Page 74 of Rhaz's Redemption
Rhaz
“How was the birth?” Beatrice asked Julie later that day. The two dekes’s had become one and we all happily sat around the fire celebrating the return of their lost sons.
“Well, it wasn’t easy, I’ll tell you that,” Julie laughed. She’d given birth to her and Orsu’s son a week ago. He was a big baby with fat cheeks and fat little legs to match.
“As you can see, he’s not exactly small,” Julie held up the sleeping baby who looked as peaceful as a person could be.
“She was amazing,” Orsu smiled down at his mate.
“I screamed the entire time,” Julie laughed again.
“Yes, you screamed like a warrior, and you bore our son into the world, what more could I ask for?”
“How are you feeling?” Beatrice asked. “How’s the recovery been?”
“I’m feeling great actually,” Julie looked over at Sozu who was introducing Talia to his younger cousins. “Sozu checked on me every day after the birth and gave me as much of his healing power as he could.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re doing well,” my mate smiled. “And that little Marcelo is doing well too. How did you pick his name?”
“It was my father’s name. Orsu said it was alright with him if we named him after my father.” Julie looked up at her mate with a warm smile.
“Yes, we named this one after your father and we will name the next one after mine,” he agreed with an amused tone.
“Next one? Let’s wait until this one can at least walk before we think about the next one,” Julie shook her head with a smile.
“We will take all the time you need, but we will have many children and they will all be smart and brave like their mother.”
“Oh stop,” Julie blushed, but Orsu only widened his smile. He was so proud to be with her. Orsu radiated joy being around his little family.
“How is it that everyone ended up in the village anyway?” I asked. I had been surprised to come out of the ravine and find myself in the middle of a battle.
“We were looking for Fatima and Anusha. We never even made it back to the mountain after we were rescued,” Julie explained.
“We demanded answers from Dameron and his men, and when they wouldn’t give us any a fight broke out.”
“So we won the battle, but our friends are still lost?” Beatrice sighed.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Orsu admitted. “To their credit, I don’t think they were lying. No one seems to know where that giant took Anusha, and we’ve checked all the local hunting caves for Fatima and Drelic, but they weren’t there.”
“That’s not good,” Beatrice chewed her bottom lip. Fatima was her closest friend here, and Anusha had been close to them both.
“We’ll find her,” I assured my mate.
“I want to help look for her,” she said.
“Then we’ll go together,” I squeezed her hand and she squeezed mine back.
Someone across from us growled and we turned our attention that way. Favalor had tried to sit next to Zander’s sister Vianna, but by the piercing look on his face, Zander wasn’t going to let Drovo’s brother anywhere near her.
“What’s that about?” Beatrice asked.
“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “Zander doesn’t seem to like Favalor very much.”
Vianna, who we all discovered was a snake shifter, slapped her brother on the shoulder and stormed off.
“Zander should be careful,” Julie commented. “They’re at that age where passions run hot and the yearning runs even hotter.”
“They are young adults,” Orsu added. “They will sort things out for themselves.”
