Chapter Twelve
Bari
There was a time when being cocooned in a private room with my Alpha, being immersed in the raw beauty of nature as we raced through the countryside was my idea of a dream getaway. In fact, it was the way we had celebrated our bonding so many years before, but the Alpha currently locked in the tiny space with me, who had just shouted me awake was not the attentive, caring being I remembered from that trip.
Trying desperately to hold myself together, I quickly ate the food placed in front of me, making certain that I thanked him properly and cleaned up after myself. When my stomach began to burn, I moved toward the door to the common hall, freezing when Ahearn rose to his feet, his jaw tense. “I just need the facilities,” I said quickly. “It’s only across the way.”
Ahearn’s face tightened further but he nodded. “I’ll attend you.”
“It..it’s not necessary,” I tried to assure him, anxiety rising in my gut. Did he really intend to keep me within eyeshot for every moment of the remainder of my pregnancy? “I don’t think both of us will fit in the cubicle, sir.”
Ahearn scowled. “Very well.”
Quickly pulling the sliding door open, I scurried across the hall, grateful to find the restroom empty as I heaved over the stainless-steel toilet until my stomach was empty. Rinsing out my mouth, I had to briefly grab onto the tiny sink to keep from losing my balance as a wave of dizziness overwhelmed me. I’d barely regained my stability when someone began pounding on the door.
“I’m almost done,” I called out, pushing my slacks down to allow me to relieve myself. I’d barely finished and tucked myself away when the door was wrenched open with such force that it was left dangling from a single hinge.
“You’re ill,” Ahearn snapped, drawing in a deep breath. His eyes flashed angrily as he glared at me. “You said you were fine.”
“I am,” I rushed to assure him as two uniformed guards approached, likely notified of the commotion by the other passengers I could see swiveling in their seats to stare at us. “I’m pregnant,” I tried to explain.
“Sir?” One of the armed guards spoke, his voice authoritative. “Do you need help? Is this man bothering you?”
“No,” I said automatically, wishing I could sink through the floor. “He’s worried about me,” I managed to force the lie out. “I’m pregnant and having morning sickness, but he didn’t realize that was the problem.”
The second guard held back, studying me with an intensity that concerned me. When he finally spoke, his voice was gentle. “It could be made worse by the motion of the train. We have an onboard physician that is available to examine you?”
“No!” Ahearn barked. “I am charged with his safety and I will see to it!”
Rather than being alarmed, the man seemed curious. “And how exactly are you going to stop him from vomiting on a moving train, man?”
When Ahearn didn’t respond, the man held his hand out to me. “I’m going to have to insist on having you examined,” he said gently. “No one will hurt you, but you seem shaky and unsteady on your feet.”
Ahearn began to growl and the guard raised a brow. “You’ve already damaged our door,” he pointed out. “We are well within our rights to put you off on the side of the track and let you fly behind the train, if you want to continue being unreasonable.”
I felt my eyes widen at the implication. The guard knew he was facing down a dragon and still didn’t bat an eye.
Attempting to placate Ahearn, I quickly interjected. “I’d best go with them, but I shouldn’t be gone long.”
“I’ll come as well,” Ahearn snapped, but the guard shook his head.
“No. You’ll wait in your cabin,” he instructed firmly, gently taking me by the elbow. “Ifyour companion wishes to return to you, he will. Otherwise, he will be safe until we arrive at your destination.”
Ignoring the growling and fang-gnashing from Ahearn, the man led me through the aisle, speaking softly to me as we made our way through the various cars, stopping before a sleeper car with a digital keypad at the door.
Once inside, I was almost immediately overtaken with a sense of calm and security. Unable to hold back a sigh, I sank gratefully into an overstuffed chair. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” the man’s voice remained soft and calm. “Your Alpha seems a bit high strung,” he observed with a small laugh, fiddling with something on a counter and returning with a cup of piping hot tea. Placing it on the small table beside me, he patted my shoulder. “Let that cool for a minute and then drink it slowly. It will help settle your stomach.”
“Thank you,” I said again, inhaling the spicy scent. “What is it? It smells amazing.”
“Licorice tea.” Another smile and he sat down across from me with his own cup, placing a sleeve of crackers between us. “A couple of these might help to settle your stomach, also.”
My stomach grumbled before I could decline, so I reached for the packet and helped myself to two. “Amazing,” I groaned as the garlicky-buttery crispness melted over my tongue.
My new friend smiled. “They are good,” he agreed, popping one into his mouth. “I’m Roderick. What’s your name?”
“Bari,” I mumbled, devouring my second cracker with a blissful smile.
“Nice to meet you, Bari,” Roderick said easily, sipping from his tea. “Are you feeling any better?”
I nodded. “I am,” I admitted. “Ahearn is under a lot of stress,” I tried to explain, accepting two more crackers as the door opened to allow a young-looking woman with brown hair and expressive black eyes.
“I understand,” Roderick assured me. “My partner will try to calm him down, but if you want to finish the trip in this car with the staff, that would be fine.”
I sighed. “I better not,” I admitted. “It’s a long story, but we’re rather obligated to travel together.”
“Okay,” Roderick offered an understanding smile. “Let’s get a few more crackers into you and give you a chance to drink your tea and then we’ll see if Becky has something to help with the nausea, okay?”
Relaxing back into my chair, I nodded and reached for my cup. “That sounds like an excellent plan.”
