Chapter 387 Chapter 387
Terah watched Konner walk away, he looked back at her three times. She couldn’t be sure, but he seemed like he didn’t want to leave her.
“Terah.”
She turned back to Olanna and Nolyn.
“He just worries,” Olanna said with an understanding smile.
“I think worrying is his unofficial position around here.” Nolyn grinned.
“I don’t understand.” Terah put her hand over her stomach, the tight feelings were back.
“Not only does he oversee everything with the businesses, but he’s put it on himself to search for more of us,” Olanna said as she started walking, she paused, and Terah realized she wanted her to follow. “But he worries about all of us here too, keeping us safe, healthy, our happiness—”
Nolyn nodded, “they say money can’t buy happiness, but he spends whatever it takes to make sure we have what we need.”
“He is a good man.” Terah looked from one to the other. “His team saves everyone.”
“That’s part of the problem,” Olanna said softly.
“That is a problem?” She was having trouble focusing on what they were saying, she was too hot again. She stopped and touched her brow.
“Come on, the pond will help.” Olanna touched her arm and motioned to the path again.
“The tub did not help.” Terah wasn’t sure what was happening to her. “I have never felt like this before.”
“Shaelan says it’s probably because your health was so poor when you were,” Olanna looked at Nolyn quickly, “there.”
“So, it is good I feel this? My health is good now?”
“It is a good sign.” Nolyn’s smile was warm and friendly, “and it only sucks for a few days.”
“That feels endless,” Olanna added.
“When this happens, I can have babies?” Terah looked over her shoulder, wondering if Konner was all right. He looked very tired and those lines on his forehead were very deep today. She smirked, thinking of their talk about his tiny lines.
“Yes, but I wouldn’t advise trying for babies for a while.” Olanna gave her a quick look. “It’s very hard at first, our bodies adapting to pregnancy.”
There was something in her tone that made Terah want to comfort her. “You have lost children?”
Olanna nodded, “Raelyn and I both have.” She motioned up and down her body, “things have to be optimal inside and out to keep the baby.”
“What makes them optimal?” She said the word slowly, wishing for her tablet to explain what the word meant.
“We’re still trying to figure that out.” Nolyn admitted, “Shaelan says she’s on it and I believe she’ll get to the bottom of the problem.”
Terah nodded and walked along behind them. She needed to do whatever they told her she had to so her body was good enough to have babies. She put her hand over her stomach and wondered what it would feel like to have life inside her.
“Rule number one,” Nolyn said in a firm tone. “No one goes in the pond with you.” She looked over her shoulder to make sure Terah was listening. “They can come and talk to you, and visit, but only you are to go in the pond.”
“Yes. Okay. I swim alone.” Terah decided that wasn’t a bad rule, she was at least allowed to be in the water. Anything that allowed her to be in freshwater was something she could live with.
“And,” Olanna paused for a moment, “sometimes it’s best if you stay in the pond when they’re visiting,” she made a strange face, “emotions can be harder to control right now and we wouldn’t want you to...”
“Grab anyone and shake some sense into them.” Nolyn shrugged, a trace of a smirk on her face.
“That,” Olanna gave her a wide-eyed look, “and you will just feel better in it.”
“This pond is special?” Terah was sweating now and wanted nothing more than to strip off her clothes and walk naked the rest of the way.
“We have placed certain plants in the water and along with it.” She nodded, “it’s high in minerals and other properties that are helpful.”
“Okay, good.” Terah stopped and put her hands on her knees. “This is,” she blew out a breath, “a very hot walk.”
“Oh, you poor thing.” Olanna came over to her, “first let’s lose the jacket, you definitely don’t need it right now.”
“Shoes off.” Nolyn knelt beside her, “I can’t stand anything on my feet during it.”
They started helping her strip the confining items from her body.
Nolyn stood up and looked behind them, “no one will bother us for a bit, you can take off the shirt too.”
As soon as the air hit her skin, she breathed a sigh of relief. “That is better. Thank you.”
“We know what it’s like.” Olanna took her shirt and hugged it to her body with Terah’s jacket.
“Yeah, it’s like you’re standing in a pit of lava.” Nolyn’s tone made Terah look at her.
“You do not want your body to be ready for babies?” She nodded that she felt well enough to walk again.
“I do,” she shrugged, “just think it’s extremely unfair that the guys go through nothing but the fun part in having one.”
“The fun part.” Terah nodded, even though she wasn’t sure what that part was. “I don’t think I have felt the fun part.” She kept her feet moving, wanting more than anything to be at this pond that would make her feel better. “I tried to have babies three times and it didn’t work.”
Nolyn caught up to her, “wait, they tried to breed you?”
Terah kept her eyes on the ground in front of her, the hot feeling was coming back. “Yes. It’s what they are doing.” She blew out a breath, her stomach was not happy with this heat. “Konner talked on his phone when we were in the vehicle before they chased us,” she would never forget how scared she was when she heard the metal crunching when they hit the other one, “he said that they want to make more of us to sell.”
Olanna gasped and hugged Terah’s clothes tighter. “I didn’t know.”
“All of the clans or just ours?” Nolyn was right beside her now, bending her head low to look right at her face.
“Yes. There are papers they found that tell them that.”
“Holy shit,” Nolyn whispered. “It makes sense now.” Terah lifted her chin to look at Olanna, who looked very frightened. “Why he’s so motivated to go back out with the team so often.”
“His team have found many.” Terah wanted to make them feel better now. “At the campground with Rayne, there are many that are free, like I am.”