River's Run(62)

Moving with purpose, he opened the door to the planning room and headed toward his living quarters. He would take her again. She was his mate. He had claimed her and he wanted her. Why shouldn’t he take what was his? He thought with a growl. Besides, it wasn’t like she didn’t enjoy it. Every time they came together she was wild and willing in his arms.



Nodding at the two guards who moved aside quietly he opened and closed the door softly. Glancing around the room, he frowned when he saw the uneaten food on the table. The past couple of mornings he had made sure River had been sent food. The past two days it had been returned uneaten. Surely, she was up by now, Torak thought with a frown. Perhaps, she was in the shower or the bathing pool. She seemed to like both of those lately. They had made love in both of them many times since he had claimed her.



Moving towards the bedroom, he frowned when he saw the windows were still shaded. Giving the command to lighten them so natural light could pour into the room, Torak gave a cry of alarm when he saw River lying in a crumpled heap next to the bed. Rushing to her, he gently rolled her over brushing her hair away from her face with a trembling hand. She was deathly pale, her dark lashes lying so still on her pale cheeks.



“River, little one, talk to me.” Torak begged. He picked her up and laid her on the bed. Pulling a com from his waist he spoke quickly requesting the healer to his living quarters immediately. River didn’t move as Torak laid her down or when he covered her gently. Feeling her forehead and cheeks he noted they seemed cool and clammy to his touch. He almost growled when one of his guards knocked on the bedroom door.



“The healer, My Lord.” The guard said looking with concern at River.



The elderly healer who had attended River when she had been shot walked into the room just as River let out a small moan. Torak spun around and clutched River’s small hand in his larger one.



“Little one, look at me.” Torak murmured running a shaking hand over her pale face.



“What is wrong with her?” Torak demanded hoarsely as he glared at the healer.



“I am not sure. Can you tell me what happened?” The healer moved over to the bed placing his hand on River’s head. River opened her eyes. She stared up at Torak with cloudy, confused eyes.



“Torak?” River said weakly.



“I came in and found her unconscious on the floor. She is just now waking up. I do not know how long she was unconscious.” Torak said tensely.



The healer looked at Torak for a moment before turning to look down at River. “If you wouldn’t mind stepping into the other room, I’ll examine her. I will be out shortly.”



Torak looked like he was about to protest but the healer smiled gently. “Go have a drink, My Lord. I believe it will help.”



Torak looked undecided for a moment before nodding and slowly standing up. He started to turn but stopped at the last moment to bend and brush a light kiss over River’s lips before he left.



“I’ll give you ten minutes. Then I am coming back.” Torak said as he pulled the door closed.



River looked up at the healer in confusion. She didn’t remember anything but feeling a little nauseated and dizzy. She watched as the healer pulled a scanner out of his bag and pulled the covers back. He ran the scan over her several times before he gently touched her stomach, pressing on it gently. After a couple of minutes, he pulled the covers back over her and put his scanner away.



“Well?” River asked scared. “Do you know what’s wrong with me?”



The healer smiled gently. He loved it when he was right. “Yes, my dear. You are expecting your first child. Would you like to know if it is going to be a boy or a girl?”



River stared at the healer in disbelief her hands moving protectively over her stomach. Her mind was in a whirlpool, spinning as she absorbed what the healer was saying.



“You can tell so soon?” She whispered.



“Of course. I would say you are almost two months along. You must have bred not long after you were shot.” The healer said with an amused smile.



“What…” River started trying to talk over the lump in her throat. She didn’t care if she was having a girl or a boy but to know so she could get ready would be nice. “What is it?”



“You are going to have a very healthy boy from the looks on the scan. I took the liberty of completing some additional tests while you were in the medical wing and made sure there would be no compatibility issues between our species and yours. There are few differences but our bloods are tolerant of each other. You should not have any difficulty as far as that is concerned. Our gestation period is eight and a half months. Can you tell me what the normal time period is for your species?”