Page 35 of Healer (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #4)

Aggravation, confusion, and the tiniest bit of hope flashed over Daisy’s features. “I haven’t had one since the abduction. I was never regular…” A shimmer of wetness grew in her eyes. “I just thought… could it be real?”

“Hang on.” I turned and undulated my fingers at Hakkar. He rose without hesitation and came to my side in less than five steps.

I freaking loved that.

“Do you have the medi-box on you?” I asked as he knelt beside my chair. His fingers slid over my arm like he couldn’t stand to be this close and not touch me.

“Of course.” His golden eyes swept over me as he frowned. “Do you not feel well, my Aggie?”

“Not me,” I assured him, kissing him on the cheek. “Can you do a scan on Daisy? She’s feeling a little nauseous.”

“Of course.”

My mate rose, moving to Daisy’s side as he removed the square gray box from his belt.

His fingertips sank into the malleable surface, and the box flashed with a blue light as Hakkar waved it over Daisy, once…

then twice more. A combination of orange, green, and purple lights flashed, somehow giving a diagnosis. Hakkar looked at me, grinning broadly.

“Pregnant?” I guessed.

“About three weeks,” Hakkar confirmed, returning to my side. “The fetus seems remarkably healthy.”

“Daisy?” Daicon’s voice broke through the whirr of my processing thoughts. “Sweetling, I saw Hakkar perform a Medi-scan. Are you well?”

Daisy raised her eyes to her mate and burst into tears, flinging herself into his arms. Daicon held her tightly, his gaze landing on each of us in hopes of an explanation. Poor guy, he looked utterly terrified.

All I could do was grin so broadly my cheeks hurt.

“Sweetling?” Daicon began again. His large fingers trembled as his palms cupped her face.

“We’re going to have a baby!” Daisy blurted, her voice a mix of joy, wonder, and hope.

“A baby?” Daicon staggered back a step, his large hands immediately going to cradle Daisy’s still-flat stomach. “But I thought you couldn’t…

Daisy’s small hands cupped her mate’s face. “I guess the Garoot Healer fixed more than my age.”

Watching comprehension settle over Daicon would rank as one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen.

I wanted that.

I wanted to watch the joy explode within Tarook as he realized I carried our child in my belly.

Daicon roared—a sound that would otherwise have terrified me had I not possessed my own Vaktaire, who was also prone to roaring. Using gentle hands, Daicon lifted Daisy, turning them in a circle, tears streaming down both their faces.

Hakkar’s arm slid around my waist, pulling me to rest against his chest as Tarook and Khaion reached our table.

Two other creatures joined our group, drawn by the happy ruckus.

One stood no taller than Daisy’s waist and could have been a twin to Irsay.

Noticing him, Daicon and Daisy drew the fuzzy being into a tight hug.

The other stood back, watching the proceedings with dark eyes far too wise for his boyish countenance.

Like Orzon, his skin was a pale shade of blue.

But unlike the chef’s stocky build, this boy was tall, thin, and completely hairless, with a larger head that hinted at an inverted triangle shape and six long fingers.

I think I saw him in Med-Bay earlier, but I had been too focused on Hakkar to notice much else.

“These two rapscallions are Ewok and George,” Emmy told me, gesturing to each boy. “They’re two of the children Daisy and Daicon rescued from the Gilese mines.”

I didn’t know who had christened him Ewok , but the name fit perfectly. He stared at Daisy, a frown crossing his otherwise adorable features. “Why are you crying?”

“Because I’m so happy.” Daisy glanced at Daicon, and she gently dropped a hand atop Ewok’s head, ruffling his gray-brown fur. “You’re going to be a big brother.

“I know.” Ewok shrugged nonplussed, even though his words rendered our group speechless.

“What do you mean you know?” Daicon playfully tweaked a furry ear.

Ewok slipped his arm around Daisy’s waist, his ear pressed to her stomach. “I can hear the baby’s heartbeat every time Mom hugs me.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Daisy asked, holding him tightly.

Small furry shoulders shrugged within her grasp. “I thought you knew. I know how babies get made, and you two do that all the time.”

Daicon barked a laugh while Daisy’s cheeks flushed deep pink. The rest of us tried to act nonchalant. Although, if I had to guess, none of us could claim to be any less lusty than the expectant parents.

I knew I couldn’t.

Hakkar’s arms tightened around me, one of his hands slipping lower to cradle my stomach.

The rush of longing that hit me weakened my knees.

No longer burdened by the death sentence of ALS, I could have a child…

Hakkar’s child. I would be healthy and live long enough to see that child grow…

to see our grandchildren... maybe even our great-grandchildren if rumors of what the Garoot Healer did to lifespans proved true.

“How are you feeling?” The other youngster asked, his hand tentatively touching Daisy’s forehead.

“Mom just found out she’s having a baby,” Ewok told him, his grin showing wicked sharp fangs.

George shrugged, apparently unsurprised.

“You knew, too?” Daisy frowned, or at least she tried to. Her smile dampened any attempt at other expressions.

“Of course.” Small blue shoulders squared proudly. “I am a Garoot. I could spot a pregnancy while still in my nappies.”

“Boys, I think we’re going to have to work on your communication skills,” Daicon said with fatherly aplomb.

George, however, seemed unbothered. He turned his dark eyes on me, assessed, and seemed to like what he saw. “I am glad you are feeling better.”

Hakkar reached out to lay a hand on George’s shoulder, his long fingers squeezing lightly.

“Aggie, George is a Garoot. His species are the greatest healers in the universe. He helped to help me heal you.”

The boy looked young and frail, but the dark eyes that met mine knew what I’d suffered.

..what he and Hakkar made sure I’d never have to suffer again.

I stepped away from Hakkar and wrapped my arms around his small shoulders, kissing his cheek.

His skin felt surprisingly warm and soft and smelled faintly of berries.

“Thank you,” I whispered, getting choked on the words. “Thank you so much.”

George’s cheeks flushed a darker shade of gray. A blush, perhaps. He glanced at Hakkar, his dark blue lips twitching.

“I had little choice. Hakkar was very insistent we heal you. He said he could not survive without you. It was my honor to assist Hakkar. He is a great healer.”

I stepped from George’s side back into Hakkar’s embrace, sliding my arms around his waist.

“Yes, he is,” I managed before Hakkar brushed his lips with mine.

“I bet I know something you don’t know,” Daicon prodded Ewok and George.

“What?” Ewok bounced up and down with excitement while George looked on with mild interest.

“We’re about to have guests on the ship,” Khaion took over the announcement. “It’s a family that helped Agnes and Hakkar on Arstan. They have a little girl like you.”

Ewok frowned, his button-brown eyes narrowing as he glanced toward Hakkar. “Like me? A Kerzak?”

“Yes,” I answered.

Ewok didn’t look worried any longer. He looked afraid.

“Are they nice... like me?” His gaze skipped to his adopted parents and back again. “They’re not like the others?”

Hakkar knelt, bringing himself to Ewok’s level. “They are very nice,’ He promised, then added, “Although I doubt anybody is as nice as you.”

Ewok giggled when Hakkar’s finger bopped his nose.

“This calls for cake,” Orzon announced, entering the dining room and carrying a tray that held slices of what appeared to be German chocolate cake. The foreboding in Emmy’s gaze told me the treat would most likely taste like German chocolate ass.

“To begin the feast, something sweet to celebrate the sweetness of life and friendship,” Orzon announced, setting the tray on the table.

With a flourish, he swiped a dish holding a rather large slice of cake and handed it to me.

Over his shoulder, I saw Clara shaking her head, mouthing the word ‘ no.’

Orzon waited, his pale blue eyes dancing with impish expectation.

Seriously, how bad could it be?

I picked up an alien utensil, which was like a spork but with longer tines, and shoved a small bite of cake between my lips.

Bad, it could be bad.

Real bad.

Like chalk dipped in dog shit and doused with pickle juice. I forced myself to swallow.

“Oh... lovely,” I grated, trying to keep from gagging. Beside me, I felt Hakkar quivering with amusement. Thankfully, Orzon took me at face value and swaggered back toward the kitchen.

My stomach rolled, imagining what other awful-tasting mess lurked in my future. I snatched a glass of valat from the table, swishing the sweet wine in my mouth while everyone chuckled at my predicament.

“I think it’s delicious,” Ewok said, addressing himself to the remainder of my serving.

“Very good,” George agreed before helping himself to a smaller piece.

Aliens must have very different taste buds.

“I still have some travel rations in our cabin,” Hakkar whispered before pressing a kiss behind my ear. I shivered, thinking more about what we could do alone in our cabin that had to do with sustenance of a different kind.

Khaion’s buzzing comm drew my attention from my libido.

“Chieftain, we have landed with our guests.”

“Good, thank you, warrior,” Khaion replied in a more clipped tone than I’d heard him use, his chieftain's voice no doubt. “Will you escort our guests to the dining hall?”

“With honor, Chieftain,” came the reply.

Hakkar settled into a chair, drawing me into his lap.

I cuddled against him, loving the thickening heat I felt at my backside.

I squirmed, and he growled in playful warning, hands going to my waist to hold me still.

Beside us, Daisy and Daicon cooed to each other, awash with expectant parent bliss, while Clara and Tarook stood wrapped in each other’s arms. Across the table, Khaion had drawn Emmy into an embrace, his chin resting atop her head.

The only flaw in this idyllic moment proved to be the gnashing of teeth as Ewok and George chowed down on that awful cake.

I’d treated a child once with ageusia. For those boys to enjoy that pitiful excuse for cake would take more than a temporary loss of taste. They’d have to be completely tongue blind.

“Happy, my Aggie?” Hakkar murmured, his lips trailing over the shell of my ear.

I turned, linking my arms around his neck and pulling his forehead against mine.

“So happy. I never thought I’d be able to look forward to the future like I do now.

A future with you.” I kissed him and felt Hakkar smile under my lips.

It was worth it—all the pain, all the worry…

everything that brought me to this moment and him. Totally worth it.

“No matter what the future holds for us, know I will greet it at your side,” Hakkar vowed, sealing his words with a kiss.

“I love you,” I whispered against his lips.

“My mate,” he growled, the sound of which sent a shiver of anticipation along my skin.

I wanted nothing more than to suggest he carry me back to our cabin, but we needed to greet Vienda, Talamus, and Irsay and see them settled. After that, I’d suggest we retire to our cabin and stay there until I was as pregnant as Daisy. For now, though….

I let my mouth linger against Hakkar’s, giving a playful swipe of my tongue against his lips. His hands rested on my neck, holding my face immobile while he tasted my mouth. Not a passionate kiss. This wasn’t the place for that, but a promise of what I could spend the rest of my life enjoying.

My mate.

I loved the word. I loved the idea. I loved Hakkar.

The swish of the door opening broke us apart. I swiveled on Hakkar’s lap in time to see two warriors dressed in leather pants and tunics, the Vaktaire battle garb. Behind them, the small family of Kerzak glanced warily about.

Hakkar stood, lifting me with him. Hand in hand, we walked toward our friends.

Vienda gave a delighted grasp as she noticed us.

“Welcome to the Bardaga,” Hakkar said, grasping Talamus’ forearm in the warrior way of greeting while Vienda and I hugged.

“Agnes!” Irsay hugged my knees before Hakkar swung the furry little girl into his arms, tickling her until she squealed happily.

God! Was this man going to be a perfect father or what? My ovaries were absolutely throbbing at the idea.

“I’m so happy you’re here,” I told Vienda, giving her another quick hug.

“We are happy to have friends here.” Although her dark brown eyes remained wary, she relaxed.

“Let me introduce you to everyone.”

I turned Vienda toward where my friends and their mates lingered by the table, faltering a bit when I realized Ewok had started on his fourth slice of that heinous cake.

Vienda followed the line of my gaze, her body going rigid. A claw-tipped hand went to her lips, not quite in time to stifle her yelp of surprise. Talamus moved to her side, his eyes widening in shock.

Vienda stepped forward, holding out a trembling hand, her brown eyes shimmering.

“Is it you?”

Nobody spoke. I don’t think anyone knew what to do except for Daisy and Daicon, who stepped to their son’s side.

Ewok froze. A spoonful of cake hovering inches from his lips.

“Um... hi?” He sounded like every child I’d ever met when confronted with the unknown. Curious, but with a healthy amount of trepidation.

Hakkar moved to my side, laying a comforting hand in the middle of my back while Irsay looked on in confusion from her perch in his arms.

Vienda trembled, her honey brown eyes shimmering with wetness. Talamus moved excruciatingly slowly, lowering himself to one knee, placing his left fist over his heart, and bowing his head before a befuddled Ewok.

“Prince Alokar Vey, my blade and blood for you.”