In Luxirian, Vaxa’an murmured quietly, “I want to be clear about one thing.If you believe that the health of my mate is threatened by the offspring in any way, you must always put my mate first.Am I clear?”
The doctor’s expression sobered, but he nodded.“Yes, Prime Leader.I understand.”
“She is my life now,” Vaxa’an continued, feeling a swell of emotion.“We can always try again for a child, but I willneverbe able to get her back.I know that you are interested in the study of her pregnancy and in our child, but you will always make her health your priority.”
Privanax said slowly, “I would never endanger her life for the pursuit of research, Prime Leader.”
Vaxa’an released him.“I needed to hear you say it.”
Privanax inclined his head, looking back briefly at the dwelling.“Please have her come see me in a few spans.I can run more substantial testings at my lab.”
Then the doctor boarded his hovercraft and left.
Turning back to his dwelling, Vaxa’an realized that he had forgotten how fragile his mate truly was.She was a human carrying a Luxirian child.Of course, she would be in a weakened state.
When he returned to her, she was leaning back against the cushions near the fire pit.She looked so beautiful—her once-strange features morphed into something familiar and warm—that he immediately went to her, not able to stand another moment without touching her.
“I should have known better,” he murmured, pulling her into his lap.
“Vaxa, I’m fine,” she said, a hint of exasperation in her tone.“I don’t feel weak.You’re just overreacting.”
“For good reason.Sometimes I forget the limits of your body.”
She blew out a sharp breath.“I don’t want to argue right now.And the direction that this conversation is headed is definitely towards an argument.”
“I want you to stop your work at the archives.”
“Vaxa, I already said no!” Kat said, her temper rising.
“You heard Privanax.He says that you need to rest.The child will only continue to take more and more of your strength.What if something happened when you were away from Bruxilia?”
“Something could happenhere,” she argued, pushing at his chest to scramble off his lap.She stood, glaring down at him.“You’re gone all the time.It’s the same thing.At least working at the archives, I have something to do.”
“I will have Bidan stay with you whenever I am not here.”Bidan had served his family since before his birth.He would gladly watch over his mate.
“I do not need a babysitter, Vaxa,” Kat said, her jaw clenched.She crossed her arms over her chest.“I will find a way to get to work even if you make me stay.You don’t control me.”
His Instinct told him to tread carefully.His blood bond told him that his mate would not take kindly to his orders.But she didn’t understand how taxing this pregnancy would be on her body.Even Privanax did not know what to expect.
“I will not change my mind about this,luxiva,” he rumbled, shaking his head.He was the Prime Leader.He was not used to his orders being ignored.
“And I won’t either, Vaxa.”
“You will,” he said, lowly.“Even if I have to tie you to our sleeping platform.”
Her eyes narrowed, an angry flush marring her cheeks.“I was your prisoner once, Vaxa.I will not be again.”
Kat turned away, heading for their quarters, but he was not finished speaking about this.He shot to his feet and grabbed her wrist, but dropped his hand in alarm when she hissed, as though in pain.
His gaze darkened and shame spread in his chest, heavy and searing.Sometimes, he forgot his own strength when it came to his small mate.He hadn’t thought he was grabbing her hard, but the way she cradled her wrist against her breasts told him otherwise.
“Luxiva…” he started, his voice nothing more than a pained rasp, reaching for her, but then stopping himself.“I did not mean—I did not…”
Kat shielded her wrist from him, turning her face away for a brief moment, her long brown hair falling over her fine, delicate features.He’d woken with that hair tickling his chest and had threaded his fingers through its lush, soft length.
“I am ashamed I have hurt you, Kat,” he said, inclining his head to her.His Instinct clawed at him from the inside until he felt like he couldn’t breathe.
He had only made things worse for his mate.He had driven her to retreat and then had physically harmed her.By prolonging his presence in their home, when he was in this state, he was worried he would only do more harm in trying to make amends.
