Page 35 of Hainn

His woman in his arms, Hainn refused to let himself think she might not make it. She wasn’t breathing, which was actually good under the circumstances and the human breather device was pumping fresh air into her body as needed. His inner predator linked with hers, imposing an order to keep Jezari from trying to draw a breath, which could cause her to be in danger of drowning two miles under the water. His beast reported to him how Jezari’s predator kept showing him an image of itself curled in a tight protective ball around something but refused to say what. The mystery was a distraction as far as Hainn was concerned. Getting Jezari to the surface and into the fresh air was his priority.

He tried to send her healing energy as they headed upward but he wasn’t used to administering his powers under these conditions. He’d done it once or twice in the South Seas but not at this depth.

Keep my focus on getting us there and then sort out what’s wrong, he decided.

Driven by his dense Badari muscles, his body powered upward through the water, holding Jezari close to him. Her continued lack of mental response was worrying but there was nothing to be done about it here. Hainn gave thanks to the goddess for his years of swimming experience. He was one ofthe most powerful swimmers in the South Seas pack. Zyon was doing his best to keep up.

He also and more importantly prayed to the Great Mother to allow Jezari to live through this catastrophe.

Jezari was nearly trapped in the broken hull and is injured, he sent ahead to Daegan.We’ll need Timtur.

We’re all here, waiting for you. Do you need me to come and assist?His Alpha’s voice was strong and reassuring and renewed power flowed into Hainn along the mental link.

No, Zyon and I’ve got it. Nothing to be done but get her to the surface and then evaluate the problem.

Eventually the water lightened and sunlight slashed through the lake. Redoubling his efforts, he and Jezari burst out of the water with a huge splash. Daegan and Ivokk were there to tow him to shore along with his precious burden. Hainn kept his tight grip on Jezari, holding her nestled into him, her head lolling against his chest.

He commanded her inner predator to allow her to breathe now and was reassured to hear her draw a deep breath. Her chest rose and fell in the proper rhythm as they reached the shore and he carried her toward an antigrav litter someone had had the presence of mind to bring along or perhaps sent for after his call for help. He laid her on the litter and immediately poured his healing power into her body, stting his fingertips firmly over her heart and forehead. “Where’s Timtur?” he asked. “I’m not at full strength right now.”

Surprisingly Aydarr imposed himself between the Senior Healer and the litter. “You and Daegan must take the lead here,” he said to Hainn. “Timtur and I will provide backup power if necessary.”

“Why?” Daegan asked, although he laid a hand on Hainn’s shoulder and began supplying Alpha power.

“She’s pregnant with Hainn’s child,” Aydarr said, drawing gasps from the group. “Therefore she’s of your pack. Her injuries will respond best to the two of you.”

The green glare of Hainn’s power stuttered for an instant as he reeled under Aydarr’s announcement of Jezari’s pregnancy but he couldn’t allow himself to be distracted from his effort to heal and revive the woman he loved. As he worked he tried in vain to detect any sign of a pregnancy and wondered if the Supreme Alpha could be mistaken. Shoving the doubt aside, he vowed to think through all the ramifications later, once Jezari was in the clear and able to talk to him.

He'd known she was holding back something but it had never occurred to him they might have conceived a child.

“We need to get her to the hospital,” said a new voice as Dr. Megan Garrison, mate to Mateer pushed her way through the crowd of to reach the litter. “She can’t be adequately cared for in the middle of the damn forest and all of you need to admit the fact. Also—and I know how much Badari loathe being scanned or examined and I get it, but since there’s a baby involved, I need to do a thorough exam and a scan to make sure the child is doing okay.” She stared at Hainn, who raised his eyes to her briefly. “You know Jezari will want to be reassured on the point as soon as she’s conscious.”

He swallowed hard. He wanted to carry his mate away to his own cave and care for her there, in privacy. But the desire was his inner predator talking, not the sensible healer making unemotional decisions for a patient. “Dr. Garrison is right on all counts. We shouldn’t waste any more time here.”

He continued to direct his healing energies into Jezari as arrangements were coordinated around him. Daegan kept his hand on Hainn’s shoulder, feeding him more power.

You had no idea?his Alpha asked privately.

None. I’m sure she had her reasons though. Jezari has been through more than most of us at the hands of the Khagrish and she’s doing her best to cope.He searched his heart and couldn’t find it in himself to be angry with her. He was sure she was going to tell him once she’d made her own peace with the amazing news. As he worked, he sent a message along with his power, seeking to reassure the soul of his child that his or her father was right here and would take care of their mother and them.

“No one is to speak of this regarding Jezari and Hainn until the couple chooses to make the news public,” Aydarr said, his voice carrying the thrum of sheer power. “It’s a remarkable thing for all Badari but it’s their child and their secret to keep or tell for now.”

Now they were ready to leave the area and head for the hospital. Hainn adjusted his position as the antigrav litter was raised, Daegan lending him a hand as his muscles were cramping from the overexertion on the ascent through the lake and then from kneeling beside Jezari on the uneven ground. Hainn glanced at the globe containing the corpse of the alien woman and shuddered. He could understand why Jezari had felt haunted.

Timtur?

What do you need, brother?The man was close by but Hainn wanted to keep this between them so he continued to use mind speech.

There’s something about the body we brought up today, something uncanny and wrong. Jezari believed the woman was haunting her, luring her to the lake. Until we can get her properly buried, great care needs to be taken with her.

I don’t disbelieve you at all,Timtur said firmly. There’s definitely a tragic aura about the woman and how she died. I get odd feelings when I go too close to the globe. Uneasy.My inner beast doesn’t like it either. Don’t concern yourself further—I’ll have the globe well guarded and will ask the Great Mother to place her own safeguards around the container. We’ll do the ceremony as soon as Jezari is up to it. She’ll need to see the end of her efforts, don’t you think?

Absolutely.Hainn was grateful the other healer understood.The alien woman hadn’t deserved her cruel fate at the hands of Nindjak any more than the Badari had deserved their 800 years of torture and imprisonment from the Khagrish, but he was sure she’d been a woman of power among her own people. It was his belief after the events of today that even in death she retained power and her soul or essence wasn’t resting easily anywhere in the afterlife. She might have been preserved in a peaceful and happy attitude but he wasn’t fooled.

As he’d been telepathing with Timtur he’d been moving through the forest holding Jezari’s hand as she was taken to the hospital and continuing to supply his power to her recuperating body. The group was moving toward the hospital at a run and he was pleased to see Aydarr had ordered the area cleared of all humans. Guards were posted plentifully and Jezari and her rescuers reached the hospital unimpeded by onlookers.

“I think a different room than the one she had last time,” Megan said as the group entered the hall. “This way.”

“Good idea,” Hainn approved. Jezari had been so emotionally scarred by her year in the hospital even though everything done here had been to heal her mind and body.

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