The Past You Leave Behind
The Past You Leave Behind
Chapter 36
The treaty had been agreed upon. All that was left was for both sides to put it to their people. There would be peace between the provinces. Hiei was tired. He looked forward to spending time with Saiyana. He missed her.
He looked up as a man, clearly agitated demanded an audience with his lord. Hiei didn't recognize him. Tenma spoke briefly with the man and then approached Hiei. He saluted. "My lord, Akeva asks that you come with him to the kitchens." Hiei raised a brow. "The kitchens? Now?" Tenma bowed his head. "He says my lady needs you urgently. The babe…" Hiei was gone in a blur. No one could keep up with him.
He slammed into the kitchen door throwing it wide. Kitchen maids scrambled to get out of his way. He found Saiyana in a chair with Zandal at her side. He knelt in front of her. "What is it? What's wrong?" She raised tear filled eyes to his, as another wave of pain doubled her over. "Get me a healer!" he screamed. He took her hand. She squeezed it hard as she tried to work through the pain. When at last it began to subside, she was crying again.
He cradled her face in his hands. "What is it, Onna?" She threw her arms around him. "Oh, Hiei! I think I'm losing the baby!" She cried harder. A lump formed in his throat and he couldn't speak. He held her close; her pain becoming his.
Miara had been mixing some concoction when she heard Saiyana's words. She wiped her hands on her apron. "Calm yourself my lady. You aren't going to lose that babe." Saiyana raised her tearful eyes to the woman. She had Hiei's attention too. "I forget you are human," she said. She had one of her assistants pour a cup of the concoction she had been mixing. "Here drink this. It will make the pain bearable."
"The babe is strong. That's why you are in pain, my lady. I know humans have a prescribed period of gestation. Demons do not. The stronger and more powerful the babe, the shorter the gestation. You are in pain because your babe is impatient to be born. He will be powerful, like his father."
Saiyana was so relieved, that all she could do was hold her mate close. Tenma entered the kitchen followed closely by a healer. "My lord, I have brought the healer." Hiei moved out of the way so the healer could examine her.
When he was finished, he spoke to Hiei. "My lord, she is as well as can be expected in her condition. I don't have a great deal of experience with humans, but I have attended one or two slaves who have birthed hybrids. The babe is growing rapidly and her human system is not handling it well. The changes are coming too fast for her body to adjust." "What does that mean? Will she be able to have this child?" "I would say yes. But she will need complete rest until her body can adjust to the rapid changes."
"How long until the babe is born?" "It's hard to say, her being human. All I can do is guess. Two months, at the most. I can tell you that you have spawned a very powerful child. It has been a long time since I have seen a birth go this quickly." He bowed to Hiei and left.
Saiyana was feeling better. Whatever Miara had given her had helped dispel the pain. Hiei knelt in front of her again. "The healer says you will be fine. But I'm afraid you won't have as much time as you thought to prepare for motherhood. He says two months at most." "How can that be? It takes nine months." He shook his head. "Not for demons, Onna. It depends on how powerful the babe is. Apparently, we have created a very powerful babe."
He scooped her up in his arms. "Where are we going?" "The healer says you must rest until your body catches up with the babe. You will not leave our chambers until the healer says so." She rested her head on his shoulder. "I should have known this would be your fault." He stopped cold. "Onna?" He sounded hurt. She giggled, and he realized she was joking. "Don't worry. Women have blamed all their pregnancy ills on men since time immemorial. But after this, don't expect me to feel guilty about sending you out at two in the morning for pickles and ice cream."
He shook his head as he carefully climbed the stairs to their chambers. He would have to ask Kurama about the 'pickles and ice cream'. It didn't sound very appetizing, but if his mate required it…
To be continued….