Chapter 10
Zahn stood on the upstairs landing, keeping watch over the entire suite, while staying out of sight just as a personal guard should, unless out in public. He was keenly aware that Au'revele had moved past him twice without giving any indication that she knew he was there. Either she intentionally completely ignored his presence, or she was so unaware of her surroundings she truly didn’t notice him. Twice! And it was completely unacceptable!
Quin gave him a sharp nod when they went past. It was barely perceptible, but it was still a recognition of the fact that he stood there, keeping everything and everyone safe. Surely Au'revele saw that much! A deep irritated rumble left his chest and rattled up through his chest once more.
Quin, who was now downstairs with his visitors, lifted his head and stared directly at Zahn still standing in the shadows. “Is there a problem, Zahn?” Quin demanded sharply.
“No, Sire. There is not,” Zahn answered at once.
Quin continued to stare at him for just long enough to silently convey what he thankfully didn’t say out loud, which was… handle your shit, or keep it to yourself. When there was no more snarl or indications of irritation overheard from the upstairs landing, Quin went back to visiting with his friends.
“Are you well?” Rel asked, taking care to keep his voice just barely a whisper.
“I am fine,” Zahn harshly whispered back.
“Apparently, you’re not,” Rel said.
“There is no cause for concern. I’m merely on edge,” Zahn said.
“Is that what you call it now?” Rel asked.
“Call what?” Zahn asked, finally turning his head just enough to see Rel .
Rel shook his head dismissively. “Just claim the female and be done with it.”
“I do not have an Ehlealah,” Zahn spat from between clenched teeth.
“Yes, you do. You just don’t have the courage to make her yours. Seems you don’t want anyone else to have her either, and you’re not very happy about the fact that she pays you no notice.”
“Keep your attentions on your own life, not mine,” Zahn said.
Moments later the kitchen staff were admitted to the suite and with great flare set up a meal for all to share. Zahn and Rel only waited long enough for the kitchen staff to leave, before they, too, took their leave.
“Are you sure you don’t wish to have a meal with us?” Quin called out as the two males came quietly down the stairs and turned toward the door.
“No, thank you, Sire,” Rel said, giving a regal bow.
“No, thank you. I do not have much of an appetite,” Zahn said.
“I suggest you find an outlet for some of that aggression, or preferably address the cause.”
“I will, Sire,” Zahn said.
Both males bowed once more before leaving the suite. Once out in the corridor, all pretense of stealth was dropped. It didn’t matter how much noise they made, they weren’t trying to blend in. “Do you want company?” Rel asked.
Zahn shook his head. “I just want some sleep.”
Rel nodded understandingly. “I’m going to find something to eat, then I’m going to sleep myself. I think these next few days are going to be hectic.”
“How so?” Zahn asked.
“The Sirena is going to give birth. It’s apparent.”
“How do you know that?”
“Six sisters, half younger than me, half older than me. I know the look of a female ready to give birth. Mark my words, it will be soon. ”
“Rest well, Rel,” Zahn said, before disappearing into his own rooms across the hall from the royal residence.
“And you,” Rel answered as he whistled to himself on his way to the dining room.
~~~
Bart stood at the juncture of the service hallway with the royal corridor in the East wing. His hands rested on Mirilla’s waist as he looked down into her eyes. “I don’t understand why I can’t walk you to your door,” he said for the third time since leaving Vivian and Quin’s quarters.
“Because my rooms are in the West wing, it’s just better if you don’t. You will be stopped at multiple checkpoints and pointedly asked for your reason for asking entrance.”
“To see you,” he said, grinning down at her before lowering his head and pressing a kiss to her lips.
She didn’t answer, lost and breathless in his kiss and embrace.
He pulled back slowly, smirking as he waited for her to open her closed eyes.
When she did open her eyes, her lips still slightly apart and glistening from his kiss, he smiled at her. “I don’t want to let you go, and from the look on your face, you don’t want to go either.”
“I don’t. But I can’t very well spend the night in the royal residence.”
“Why not? I am.”
“You’re family. I’m not.”
“I have a private bedroom on the first floor. There is no reason you can’t spend the night in my private bedroom.”
“I’m sorry. As much as I’d like to, I just wasn’t comfortable with everyone seeing us going to your room together for the night.”
“It didn’t bother you the last time I was here. ”
“You had private quarters the last time you were here. You weren’t a guest in someone else’s quarters, and especially not the royal residence.”
“True.” He let go of her and took a step back. “Forgive me. It’s just that I’ve thought of you every night since I saw you last. I don’t care if all we do is sit and talk all night. I just hate to let you go to your room, leaving me in my room, both of us all alone.”
“I feel the same way, but, I’m not ready to make whatever this is, common knowledge, Bart. I need a little more time.”
Bart sighed. “Then perhaps breakfast?”
“It will be an early one. I have much to oversee in the morning, and even more to set in motion. I usually take a quick breakfast in the morning, then get right to it.”
“Tell me what time and I’ll be waiting. Do you eat in the dining room?”
“I do. I’ll be there for 4:00 A. M., if you’d care to join me.”
“I’ll be there. Unless you decide to come visit me later tonight. Then we can both go to breakfast together.”
“And how would I convince the guards to let me in after everyone is asleep?” she asked laughingly.
“I’ll tell them you are a personal friend of mine and you can come and go as you please.”
“I really don’t want everyone to know where I spend my nights.”
“Au’revele is sleeping in the nanny’s room in the nursery tonight to be closer to Vivian. Remember?”
“Yes, but I think perhaps she’d mind me tiptoeing through her living room while she sleeps.”
“I don’t think she’ d know.”
Mirilla feigned shock. “You tempt me to do unspeakable things!” she teased.
“You can do whatever you like, I’ll say it was my idea and I called for you.” He leaned over kissing her again. “At any rate, my room is the closest to the small downstairs kitchen. It shares a common wall with my bedroom. Do you know where it is? ”
“I do. I’ve been in the East royal residence many times. But don’t be too disappointed if I don’t come tonight. It would be taking a chance of being seen.”
“Then until tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow.”
She kissed him back, then backed away a few steps down the service hallway, not wanting to take her eyes off him.
“I’ll make sure the guards know that you are allowed in to visit me at any time. Just in case,” he teased.
“You’re going to get me in so much trouble,” she laughed, shaking her head.
“Makes it even more exciting,” he said.
“Goodnight, Mr. Bartholomew.”
“Good night, Ms. Mirilla,” he mimicked her formality, and watched until she’d moved so far down the service hallway that he couldn’t see her anymore.
Huffing a sigh, he returned to Quin and Vivian’s quarters, nodding and smiling at the guards at the door as they parted to give him access to the door. Hesitating before closing the door, he looked back at both of them. “You know Mirilla?” he asked on a whim.
“We do,” one of them answered.
“If I’m here, and she requests entry, please grant it. She’s a personal friend of mine.”
They both simply nodded. He was the Chairman of the Unified Consortium Defense, and wasn’t to be argued with.
“Thank you,” he said, proceeding into the royal residence and closing the door behind himself.
“I will contact Sire Zha Quin Tha to confirm the addition to the approved entry list,” Yaghn said.
“No, it should be Zahn. He’s the head of security for our Sire’s household,” Var don answered.
“You’re right. I’ll let him know of the Chairman’s request.” Yaghn smoothed his hand over the implant he’d recently received, and tapped it twice indicating the individual he wanted. Each implant had the ability to reach Zha Quin directly with one tap, Zahn with two, or an open connection to any who happened to be on duty with three.
Zahn, running like a crazy male back and forth across the grounds of the palace within its protective walls, stopped to answer the ping waiting for his reply. “Zahn!” he half barked, out of breath and slowing his run to a walk.
“Var don here. Chairman Bartholomew has requested that we move Mirilla to the approved visitors list so that she’s not turned away should she come to visit him while he’s here.”
“To the royal residence, you mean?” Zahn asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“It’s fine. She’s already got access to the rest of the palace and is recommended by the Sovereigna to assist the Sirena in any way needed. She is obviously trusted.”
“Agreed. We wanted to confirm with you before doing so.”
“It’s fine. I’ll advise Sire Zha Quin.”
“Thank you, sir,” Var’don said, then tapped his ear again to end the communication.
Zahn, shirtless, glistening in the moonlight from the sweat trying to cool his body as he pushed it to its limits, rolled his head on his shoulders to stretch his muscles, extended each arm across his chest toward the opposite shoulder, and twisted at the waist. “Even Bart can find a place in his life for a female. How?” he demanded of the night around himself. “How do they do it?” Shaking his head in frustration and stomping angrily about he realized he felt like he was being watched. Taking a moment to become attuned to the environment around him, he picked up on a slight movement in one of the smaller windows. He took a few steps back and did a quick count of the windows from the front of the building, to the window he was sure he saw movement in and realized it was the nursery, and that was where Au'revele was supposed to be spending the night.
“And she watches,” he whispered as he stared directly at the window, unconsciously holding himself a little taller, spreading his shoulders a little wider.
Waiting for any sign from her that she was still watching, he moved closer to the window, looking for any little movement to give her away, but there was none. Then his mind started with the questions. “Did she see me? Does she like what she sees?” Of course no answer came to him, which took him to the last two questions which were enough to shame him into leaving the area, and quickly. “Why do I care?” he growled. “This is madness! What has she done to me?” he asked, realizing he was prowling outside the window he expected her to appear in. Chiding himself for his weakness, he broke into a run again, determined to exhaust himself so that at least his body would collapse in exhaustion rather than lie awake all night, thinking of his hands on her soft, silvery skin. Her fathomless green eyes staring trustingly up at him as he loomed over her.
“Enough!” he shouted, forcing himself into a full out run to leave her, and whatever thoughts of her he didn’t seem to ever be able to banish, behind. At least until tomorrow, then the battle would start all over again.
~~~
Au'revele stood at the small window in the private bedroom of the nursery where she’d decided to sleep that night. She’d heard a familiar male’s voice and peeked out to see who if it was the male she thought it was. It was.
Sighing in appreciation of the view she was gifted with, she watched as the male stood a short distance away with his hand pressed to a place just beneath his ear as he accepted a communication from someone obviously on his security team. She watched with even more interest as he finished his conversation, then began to stretch and work the muscles in his body. And Goddess, what a body this male had. The deep violet hues of his skin glistened in the moonlight from the sheen of sweat on his body, the striations of every muscle reinforcing the essence of strength with every movement he made, the waist band of the short pants he wore slung low on his hips, and the rhythmic swing of a certain appendage concealed within those shorts forcing the threat of her drooling — literally — as she lifted a delicate hand to discreetly dab at the corner of her mouth at the thought of exactly what would be gifted to any female brave enough to find out.
“What is wrong with me?” she murmured aloud.
Then, without warning, he seemed to become aware of her presence. He stepped further away from the palace wall and seemed to focus nearer the front of the palace before his eyes gradually worked their way down the exterior wall toward her. Sucking in her breath, she threw herself against the wall to her right, pressing her body as flat as she could, barely even breathing despite the fact that he was outside and couldn’t possibly see through the wall to where she stood. She closed her eyes and silently repeated a quick mantra… don’t see me, don’t see me, don’t see me…”
After only a few moments of what seemed like hours, the male shouted, then turned and sprinted away.
She exhaled the breath she’d been holding and allowed her body to sag against the wall behind her. She let her head fall back as she blinked up at the ceiling. “Why him? Why of all the males I’ve been exposed to. Of all the males I could choose, is this one, the only one that hates me endlessly and without reason, the only one I can’t stop thinking of? Goddess help me force Zahn from my thoughts. He doesn’t want me,” she whispered.
~~~
Just after midnight Vivian sat hunched over on the toilet, one hand wrapped around her middle, the other pressed to her mouth as her small body trembled as it weathered yet another near-crippling bout of cramps and equally crippling wave of nausea. “Oh, God, please make it stop,” she whimpered as the nausea reached another crescendo causing her to slide off the toilet and heave into it instead .
She was so lost in trying to ride out what she was sure was a reaction to some food left out too long, and not wake Quin that she didn’t hear the door ease open. Another heave of her stomach attempting to rid itself of the offending food yet again, and she felt strong arms come around her.
“Shhh. I have you,” Quin said, curling his body around hers and holding her steady until the heaving stopped. Once she seemed to have gotten a little relief, he sat back on his haunches, taking her with him. “Why didn’t you wake me?” he asked, careful to keep his voice calm and non-accusatory.
“So you can scold me for snacking on food in the middle of the night that was probably left out for too long?” she asked shakily, trying to pull in an uneasy breath.
“No, so I could take care of you while you suffer through it.”
She let her head fall back against his chest and he started rocking her gently.
“No, oh, no, no no. Don’t rock,” she begged.
Immediately he stopped. “Tell me what you need.”
“I need this nausea to stop.”
“Is that the only symptom?” he asked.
“Yes. And I’m cramping so bad. So bad, Quin. But I haven’t had to go to the bathroom. It’s just nausea and vomiting so far. But I’m sure it’s coming. The pressure and cramps… It’s coming. I’m going to need you to leave me in here alone when that happens.”
“Not a chance in the universe I’m leaving you alone,” he said as he stood up effortlessly, with her in his arms.
“There are some things a woman doesn’t want her man to see, and herself in the throes of food poisoning is one of them. I’m gonna need you to go.”
“We’re both going,” he said as he pulled her gown down around her body, then grabbed one of his velvet, emerald-green cloaks and wrapped it around her like a blanket.
“Where?” she asked, clearly irritated.
“To medical.”
“But… ”
“No. I will not hear of it, Vivi. You are feeling unwell. The cramping and pressure of your lower body and the vomiting you can’t control. The restlessness you’ve displayed the last several days. You will be seen, and only then will we consider returning home if the doctors determine you are not in labor.”
“I’m not in labor, I ate something bad.” Almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth, she was reconsidering. “Am I in labor?” she asked.
“I do not know, but it is very likely.”
“How could I not know I’m in labor?” she asked as he quickly left their bedroom and went straight to the nursery.
“Have you ever witnessed a female giving birth?” he asked as he opened the door to the nursery and called out urgently. “Au'revele!”
“No, I haven’t. I just assumed it would be lots of pain and then the baby would be here.”
“Are you having lots of pain?”
“Yes. But I’m vomiting, and I feel like I need to go to the bathroom, but can’t.”
“Sire?” a slightly groggy Au'revele said, as she opened her bedroom door and came toward him as she tied the belt of her robe around her waist. “Is everything alright?”
“I think we’re having a baby.”
“Go, take her now. I’ll go after the bag she’s had packed upstairs and bring it. I’ll only be a moment behind you,” Au'revele said.
“Have you seen women give birth, Au'revele?” Vivian asked as Quin headed for the connecting door of Au'revele’s quarters since they were closer and would put him out into the corridor quicker than running back through his own home.
“Yes.”
“Do they vomit and feel like they need to go to the bathroom?” Vivian called to her.
“Not always, but they can.”
“I think I might be in labor, Quin,” Vivian said.
“I’m aware,” Quin answered .
“Please tell Bart we’ll let him know if we need him there,” Vivian called back to Au'revele as they entered Au'revele’s quarters, then bolted into the corridor.
Quin accessed the service hallway to enter the main part of the palace before taking the stairs three at a time until he reached the third floor where the medical suite was housed. He burst through the door with Vivian in his arms, and a bellow on his lips. “Get me the doctor, now! My Sirena is in labor!”
The poor nurse left to man the overnight hours, jumped to her feet and started pressing buttons, calling in every medical personnel they had.
Vivian groaned, curling up in Quin’s arms as she began to pant and hold onto her own stomach. “Oh, God! It hurts, Quin. It hurts so bad. I need a toilet.”
“Here, bring her in here,” the nurse said, throwing doors opened and switching on lights. She threw back the hydraulic lid on a strange looking bed and stepped back indicating that Quin should place Vivian on the strange looking bed.
“I don’t think you need a toilet, Sirena. I think you need a birthing platform. We’ve got one, and it’s been calibrated for you based on the information your usual physician provided. It’s all ready and waiting.”
Vivian was panting, her gaze taking in the bed — if you could call it that — that seemed to be a cross between the beds and stirrups that most women were accustomed to from regular visits with their gynecologists, and a healing chamber. But instead of lying down, she’d be sitting up, her legs in the stirrup-like supports, her feet pressed against two rectangular pieces of metal, and what could only be described as a clear bassinet of sorts placed lengthwise from where the baby would exit her body and extending toward her toes.
“What the hell is this?” she demanded between gritted teeth.
“It’s a birthing platform. You sit there, your legs are supported here, and your feet are pressed here so that you can brace yourself to push the youngling out. We’ll recline the platform enough to be sure you’re comfortable, but not so much so that you impede the view of those who’ve gathered to witness the birth,” the nurse explained with a bright smile. “If there are complications, the lid is even clear so that all witnesses can still see.”
“No! Hell no! Get me Doc! Now! In fact, get me to the ship, right fucking now! Nobody is witnessing this birth except me! In fact, I’m moving back there! Now! Tonight! You can come or not! I don’t really give a damn, Quin.”
“Vivi!”
“Don’t Vivi me! You let anybody in this room except us and Au'revele, I swear to God I’ll cross my legs and there will be nobody being born here tonight! Get me Doc, or get me to Doc. And whatever freaky practices you people have; forget them, it’s not happening!”
“I’m here!” Au'revele said excitedly from the doorway. She had the bag Vivian had packed in preparation for being in medical for a couple of days in one hand and smiled expectantly at everyone.
“We are not having a baby here! Get me out of here, now!”
“Sirena! You cannot stop a baby once it’s begun its entrance to the world.”
“Watch me!” she struggled, kicking and shoving at Quin until he put her down. She was so much in fight or flight mode and struggling to stand upright that she didn’t realize he was accessing the com unit implanted near his ear.
“Sirena…” Au'revele started, dropping the bag on the floor and hurrying to Vivian’s side to try to help steady her.
Vivian continued trying to force herself into an upright position, totally ignoring Au'revele, but at least she didn’t push her away.
“Vivian,” Au'revele tried again.
Vivi paused long enough to look up at Au'revele with tears in her eyes. “I don’t want people watching this. This is insane!”
“No one will watch. Our Sire will not allow it. Even now he is speaking with his people. It will be as you wish.”
The sound of more people rushing in ended up being three males in green coats similar to lab coats. They at once started trying to nudge Au'revele out of the way, which ended up with Quin bellowing at everyone in the medical suite. “EVERYONE STOP!”