Page 36 of Hainn

Once she was established in a large room, everyone but Megan and him cleared out.

“If you’re sure you don’t need me,” Daegan said, “I’ll give her privacy. I’ll be close if you suddenly require more power.”

“No, she seems much more peaceful and her body is healing as it should,” Hainn said, clasping his Alpha’s arm forearm. “Thank you for your support today.”

“I’ll be honored to have her in our pack, once you and she straighten out a few issues,” Daegan said with a grin. “Congratulations on the baby, by the way. I can’t say I’m displeased to have the first full blood Badari baby born into my pack.”

He left and the doctor and Hainn went to work getting Jezari changed into a hospital gown and doing a full exam. There was a large lump on the back of her head but the bleeding had stopped, demonstrating her internal Badari systems were maintaining full effectiveness. The cut on her forehead which had bled copiously was nothing but a thin pink line and nearly gone. Hainn didn’t feel the need to use any more healing power.

“My diagnosis would be concussion,” Megan said. “The fact she hasn’t awakened yet is concerning, or would be if she wasn’t a Badari. We’ll do the scan now, which will answer a variety of questions.” She wheeled the machine over to the bed and Hainn tensed. It was a captured piece of Khagrish equipment, as was most of what was used in the hospital and the mere sight of it set off his reflexes for fighting or fleeing. Needless to say the Khagrish hadn’t put scanners like this to any good use. He understood Megan’s only goal was to help Jezari and the baby so he gave himself and his inner beast a stern talking to as the doctor fine tuned the sensors and initiated the scan.

“Ah, here we are,” Megan said at length and projected a small holo into the air beside the bed.

Hainn squinted and frowned. “Is that our baby?”

“Yes, doing fine as I expected would be the case. It’s normal in size for this early stage of a pregnancy, or would be if the parents were human. Hard to say how a Badari pregnancy will proceed but I’m encouraged. Do you want to know the sex?”

Startled, Hainn was tempted but then he glanced at Jezari and shook his head. “No, we should find out together, another time. Thank you, doctor.”

“For what it’s worth, I don’t know either,” Megan said. “I didn’t initiate the DNA scan. I had a suspicion you’d give me the answer you did. Let me finish here and then I’ll leave you two alone.”

The doctor reported no serious injuries, no skull fracture, nothing concerning. “I think she’ll wake up on her own in the next few hours,” Megan said as she pushed the scanning machine off to the side again. “If she’s unconscious in the morning we may have to do a Badari type intervention. I’ve seen a few of those over the years—uncanny to my human eyes but effective.”

“My beast reports her predator is quite calm, which is another good indicator,” Hainn said. “Thank you for your help, doctor.”

On her way to the door, Megan hesitated. “Can we get you anything? Dinner? Pillows?”

“I’ll be fine, thanks. A couple of survival rations would go well right now.” He was depleted from the dive and using so much of his power, although Daegan had been replenishing it as fast as he used it.

“I’ll have the nurse bring you a selection shortly. Call me if there’s any change in Jezari’s condition.”

Hainn was glad to have the room to himself. Megan was efficient and thorough and of course she counted as a Badari now herself, having had the blood transfusion and given birth to a half Badari child, but it wasn’t the same as dealing with a Badari healer. He gently moved a few strands of hair from Jezari’s face and kissed her lips. “Wake up and talk to me, sweetheart,” he said as he sat in the chair he’d dragged to the bedside.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Jezari swam lazily in crystal clear waters, marveling at her view of the ocean floor below. She saw all kinds of colorful fish and intricate shells below her and was tempted to dive for a few souvenirs. Treading water she stared at the shore where a man and a child waited for her. She blinked hard but couldn’t make out the details of the toddler, but the man was Hainn and her heart warmed as she thought of him and of being with him.

Why am I out here by myself?

Impatient, she forgot all about diving for shells and swam at her top speed toward the shore. As soon as she could stand, she ran through the water and into Hainn’s arms. “I’m never leaving you, mate,” she said to him before they began kissing.

A beeping sound with no possible place in her dream of the ocean beach intruded and Jezari struggled to open her eyes, confused about what was the dream and what was reality. She focused on the ceiling above her and understood with a sinking heart she was back in the hospital again. Looking down, Hainn was holding her hand and his head was on the bed as he slept. His position appeared so uncomfortable but she was touched to find him watching over her. With a shaky hand she reached outto run her fingers through his tousled hair, loving the feel of the heavy silken strands.

With a start Hainn raised his head, blinking the sleep from his eyes. “Thank the goddess you’re awake. We were worried because you were out for so long. What’s your status?”

“Tired, incredibly bone tired, but fine otherwise.” She bit her lip. “Hainn, I have to tell you something important.” Gathering her courage while he watched her intently, she said, “I’m pregnant with our child.”

“I know,” he said softly, “And I’m beyond excited by the news, proud, happy, full of hope and love for you and our baby.”

She made an effort to sit up and Hainn immediately rose to rearrange the pillows and help her find a comfortable position. “How- how can you know? Did you finally scent the pregnancy?”

He sat on the bed next to her and took her hand again. “Aydarr told us when we got you out of the water. I have no idea how he knew but he said it was essential Daegan and I be the primary emergency caregivers.”

“Daegan? Oh because I’ll be in your pack when we claim each other?”

Hainn stared at her, his eyes glinting with the golden glow. “Not if?Whenwe claim each other? Nothing would make me happier—I love you.”

She drew him near, looping one arm around his neck. “I love you too. It was all too much for me on the surfing trip and then when I realized I was pregnant I couldn’t think straight, couldn’t agree to claim each other then—I’m sorry.”

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