room. Flopping on the bed, she rubbed her belly and said in a whisper, “If they knew I was pregnant they’d all be a hundred times more upset with me. At least Aydarr didn’t have a problem with my diving tomorrow.” She couldn’t help speculating if he’d weighed the risk to her versus the cost to everyone in the valley if MARL went inert and had come down on the side of preserving the AI. After a bit of reflection she decided she wasn’t doing the Supreme Alphajustice. He’d meant what he said, he had confidence she as a Badari woman could protect her child and was well aware of her own limits.He sees me as a warrior, she realized with a glow of pleasure.Not a weakling who barely survived an ordeal at the hands of the Khagrish and had to be cosseted like a baby myself for a year. In his mind I’m an equal to anyone else in the packs, in terms of my capabilities.

On the happy note, she rolled over, wrapped up in a cozy quilt she’d found at Stores one day and fell asleep.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Her dreams were unsettling and vivid and Jezari awoke in the middle of the night gasping and fighting with the covers. She lay for a moment, blinking and trying to control her pulse and then got out of bed. She undressed, took a quick turn in the refresher and then found herself donning utility pants and a black tee shirt. As she fastened her sturdy boots, she wondered if she ought to tell anyone where she was going but decided she wasn’t going to change her habits now.

The Daughter on duty at the front didn’t so much as blink when Jezari walked past her and into th night. Her sisters had gotten used to her keeping strange hours and going when and where she pleased. At first she was tempted to take a stroll along the lake shore but at the first glimpse of the water shining in the moonlight she stopped dead and could go no further. It was as if she was caught in one of her own nightmares and with a shudder she diverted inland, going away from the residence caves.

The path was well marked but with her night vision she didn’t need the guideposts. Ignoring the signs warning of unauthorized entry, she walked deep into the forest. Those were meant for humans, not Badari and she had every right tobe here, although it was unusual to seek the stone circle in the middle of the night. As Jezari got closer to the place of worship, she saw light streaming into the sky and shafts of illumination penetrating the gloomy forest, stabbing between the trees. Her steps faltered and she questioned if there was a ceremony in progress. She had no wish to intrude on anyone else’s observances. But who would conduct a ritual at this hour?

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