Berrr's Vow (15 page)

“Please, Ral,” a very female voice said softly. “Ahhu won’t let anything happen to me. You know she is my friend and will do everything possible to make sure that the baby and I are all right. We totally trust her.”

“I won’t leave your side,” the male voice snarled. “I will never leave you when you need me, Ariel.”

“What is going on?” Berrr turned a corner and came to an abrupt halt.

Shanna damn near ran into the back of the big man, barely stopping in time. She hesitantly inched around Berrr to stare at the scene before her. Four Zorn men in leather uniforms were picking themselves up off the floor while one Zorn woman faced a mostly naked male Zorn who wore only a pair of boxer briefs. There was a blonde woman—a very pregnant human one—just wearing an oversized man’s shirt, sitting in a chair just feet from the angry, nearly naked guy.

“Ral?
Look at me, son,” Berrr demanded. “What is going on?”

The guy turned around and Shanna was slammed with shock. Ral and Berrr looked a hell of a lot alike and they sure didn’t look spaced far enough apart in years to be father and son. They looked more like brothers with maybe only five to ten years’ age difference between them. Her eyebrows lifted. Her gaze flew to Berrr standing next to her as she inched forward a little more to see him frowning at his son.

“Ariel is having pains telling her the baby is ready to breathe life but Ahhu said the baby is too big for Ariel’s body. They want to take her into surgery and they refuse to let me go with her. She is not leaving my view.” The man shivered, his fists clenching at his sides as he stared intently at his father. “I need to stay with her.”

The tall Zorn woman sighed, her attention focusing on Berrr. “He is very emotional over his bound, Hyvin Berrr. I am afraid to take him into surgery in case he loses his control like he is now in his heightened protective state. With every trip to Earth I have had our warriors collect medical information on humans that I have studied with vigilance knowing I am responsible for their care. I am confident that both Ariel and the offspring will be fine but I don’t need the added stress of my first surgery on a human with a snarling male standing at my shoulder.”

Berrr softly growled. “Explain exactly what needs to be done to his bound and maybe that will calm him.”

The woman gave a nod. “Come into an examination room and I will show you on a vid.”

Berrr moved forward, gripped the arm of his son and dragged him through the doorway into the next room. The Zorn woman rolled her eyes, shot a wink at the blonde sitting in the chair and then followed behind both men. It left Shanna alone with the pregnant woman and four silent uniformed men who were now on their feet looking as if they were standing guard in the hallway.

Shanna stared at the blonde who stared back at her. The woman gave her a smile and lifted one of her hands from her very rounded belly to motion for Shanna to come closer. Shanna hesitated and then moved toward the other woman.

“Hi,” the blonde said softly. “I’m Ariel and as you can see, I’m having a baby.”

“I definitely see.” Shanna went to her knees next to the very pregnant woman since there were no other chairs in the hallway. “Is there anything I can do?”

The blonde shook her head. “My Ral is really upset that I need a C-section. Here’s a heads-up for you. Zorn babies are too damn big to give birth to naturally if you aren’t a big-boned woman in the hip area. The doctor, Ahhu, and I knew it was coming but I was afraid to tell Ral. He really gets upset at the idea of someone having to cut me open for any damn reason. I was afraid he’d put me on a ship and take me to Earth to make them operate on me there. He would do something like that, not caring what they did to him as long as I was going to be all right.”

Shanna stared at Ariel’s stomach, feeling shock as it sank in for the first time that the woman was pregnant by Berrr’s son. “So we really can have babies with them?”

“Oh yeah,” Ariel gasped suddenly, gripping her stomach. “Sorry. I’m in labor. Damn, it hurts.”

“What can I do?” Alarm hit Shanna, not knowing much about labor or birth, never having had kids herself or even having had friends who had them. “Should I get that doctor back in here?”

Ariel relaxed a few pants later.
“Nope.
I’m good. Ahhu and I have read book after book on labor and delivery that she had warriors snatch from Earth on their trips there. The labor just isn’t that bad yet considering I thought I’d be screaming in pain. Not that I’d laugh over this but I’m hanging on so far.” Ariel took a deep breath, her attention fixing on Shanna fully for the first time.

“You came in with Ral’s father, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.
I’m here with Berrr.”

Blonde eyebrows shot up.
“Berrr, huh?”

Studying the other woman, Shanna nodded. “I was kidnapped by these alien assholes called Collis who brought me here to auction me off to Zorn men but Berrr and his men saved me. I wanted to go home with him since I thought he was bound so I assumed that meant he couldn’t have sex with me.”

Ariel opened her mouth and then closed it, almost looking amused. “He might be bound but they are separated and they have been for some years.” She paused and then her face paled. “Shit, he could only make you a house helper, couldn’t he?
That son of a bitch.
You’re human. He can’t treat you like that. He—”

“It’s all right,” Shanna said softly. “He’s sworn off his harem.”

Ariel relaxed and her features softened. “So Hyvin Berrr has a human. I’ll be damned. I didn’t think he ever would. He’s kind to me and the other women his sons bound to but he’s not real friendly. It’s no secret he would be a hell of a lot happier if they’d chosen Zorn women. He tried like hell to talk Ral into giving me up at first.”

“I heard. He’s afraid your children won’t be strong enough or something like that.”

Ariel’s features scrunched into a frown. “I guess that’s a possibility. Well, it’s good to know it’s nothing personal.” She gasped in a breath. “Shit. Here comes another contraction.”

Shanna gripped her hand, holding it through the next contraction. When it lasted longer and the pregnant blonde turned really pale, Shanna grew alarmed.

“Hang on.” She carefully released the other woman’s hand and stood up to dash to the open doorway.

“Hey,” Shanna called out, seeing Berrr, his son and the female Zorn staring at a screen where a taped surgery was being shown. “I think the debating time is up. I think that baby wants to be born sooner rather than later.
Help!”

Shanna barely moved out of the way in time as Ral about ran her down to get to his wife. He dropped to his knees and took Ariel’s hands in his. Even from across the room Shanna saw the pure terror on the man’s features for the woman he so obviously loved as she panted through the pain of a strong contraction. A flurry of activity suddenly filled the hallway along with other Zorn in white outfits similar to the female doctor. Two of them came rushing down the hallway with a gurney.

“
Ahhu,
let Ral go with her. He will never calm not knowing what is happening to her. I would never be able to pace waiting for word of her health if my human was in surgery.” As Berrr spoke his gaze locked on Shanna. “He will be calmer at her side than away from it.”

Ahhu softly growled but nodded her head. “Of course, Hyvin Berrr, as you wish.” The woman spun, issuing orders to the medical staff around her.

Berrr moved to Shanna’s side as they watched Ral gently lift the much smaller Ariel carefully into his arms and place her on the gurney. He took her hand, lifting it to his lips to place a kiss on her palm, their gazes locked.

“I am with you, Ariel.”

Her contraction passed. “Just keep hold of my hand and be calm for me, okay?”

“I would do anything for you. I love you.”

Ariel smiled. “I love you too.” Her focus turned to Ahhu. “Let’s get this show on the road. I think this baby is as impatient as Ral usually is.”

Everyone disappeared except for the four guards, Berrr and Shanna. She turned her full attention on Berrr and noticed the tense lines on his face, revealing that he was really worried. She inched closer to him, putting one hand on his arm and one on his stomach. He lowered his head as his blue gaze locked with hers.

“This kind of surgery happens with humans often enough and they usually turn out fine.”

“We aren’t human and this will be Ahhu’s first major surgery on one of your kind. My son will be inconsolable if something happens to his bound. I fear that all three lives will be lost if Ahhu can’t save the lives of his bound and his offspring since he would die in his grief for both of them.” Berrr looked sad. “She is the reason he breathes life every day.”

Shanna could tell that Berrr was truly worried so she inched closer to him, burrowing into his chest, her arms sliding around his waist to give him a hug. He hesitated for a second before he wrapped both arms around her to hold her tight.

“It’s going to work out.” She just wanted to comfort him.

He lowered his chin to the top of her head, nodding against her, and held her a little tighter. “Thank you, Shanna. I need to contact my other two sons to let them know what is going on. They will be greatly concerned since both of their bound humans are carrying offspring.”

Releasing him, she let him go and stepped back to stare up at him. He was worried and she wished that there was more that she could do. He met her gaze and then looked away to study the four guards.

“Guard her with your lives until I return shortly. Give her anything she wants.” He showed teeth. “No other males go near her, talk to her or even glance at her.” Berrr looked down, meeting her shocked gaze. “I will only be in the next room contacting my sons so they hear this news from me. Have a seat and they are yours to command until I return.”

Shanna watched Berrr stride back into the room he’d been in minutes before but sensed his men watching her. She slowly turned around to find four confused and stunned males staring at her. She gave them a forced smile before she walked to the chair that Ariel had been in to sit down. She studied the men again and grinned. She’d never had leather-clad guys under her command before.

“Do you need anything?” One of them arched an eyebrow.

“I’m kind of thirsty.”

He turned his head, nodding at one of the men, and to Shanna’s shock, the guy took off at a jog down the hallway out of sight. Minutes later he returned with a tray carrying a drink on it and snacks. The guy slowly approached her and then placed the tray over the arms of the chair, making a table for her where she sat. He bowed his head and backed up.

Shanna glanced at the food, looked up and grinned at all four of them. “Damn, this is so cool. Thank you very much.”

They watched her back, not speaking until she finally looked away.
Okay, maybe they didn’t think it was as cool.
She ate the fruit and what she suspected was cheese. Whatever it was, it was good. Her gaze kept going to the open door of the room Berrr was in, worried that he was taking longer than she thought he would to talk to his sons, and hoped everything was fine. He finally walked out of the room.

Shanna put the tray aside and stood up, going to Berrr instantly. She noted that he still looked tense. “How did it go?”

“I talked them into staying at home and vowed to let them know as soon as I know anything.”

“Have a seat, Berrr, and try to relax. I’m sure everything is going to be fine.”

He nodded, letting her lead him to the chair she’d vacated. He sat and then to her surprise, grabbed her around her waist and hauled her onto his lap. His arms wrapped around her, tugging her tightly against his chest, where he just continued to hold her. She relaxed into his arms. If he didn’t care that four men were watching them cuddle then she sure as hell wasn’t going to let it bug her.

“Humans are just too frail,” he sighed.

“We’re a hell of a lot tougher than you give us credit for.”

“I just hope all turns out well.”

“It will.” She silently said a little prayer.

They sat there for what seemed like hours, Shanna on Berrr’s lap, holding each other. He finally stirred, lifting her up to stand. Shanna turned, following where Berrr stared, to see Ahhu coming down the hallway alone. The woman looked worn out but she smiled. Next to Shanna, Berrr sighed with relief.

“It is a female child and both are doing very well, Hyvin Berrr. You may come with me to inspect your newest blood member.” Ahhu chuckled.

Berrr nodded as he grabbed Shanna’s hand. “Is the female human or Zorn?”

Ahhu hesitated, staring up at Berrr with a frown. “She’s both, of course, but she looks mostly Zorn. She has the human sexual anatomy of her human mother and while I doubt she will be as tall as our women, she won’t be as short as Ariel. She was a healthy twelve pounds and while not as long as our typical offspring, she is not as tiny as we feared the child may be.” Ahhu glanced at Shanna before turning her full attention on Berrr again. “Her facial features are Zorn and she looks a lot similar to her father. She is healthy and strong so I would deem their breeding of offspring was very successful, Hyvin. It is a joyous occasion. She is very healthy with no flaws.”

Berrr’s entire body relaxed as a grin curved his mouth. “Take me to them.”

Shanna expected him to leave her behind but he kept hold of her hand, tugging her after him. They walked down a hallway, took a few turns, and then Ahhu led them into a large room. Ral was sitting in a chair next to a bed where Ariel appeared pale but happy. Ariel smiled at them both before her attention returned to her husband. Ral turned a little in the chair to proudly display the small wrapped bundle in his large muscular arms.

“We have named her Destiny,” Ral said softly. His gaze fixed lovingly on his wife. “We thought it was fitting for our child.”

Berrr released Shanna’s hand to move slowly to his son’s side to stare down at the baby. He only hesitated for a second before he reached for the baby with both hands to very gently lift the small bundle into his arms, grinning down at the scrunched-up face. Shanna moved a little closer, seeing a newborn baby with a lot of shocking black hair, and found herself smiling. The sight of Berrr holding his grandchild in his arms was amazing to her. He was such a bad-ass-looking guy that it was almost weird to see such a small baby in his arms, but very touching.