Page 12 of Hainn

“Came to you first, boss.”

“As was proper. All right, I’ll approve the request and run it by both Keshara and Aydarr. This is going to cause ripples, I’m sure but both of them could use a little disruption in their day. Anything else?”

Hainn shook his head. “If the request is approved, may I be the one to tell her?”

“You were the one brave enough to ask, so yeah, you get the honor. I’ll let you know.”

As he left the admin building, Hainn wasn’t sure he was doing the right thing but the idea of showing Jezari the joys of surfing and the beauties of the undersea world around the sea mount was exciting. And the nights, as Daegan had mentioned, offered all kinds of other possibilities. Shoulders back, feeling he’d done a good deed, Hainn headed for the hospital, to check in on his few patients. Badari basically healed themselves unless the injury was severe or overwhelming but he did have one or two warriors to touch base with and another appointment with a man from his own pack who seemed to be going through an evolution into shifting. Not many had been experimented on in this fashion by the Khagrish scientists but of those who were, the transition to being a shifter could be rough. Hainn needed to be there for his brother and of course Timtur was on call to step in.

Hainn admired the senior healer and was grateful for all his help and the diplomatic way the man approached the care of South Seas warriors but it did gall him not to be able to meet all the needs of his pack himself. But the Great Mother had chosenTimtur a long time ago to be the closest healer to her and there was no going against the will of the goddess.

Late in the day his handheld buzzed with a message from Daegan. “Jezari’s trip has been approved over Keshara’s objections. You can issue the invitation any time you like.”

Hainn sent a quick thank you and tried to decide where he might find Jesari at this hour. He didn’t want to show up at the Daughters’ residence cave, which would no doubt cause talk and raise new and unnecessary concerns about her health. She hadn’t regained her telepathic link ability so he couldn’t simply call her mind to mind. Frustrated he left the training center where he’d been monitoring a group of new human recruits and walked aimlessly into the forest. As he went he realized he was heading for the goddess’s stone circle and his pulse quickened. Maybe the Great Mother sent for him. Or perhaps the Badari woman he sought was there.

Going with the flow of his instinct, he broke into a trot and covered the distance in no time. Emerging from the edge of the forest, he paused as the breeze brought him Jezari’s crisp scent.She’s here. Thank the goddess.His inner beast was excited and he exerted self control enough to walk confidently into the circle itself and see Jezari seated on the stone steps, arms around her knees. She didn’t seem distressed or upset, which was a relief.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said.

Jezari rose to her feet. “I felt compelled to come here earlier but I didn’t know why. I do love the peace and quiet to be found here. Is something wrong?”

“On the contrary things couldn’t be better today.” He joined her and indicated they should both sit. “I’ve got a piece of exciting news for you.”

“I could use a diversion, if it’s good news.” Her smile was a bit wistful.

“The best. Have you heard about the surfing expeditions?”

Blinking, Jezari frowned. “A little. There’s this incredibly dangerous place on the west coast Flo and Daegan found with miles high surf and your people go there for therapy.”

Laughing, he said, “Not miles high but over a hundred feet, yes. Usually in the 150 to 200 foot range. There’s a sea mount off the shore which creates these incredible waves and my Badari pack brothers and I require high intensity, high adrenaline activities to keep our systems in harmony.”

“And combat against the Khagrish isn’t enough for you?” Her lips quirked in a grin as she teased him.

He gave her a serious answer. “No, since we were created for the purpose of waging war. We need an extra pressure of risk taking, if you will. The Khagrish scientists in the South Seas seem to have gone in quite a few different directions when the bastards were creating us versus how it is for the northern packs.”

“And the Director who created us took an entirely different route,” she said bitterly.

He laid his hand over hers and squeezed. “But we’re all Badari at the most basic level.”

“So tell me why I should care about this surfing excursion?”

“Because I’m inviting you to go on the trip in three days,” he said. “I cleared it with my Alpha and he got the okay from Aydarr and Keshara.”

“You what?” Despite her exclamation she didn’t sound upset. He detected a definite note of interest. “Why?”

“I’ve seen you swim so I know you can handle it and as yourfriend—“he emphasized the word, “I thought you might be needing an adrenaline high yourself. I assumed you wouldn’t think of asking to go with us on your own so yes, I took the liberty of arranging it for you.” Jezari was silent, thinking hard, so he pulled out his handheld. “Here, there’s a holo of Daegan surfing on the first trip.” Pushing the button he initiated theholo, which played out on the stone floor in front of them. Jezari was riveted to the scene so he played it twice. “What do you think?”

“You really believe I could learn how to do that?” Her question was genuine, not sarcastic in tone.

“I could teach you in a few hours, I’m sure. After all, you’re a Badari. But even if you decided you didn’t care for the surfing there’s exceptional diving to be done in the vicinity of the sea mount. Beautiful coral and a huge diversity of sea life. The ocean is magnitudes of splendor above this puny lake we have.”

Hainn took note of the fact she flinched when he mentioned the diving, which was surprising but he continued with his sales pitch for her to come. “We stay three days, sleeping in caves. We have cookouts in the evenings and it’s a lot of fun.”

“Do you normally take women?”

He shook his head. “Never. This is strictly a Badari activity. You’re a woman and a Badari Daughter, which is an entirely different thing from the human females.” Guessing at her concern, he added, “It’ll be simple to fix a separate sleeping spot for you and you know all the guys will be respectful”

“And I’d be your guest.” She studied his face, her forehead wrinkled in a frown as she repeated her earlier question. “Why are you inviting me?”

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