Page 13 of Hainn (Sectors New Allies #19)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

J ezari 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 out to 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? When we 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.”

“No, you have nothing to apologize for. It’s the woman’s decision and if you needed space to come to terms with the idea of motherhood and-and being my mate, I have no qualms about the delay.” He grinned. “Of course I’d rather make my Claim sooner than later but?—”

She couldn’t stop the giggle as she contemplated the hospital room. “Not here and now!”

“With my luck Dr. Garrison would walk in at the worst possible moment,” he said. “No, in the privacy of my—our—cave.”

“Can we go there now?” she asked. “I hate being here. I understand why you brought me to the hospital?—”

“Dr. Garrison insisted since there was a pregnancy.” He flicked a glance at the scanner in the corner. “The baby is fine by the way. I saw a holo of him or her while Megan did the scan but we didn’t check the sex. I wanted to wait for you to be awake so we could find out together, if you want to know now and not be surprised.”

Touched, Jezari kissed him and the gentle caress turned into a more involved interaction for a few minutes. “I’m too tired to do the proper job of claiming tonight,” she said, lying against the pillows and heaving a sigh. “My head and my heart are oh so willing but my body is exhausted after everything that happened yesterday on the dive. But can we get out of here and go to our residence cave? I hate this place, too many bad memories, even though you and Raeblinn and so many other people took such good care of me. The nightmares were intense, the pain of my body rebuilding was excruciating at times?—”

“I remember,” he said, hugging her. He’d been with her for more than a few therapy sessions after he became the lead healer when Timtur stepped away. He’d taken on and dispersed much of her pain and fear and the toll had been tough on him. He’d been glad to do it for Jezari, especially as she came to mean more and more to him personally and not merely as a Badari patient. “I’m not wild about this place either. You can do anything you want, sweetheart, unless one of the Alphas countermands us and they’d have to find us first. If you genuinely want to go home tonight, I’ll get you there.” He slid off the bed and held out his hand.

“Do I have any clothes?” she asked, picking with distaste at the hospital gown.

“Keshara brought you a selection earlier in hopes you’d be getting out.” He handed her a small backpack. “Want me to wait outside?”

“Seven hells no, you’ve already seen it all.” She laughed, happy for the distraction. “I may need help anyway. My arms feel like lead weights are attached and my legs aren’t much better.”

Together they got her dressed and she assured him over and over she was recovered enough to walk to the cave. Hand in hand they left the hospital room and proceeded out of the hospital, past the night nurses and Dr. Madarian, mate to Camron, who was on duty.

“I let Dr. Garrison know we were going,” Hainn said when they paused to chat with the doctor briefly. “Middle of the night or not. I told her in my opinion as a Healer Jezari was fine to leave.”

The doctor eyed Jezari up and down, eyes narrowing as she took in how much she was leaning on Hainn. “I’m not going to argue—I know how fast Badari recuperate from even the worst wounds. Promise to com us if anything changes and as for you, Daughter, straight to bed when you get home and rest. Your body is working double time now, growing another person as well as healing.” She shook her finger at Jezari but her smile was warm. “We’ll be in touch to set up regular appointments to monitor the pregnancy.”

Jezari would rather conduct her entire pregnancy on her own but Aydarr would never agree to her hiding herself away and maintaining complete privacy, not with the first full blood Badari child on the way. “Thank you, doctor.”

She must have sounded like her agreement was forced because Gemma touched her arm and said softly, “Hey, we’re not so bad—we’re on your side, always. And remember Megan carried a half Badari baby to full term so she’ll undoubtedly have advice and answers to questions either of you may come up with over the next few months.”

Impulsively Jezari gave Gemma a hug and then embarrassed by her unusual emotions allowed Hainn to pull her away and out the door.

They took the walk to Hainn’s cave slowly, enjoying the balmy night and the three moons overhead. Jezari decided the exercise was good for her, working out her stiffness and sore muscles, and being alone with Hainn in the night was calming. Happiness filled her heart although by the time she reached the entrance to the cave she was more than ready to lie down again. Hainn supported her inside and she refused the offer of any food so they went straight to the bedroom.

“I wish I felt up to claiming you now,” she told him as he helped her get her boots and pants off. “I don’t want to wait.”

Hainn kissed her lips and then placed little kisses and bites on her neck, which tickled. “I can hold off a few more hours until you’re back to full strength, sweetheart. Even if I wasn’t a healer I can see you need sleep more than vigorous lovemaking right now. From what the mated men have said, the moment of claiming is special and I want us both to savor it properly. Scoot over.” He nudged her with his hip and she obliged.

Watching Hainn take off his clothes was a feast for the eyes in Jezari’s opinion as her man was all hard, cut muscles, big everywhere, with a package to match. When he came into the bed naked she pulled him into her arms and nestled close, ear against his chest to hear the steady heartbeat.

“Thank you,” she said, “For saving me today. It must have been terrifying to swim into the hold after the earthquake.”

“I wasn’t leaving you,” he said, kissing the top of her head and tightening his arms around her. “I’d have gone into the Afterlife with you at the bottom of the fucking lake rather than leave you alone for eternity.”

“Like Ilynnis was,” she murmured.

“Not like her at all—I’d have been there,” he said in a firm tone. “But this outcome is much better for you and me and our baby.”

“Absolutely,” she said, running her hand over his abs and kissing his chest. “I’m blessed to have an exemplary Badari Warrior for my mate.”

“I’m equally fortunate to have a Badari Daughter for mine,” he replied immediately. “Now, enough talking, time to rest.”

Jezari wasn’t sure sleep would be possible for her but as soon as she closed her eyes, she was sinking into a peaceful, dreamless state and let go, confident Hainn would keep her safe.

She woke slowly, stretching and yawning and taking stock of how she felt. Overall good, maybe even very good. It took effort in her just awakened state to remember where she was but Hainn’s scent was on the sheets and the pillows and she inhaled with satisfaction. My mate, in everything but the actual claiming and the mate bond. Deep in her core warmth flared and desire rose. Where was the man in question? They had claiming to do and she was suddenly impatient.

As if her thoughts had drawn him, Hainn entered the room, clad in a low-slung pair of sweatpants and carrying a mug of Badari tea. “Good, you’re awake. I could tell you were in a healing sleep but it was about time to check on you in the conscious state.”

She took the tea and the kiss he gave her and eyed him up and down. “This is a good beginning but there’s something else I want more.” As she took a long sip of the hot beverage she gave him a provocative gaze over the lip of the cup.

“Oh really and what might your desire be?” Hainn loosened the string holding his sweatpants up and allowed them to slide to the floor, revealing he’d gone commando. His cock was already engorged and slapped against his rock hard stomach. Rubbing it from root to tip twice he gave her a grin. “Something along these lines?”

“Exactly.” Hastily she finished the tea and set the mug aside on the nightstand. Ripping off the tee shirt which had been her nightgown, she kicked off the covers and beckoned to him with one hand. “I think it’s time we took care of the whole claiming issue.”

Like a giant cat Hainn prowled onto the bed, pulling her flat by the ankles and coming over her. His arousal prodded at her already soaked and aching folds and she opened her legs wider to accommodate him. The tip of his shaft pushed against her and she wriggled to invite him to go deeper. Looping her arms around his neck, she pulled him in for a kiss that started off passionate and rapidly became incandescent with need and desire as they ravished each other’s mouths, tongues dancing and dueling. Hainn drew back and then seated himself to the hilt inside her in one motion. Jezari took a deep breath and sighed in pleasure as she adjusted to his length and girth.

“Exactly where I want you to be, where I need you to be,” she said, kissing his shoulder and running the tips of her talons down his back lightly. Seized by an urge she hadn’t expected, she exerted all her strength to roll them over so she could be on top. After a startled exclamation Hainn went along with it, wrapping her in his arms protectively. Seated atop her lover, his manhood sheathed in her folds, she moved her hips in a circle, leisurely tormenting him, while studying his face. “Are you ready to be Claimed?” she asked, hearing a purr in her voice and knowing her inner predator was completely on board with the idea.

For answer he gripped her hips to hold her to her task and lifted his chin to expose his neck. “Your mate mark is what I want more than anything right now, sweetheart.”

Jezari set herself to bring them to fever pitch as fast as she could, which wasn’t a challenge with Hainn sheathed deep inside her and his hands caressing her breasts as they swung free above him. She was one tingling mass of sensations, each better than the last. Clamping her inner muscles on his manhood Jezari worked to milk him of the precious hot seed. Her man was arching beneath her, straining to hold himself back when she felt the first tremors of her own orgasm rippling in response to the stimulus his manhood was exerting on all her nerve endings. She threw her head back and screamed his name as she let herself go into the ecstasy of the climax. With a roar Hainn let loose his own iron control and held her tight to shudder through his matching release.

Like the hunting cat her inner beast truly was, she snapped her head forward and down, latching onto the soft spot where his neck met his shoulders and biting deep. The hot spiced blood which spurted into her mouth elevated her to a second climax more powerful than any she’d ever had before and this time she shouted triumphantly, “Mine!”

“Yours,” he said in a deep voice. “Only yours, forever.”

Jezari licked the spot where she’d marked him to stop the blood flow and barely had time to complete the task before Hainn rolled her over and onto her knees in front of him. She whimpered at the loss of his cock but a moment later he’d lined himself up at her opening and was pounding into her with a force she welcomed. She and her predator wanted to be thoroughly claimed by a worthy mate who could match their own ferocity and power and Hainn was undisputably that male. She held her position, digging into the mattress with her talons and doing her best to meet his every move with her own calculated to drive him wild. Holding her locked to him, Hainn roared and thrust a final time, his seed spurting yet again. While she was in the throes of her release, spurred on by his passion, Hainn leaned over and sank his fangs into her neck, maybe not as savagely as she’d done, but with controlled force. She could hardly think through the haze of arousal, pleasure and pride as he declared, “Mine. My mate at last.”

“All yours, my love,” she agreed, collapsing onto the bed with him on top of her, both breathing hard.

He rolled off and repositioned her to rest her head on his shoulder. “I’m the happiest man in the valley today, claiming and being claimed. I love you, Badari Daughter.”

“I love you back, South Seas man,” she said.

For a time neither said another word as they lay together, breathing hard. Finally Jezari laughed. “We’re both purring,” she said, “Like a pair of great cats.”

“We’re happy,” he answered, “And so are our beasts.”

“We’ll be bruised.” Jezari touched her neck gingerly where he’d bitten her.

“Worth it to be properly claimed.” Hainn’s answer was confident. “And we heal fast.”

“Can you see the mate mark yet?”

“It takes a few hours from what I’ve been told but I’m sure the Great Mother intends to give us the mark and the mate bond.”

Her stomach rumbled and they both laughed. “I guess I need my breakfast now, having had you,” she said. “And I am eating for two.”

Hainn laid his hand over her belly and she put hers on top of it. “This—our baby—is a miracle, you know that, Jezari? We’re not supposed to be fertile, any of us and even the blood transfusion has only worked for one couple so far. The goddess has chosen to greatly bless us. I’m filled with gratitude and love for you and our cub. You’ve made dreams I didn’t even know I had come true.”

“I’m the same,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “I never could have dreamt of you when I was a girl growing up in the complex. Yet there you were in the South Seas, waiting for me. The twists of fate it’s taken for us to come together are dizzying.”

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “Meant to be.”

It was a tender moment and Jezari had never experienced such happiness, but now her stomach rumbled again. “Breakfast?”

“Late lunch would be more like it,” he said pulling her to her feet. “You slept like your inner beast was settling in for hibernation.”

“Lunch? It’s afternoon?” Panicked she looked at the chrono for the first time.

“What’s wrong?”

“They won’t have done anything with the lady of the lake without me, will they?”

He shook his head. “Calm yourself. Aydarr said you’d need today for healing and he’d wait until you could be consulted. The container is under guard and under wraps and Timtur has asked the goddess to watch over it as well.”

Jezari relaxed into him again. “Good. She’s not to be buried is what the Great Mother told me. We’re to open the container and then my impression is somehow she’ll be absorbed into Ushandirr itself. The goddess wasn’t clear except to state Ilynis’s beliefs didn’t include burial.”

“We’ll do it properly, don’t worry.” Hainn hugged her. “Seeing her preserved in the globe was unsettling. I understand why she haunted you, whether there was anything supernatural about it or not.”

Jezari shuddered and changed the subject. “What about MARL? Did we get what he needed?”

“Daegan’s sent me a couple of updates today. You know there’s no love lost between him and MARL so of course the AI is being irritating. He said a few of the components were degraded?—”

She snorted. “After 10,000 years? You think?”

“And some of the items Daegan’s team brought up he says he has no use for but yes, he did finally admit the module he was in need of was salvaged. It seems to have been damaged by the crash to a small extent but he told Aydarr and Jill he’d be able to work around the problem and regenerate himself.” Hainn shrugged. “Or words to that effect. I’m not an engineer, just a healer.”

“You’re not just anything,” she said heatedly on his behalf. “Don’t run yourself down to me, mate.”

“I love your ferociousness in defending me.” There was a long involved kiss before Hainn resumed his status report. “MARL wanted to take all the equipment we brought up and go off by himself to work but Aydarr and Jill said absolutely not. Aydarr insisted Elianna and her two top techs be allowed to observe and assist as appropriate so they’re all cloistered in a new room MARL’s created adjacent to Aydarr and Jill’s quarters, working hard. And now you’ve heard the extent of my information about yesterday. Aside from you no one was injured or had any trouble with the dive and no one is ever going down there again. Especially not you.” He bumped noses with her. “I’m going to be angry retroactively for quite a while knowing you put yourself at such a risk, diving to that depth alone, repeatedly.”

“On reflection I’m not sure I understand it myself,” she said, trying not to visualize the cold dark depths of the lake. “I think it was a combination of the lady’s compulsion on me and also after my experience of nearly dying, then spending a year in recovery, I felt as if it didn’t matter what I did, you know? I’d cheated death, with a lot of help, and I could keep thumbing my nose at it. I was numb, in some ways.” She studied his face as he watched her intently. “Until you. And now the baby of course. My attitude towards life has completely changed.”

“Good. I may need repeated reassurances,” he said with a grin but sounding serious. “I’m not planning to lose you to any harebrained stunts like those dives. You have to take me with you on any wild excursions you decide to undertake.”

“Deal.”

They took a shower together, which became quite involved and messy but fun, and then ate from the containers Sandara the chef had sent over via messenger earlier in the day while Jezari was asleep.

“She’s in our pack, you know,” Hainn said as he ladled out seconds of a pasta dish for both of them. “When the war ends and we move home to the South Seas, she comes with us.”

“Lucky us,” Jezari replied with total sincerity.

Congratulations on your mating and welcome to the pack, Daegan said in her head. By the way Hainn sat up straighter she was sure the Alpha was speaking to them both. Are you two recovered enough from yesterday to attend a meeting in an hour with Aydarr, Jill, Flo, myself and Timtur? We need to make the plans for your lady of the lake. She’s unsettling to everyone and Aydarr wants the honors done for her as soon as possible. We all acknowledge it must be conducted in the proper way, as you will direct.

Goddess give me strength, Jezari thought, keeping her sentiment to herself . She reached for Hainn’s hand, anchoring herself with her mate’s touch. Of course. We’ll be there. The admin building? She hoped she’d only telepathed her question to Daegan and not every Badari in the valley. By Hainn’s approving nod she guessed she’d managed.

Aydarr’s cave. Refreshments will be served as well to celebrate your accomplishment yesterday and your mating.

And Daegan was gone from her head. Jezari took a deep breath. “An hour? Seven hells, we’ve got to get to the Daughters’ residence so I can put on more presentable clothing than this borrowed tee shirt of yours.”

“Keshara sent over a whole container of your stuff,” Hainn said, slapping his forehead. “Sorry, I forgot in the press of…other things.”

“I forgive you but right now I’ve got to be all business, no time for distractions.” She freed herself from his embrace and went in search of the aforementioned container. She’d have to remember to thank her sister and former Alpha for taking care of her needs.

Dawn was breaking in a beautiful manner, with golden sunlight beginning to wash through the trees and mist rising from the lake in eerie shapes. The vista in the sky was mesmerizing, like a portal to another world. There were birds singing already and a fish leapt from the water to snag a bug and land with a splash.

Jezari took a deep breath, savoring the crisp air. She stood slightly apart from a group of Badari which included pretty much everyone who’d been in the planning meeting the other night. She also saw Ivokk’s mate Sandara standing with him as well as the three men who’d been Hainn’s team to bring the lady to the surface, and the men who’d been on Daegan’s team as well. Aydarr, Jill and MARL stood at the forefront of the group, with Daegan and Flo right behind.

The men who’d brought the alien woman’s body to the surface were given the honor of unveiling her coffin, removing the sturdy nets woven for the purpose. There was a gasp as the lady’s face was revealed. Jezari hoped she never had to have to see the woman’s visage again and she had a sudden flash of terror Ilynnis would open her eyes and speak to them.

Steady, Hainn said in her head. She’s long gone and there’s no actual connection to your or your experience. A pulse of love came through the golden mate bond they now shared and Jezari let her eyes linger on his mate mark. She had the matching one on her shoulder as well, thanks to the goddess, and her happiness was complete as a claimed mate.

She nodded to Hainn but didn’t answer him as the next minute he and Timtur began singing a paean to the dawn and the promise of a new day. It was from the ancestral memory, slow and meaningful and she allowed the words to carry her along with them away from her fears. Gripping the flowers she carried in one hand even more tightly, she waited for her part in the ceremony they’d put together.

Badari had no tradition of burial because in the labs the Khagrish scientists disposed of terminated subjects. Since coming to Sanctuary Valley there had been a sad occasion or two for sending a brother into the afterlife and this service for Ilynnis was a version of those simple rites.

When the song concluded, she and Aydarr stepped forward from their separate positions, Jezari in the lead. She raised the bouquet of flowers as if to allow the woman to enjoy the perfume before laying them at the base of container. “You called to me,” she said, “And my people and I answered. We’re not blood of your blood but we ventured below into the depths to remove you from your endless captivity nonetheless. We’ve had our own experience with unfair imprisonment, mistreatment and death. Now we’re free and we stand ready to restore your freedom as well, as best we can in our own way and with the guidance of our Great Mother. May your journey to your own afterlife be simple and may you find your loved ones waiting there for you.”

Jezari moved back a pace or two and Aydarr advanced. He touched one talon to the surface of the container and said, “As the Supreme Alpha of the Badari it’s my honor to assist in this task. As the Daughter has said, now it’s time to go to your own gods with my blessing and the goodwill of my people. Your tasks here are done, your burdens must be set aside, your time has passed.”

MARL floated from his spot at Jill’s side and joined Aydarr. Jezari took note of how his silver carapace sparkled in the sunlight. Whorls of pink, orange and purple color traversed his ‘skin’, accented by tiny turquoise spots which resembled butterflies. Obviously whatever components and power sources had been brought up from Nindjak’s crashed ship had been sufficient to restore him, whether to his original specifications or to a jury rigged set she neither knew nor cared. He’d told them last night he could open the container.

Jezari didn’t see what he did but suddenly a straight-line crack appeared on the surface front of the lady’s closed eyes and the two halves of the clear cover folded into themselves, leaving her exposed to the elements but frozen in her position. Jezari realized she was holding her breath and sent the goddess a fervent prayer to complete this task for them.

The breeze swirled around her and the container, ruffling the skirts of the garment the alien woman had been wearing. A flock of golden feathered songbirds swooped from the cobalt blue sky and flew in a circle with the now open container as the focal point, singing furiously as they did so. Purple petals rained from thin air above, their celestial perfume intoxicating.

Her attention caught by a motion in her peripheral vision, Jezari turned her head to see the goddess standing on a high rock off to the left, her white robes motionless despite the breeze, her face in shadow as ever.

Murmurs from the Badari behind her brought Jezari’s attention back to the body of the alien woman. Something was happening as the birds continued to circle the container. It was as if the woman was becoming sparkling dust, little by little and the wind carried the glittering particles away, lifting them high into the sky as the songbirds escorted them aloft. In a rush the entire body dissolved and a wave of the ashes or whatever they were flew over the lake, whooshing past Aydarr and Jezari and spreading over the surface of the water. A portion of the sparkling fragments sank into the water and the rest were lifted into the sky yet again, to vanish from sight as they journeyed.

Aydarr grabbed Jezari by the elbow and drew her away from the now empty container, which was folding in on itself as if melting. Hainn joined her at a safe distance and they watched together as the lady of the lake’s imprisoning capsule became smaller and smaller until it was a mere puddle of metal on the lakeshore. There was a flare of blue and purple flame and when the afterimage cleared from her eyes, Jezari saw there was nothing left of the container but a scorch mark on the ground, which was a huge relief to her. She wanted all traces of the lady and her sad fate to be gone, nothing left to tie any part of the woman’s soul or essence to the spot.

She checked but the goddess had departed.

“I think our task is complete,” Aydarr said, consulting Jezari. “What say you, Daughter?”

“Yes, there’s nothing else left to deal with,” she said, wondering if she was the only one who’d seen the Great Mother performing her miracle. “Thank you all for helping retrieve her and for coming today to bear witness to the conclusion of Ilynis’s journey.”

“Sandara has catered a special breakfast,” Daegan announced. “Anyone who cares to partake is invited to walk with us to the commissary. The meal is in honor of the ceremony just concluded and also the mating of Hainn and Jezari.” He gave her a glance and a wink, having agreed not to mention the pregnancy for now. Jezari wanted to keep it between herself and Hainn for as long as she could. There’d be a day to announce the news but it wasn’t today, thank the goddess.

One thing left for her to do, one open issue to resolve. Jezari moved to intercept Timtur, laying one hand on his arm. “Thank you for watching over Ilynnis and your words and song today.”

“Of course, Daughter. It was my honor as Chief Healer to help set this ancient wrong to rights.”

“I wanted to apologize for any embarrassment or discomfort I caused you or your mate when I was so sick,” she said, the words coming out in a rush.

Timtur patted her hand and smiled. “It was a new situation for all of us. Lily and I only wished you the best. We understood your condition and what you’d survived at the hands of the Khagrish. I think you ended up with the right healer after all, don’t you?”

Hainn stood at her shoulder, his arm around her waist and she leaned into him. “Oh yes, I couldn’t be happier,” Jezari said.

The Senior Healer winked. “And more good news to come at a later date, I know. But my lips are sealed. See you at the breakfast.” He moved on.

“What a relief to finally address the issue with him and clear the air,” Jezari said, rubbing her chest, where it did indeed feel as if a great weight had been lifted. “I didn’t want things to be awkward for the rest of my life when it came to Timtur. I was so foolish.”

“You were unwell and he was the one thing you could cling to at the time,” Hainn said. “As the humans say, all’s well that ends well. We can move on with our lives to new adventures.”

“More surfing,” she said as they followed the crowd in the direction of the commissary.

With a startled laugh Hainn agreed. “I had other things in mind, I must admit. Parenthood among them”

“Ssh, someone will hear.” After checking to see no one was paying attention to them she gave him a quick kiss.

Hainn stopped and held her close. “Are you satisfied the lady of the lake no longer haunts you?”

“Today was perfect. I saw the goddess—did you?”

“No, I wasn’t so blessed but I felt her presence. The Great Mother watches over us all but you seem to have a special link to her. Fitting for a woman about to be a mother and a healer’s mate.”

“I’ve got nine months to get used to being mated,” she said with amusement. “And then we’ll plunge into our next adventure with the baby.”

“We’ll find ways to spend the time, I’m sure,” Hainn said with a grin. “Surfing, if nothing else. We have to practice our lifts.”

She gave him a mock punch on the shoulder and they linked hands and hastened to catch up to the others, bent on celebrating the events of the day. Jezari was confident she and Hainn could handle whatever the future held for them as long as they were together and she sent the goddess a prayer of thanks for all her interventions.

Enough of looking backward to what she’d endured and survived. Time to face the future and embrace the happiness ahead. There might be a war on but within the overarching situation, Jezari was determined to pursue her dreams with the man she loved.

The war would end someday and they’d go to their island in the South Seas and live happily ever after.

She knew it.