Chapter 24

Konner watched Shaelan as she leafed through the manual for the ultrasound machine. He’d purchased it a few years ago, but until now he wasn’t sure it had even been turned on. Auburn teased him saying that if he was holding out for one of the children to get a medical degree, he had a long wait ahead of him. Yet the whole clan had agreed a fully stocked medical wing was a good idea. All of them, himself included held onto the hope that one day they would thrive again, and then it would justify every purchase they had made.

“Okay,” Shaelan said softly as she sat down in front of the machine, “it’s not the same model as the one I used at the Alliances med, but I can figure it out.”

Calum leaned against the wall, watching his mate. Konner could tell without asking that he had every confidence in her ability.

“Where did you receive your training?” His nerves were starting to get the better of him, so he needed the distraction. Everything had to be okay with the babies.

Shaelan looked over her shoulder at him. “I was trained to be the healer for my clan, but I’ve taken other courses as well.”

Calum scoffed. “And read an entire medical library.”

She smiled at her mate. “Reading is good for the soul. Nona says that.”

Calum shrugged. “I just think you should start teaching some of this that you have up there.” He pointed to his head.

“It’s not a bad idea.” Konner looked at the door again, wondering if he should go get Terah or if she would find her way here. “I have hopes that one of the young ones here will aspire to work in the medical field.” He smiled at her. “So you’re not running here too often.”

Shaelan turned back to the machine. “I like it here. Cal is actually relaxed, not worrying someone is going to come out of the bush after us.”

Konner eyed Calum, while he leaned against the wall, he was still aware of everything around them. He doubted that man ever totally relaxed.

The door opened and Malachi walked in with his arm around Raelyn. Right behind them was Terah. She stopped and smiled at Shaelan as she got up off the stool.

“You’ve made a remarkable recovery.” Shaelan went over and stood in front of her.

“Yes.” Terah glanced at Konner briefly.“The prince had very good fish in his lake.”

Calum chuckled and moved out of the way, so Malachi could help his mate on the bed.

Shaelan hurried back and helped adjust the pillows, so Rae was comfortable. “You’ll have to be patient with me as I get this setup.” She picked up a towel and laid it across Rae’s belly. “Have you ever seen one of these?”

Raelyn shook her head.

“Okay, well, you’re going to hear your own heartbeat and the babies, and any movement they make is going to be amplified, so don’t panic, it’s all normal.” She moved Rae’s shirt up out of the way.

Raelyn nodded excitedly. “I just want to see with my own eyes that they are well.” She blew out a nervous breath.

“Let’s take a look.” Shaelan turned around and picked up the gel. “This might be a little cold.”

Konner watched Terah as she stood at the end of the bed, looking at the screen in front of Shaelan.

“I can’t really do measurements, I haven’t been trained to do that, but we should be able to get a good look at the babies.” She gave Raelyn a smile.

Konner moved over closer to the bed, admitting that he was just as intrigued with the idea of seeing the infants that would soon be part of the clan.

“That’s your heartbeat.” Shaelan reached over and turned the volume down. “Mom’s pulse is doing great.” She smiled and then moved the wand lower.

Konner watched her spine straighten when she looked from it to the screen again.

“Is something wrong?” Raelyn’s voice shook with panic.

“Baby number one’s heartrate is a bit higher, but it could just be because you’re nervous.” Shaelan’s voice reflected no worry, but her posture did. Konner had to hand it to her that her professional etiquette was good.

“And the other one?” Malachi held Rae’s hand, his eyes looking at the screen.

Shaelan moved the wand around some more. “I’m having trouble picking it up, they’re behind their sibling.”

“Sing to them,” Terah said and nodded. “Calm them.”

Raelyn looked at her, tears shining in her eyes. “I don’t know how to out of the water.”

Terah smiled and went over to the little sink on the other side of the room. She opened a cupboard and looked in it, then another, “I had trouble at first too.” She turned and saw the small fridge and went over to it, bending down, she opened it and took out a bottle of water. “I found out if my—” she motioned her hand up and down her throat “—was too dry it was difficult.” Nodding, she opened the bottle as she went back over to the bed. “Take some drinks and we’ll sing to your babies.”

Raelyn took the bottle; her hand was shaking. Malachi lifted her head so she could sip it.

“Do you want me to start?”

Raelyn nodded, a nervous look on her face.

Konner found he was holding his breath, if Rae tried and failed, she would take this as her first failure for the little ones inside her.

Terah sat on the bed beside her, careful not to crowd her mate that wasn’t going to move for anyone. She put her hand on the side of Rae’s stomach, far from where Shaelan continued to move the wand. As she started to hum, even Calum turned to look at her.

Terah looked at Rae and nodded, encouraging her to try.

Rae took another sip and then held the bottle out to Malachi. Leaning her head down on the pillow, she closed her eyes and blew out a breath. If she’d been in the water, she wouldn’t have had to think about it, it would have just been there. The first few shaky notes that came from her throat made Terah start the song again, later, he’d ponder how he knew that she had. This wasn’t a song he’d heard from his people since he was a child.

Terah smiled at Raelyn when she opened her eyes and continued to hum softly. She didn’t have the volume that Terah had, but her children would feel the vibrations through her body.

“That’s helping,” Shaelan said softly and moved the wand to the side.

Konner looked at the screen and watched the image of the second child, he assumed, as it came on the screen. Shaelan reached up and did something and then he saw the blip on the screen. he didn’t know the first thing about fetal images, but he could only assume it was the heartbeat.

“Both pulses are strong and regular,” Shaelan said softly. “Can you keep doing that so I can try to look around with them behaving?”

Terah continued, even when Raelyn had to pause because her emotions were getting the better of her. Malachi leaned down and kissed her and then offered her another sip of water. The tears were running down her cheeks as she took a small drink. Nodding she leaned back and started to hum quietly with Terah.

Konner’s chest was tight with emotion, he stepped back and then turned to see his aunt standing in the doorway. Tears were running down her cheeks as she looked at Terah. Placing her hand over her heart, she nodded her head slowly and closed her eyes, letting the melody move over her. Turning, he noticed that even the seasoned warrior, Calum was not unmoved by the song either.

“Okay.” Shaelan turned to look at Terah and nodded, letting her know that the song wasn’t needed now. As she hummed the last notes, Raelyn quietened as well. “Both babies sound and look healthy, I can’t get any pictures of the little one hiding behind the big brother, but...”

“A boy?” Malachi leaned and looked closer at the monitor.

Shaelan smiled. “Yes, the one hogging all the limelight is definitely a boy.” She moved the wand over to the other side and then looked at the screen. “They’re both about the same size, but I honestly can’t get a peek at the second baby.”

“As long as they’re both healthy that’s all that matters,” his aunt said from the door. “It will help with the birth.”

“Was that a worry?” Shaelan wiped off the wand and hung it back in the machine.

“Our kind has a hard time with childbirth and—” Raelyn glanced at Malachi “—the babies surviving.”

“I wasn’t told this.” Shaelan stood up and wiped off Rae’s belly. “What is the issue? Is it your anatomy or..."

“It all seems to be well and normal at the start.” Konner glanced to his aunt, knowing how upset she got talking about it. “Then the bleeding seems to accelerate and...”

“I’ll need to look into the cause.” Shaelan went over to the cupboards and started opening them. “Is there any data at the Alliance that would be helpful?”

“I doubt it.” Konner wanted to help her in any way she could, he went over and gave her a questioning look.

“I want to do some blood tests, on Raelyn and maybe one of the other women, to establish a baseline.” She pulled the drawer open. “Do you have lab equipment here?” Finding a syringe, she took it out and set it on the counter. “It could be a simple protein or imbalance...”

Konner turned to look over at his aunt, sharing any information about their kind was something they went to great lengths to protect.

Her face held concern, but she nodded. “If she can sort it out, we will have to take that risk.”

“Risk?” Shaelan spun around and looked at her, then she immediately bowed her head in a respectful way. “I can assure you anything I find out will be purely for medical purposes and it will be well guarded.”

Terah got off the bed and looked around. “My mother said it was easy to have me, the water helped as it should.”

“The water?” Raelyn accepted Malachi’s assistance in getting up. “You were born in the water?”

Terah nodded. “Of course. I have watched others give birth.” She scrunched up her nose. “It’s very messy. Having the baby in the water is much cleaner, easier—more natural?” She glanced to Shaelan.

Konner turned back to look at his aunt. “Did our women give birth in the water? When did they stop?” If anyone knew this, it would be her. He honestly hadn’t cared to note such things until he was well into his forties and even then, childbirth hadn’t been a man’s task.

“I don’t remember.” She looked at the floor, leaning on her cane. “I remember as a girl, the women would circle the mother to be in the shallow’s and sing to her as she brought the new life into the world.” She looked from Rae back to him. “It became hard to be safe in the water during it when we were being hunted. We didn’t have the security of the Sanctuary.”

Konner, his hands on his hips looked from her to Raelyn, could it be something as simple as the water? He turned around and gave his aunt a questioning look. “I’ll go get Olanna and Nolyn, so you can take some samples from them.” His aunt normally didn’t go for anything related to modern medicine, but she understood how necessary this was to repopulate their clan.

“I’m going to take Terah and have some tea with her.”

He noted the surprised look on Terah’s face but knew he couldn’t shelter her from everything, and at least if she was with their Alpha, she wouldn’t be trying to cook again.