Page 28 of Lost Treasure

She tried tostare into his eyes, but she was so tired.

Haravin woke upin the dark of the night and was warm. Really warm. She sat up andeased her way off the end of the bed. She went to the bathroom andheld her breath as she peed. It wasn’t as bad as she thought. Therewas a bit of a burn, but it faded.

She washed up,scrubbed her face, and brushed her teeth with the brush from theamenities kit. Her hair was still in a thick tail, so she didn’thave to mess with it.

She headed backto the bedroom, and Alohi had scooted up against his alpha. Shetiptoed to the far side of the bed, away from them, and lifted thesheet to settle under. She was asleep in minutes.

She was facingAlohi with an arm around her waist. Kekoa murmured, “I told you Iwas a light sleeper.”

She settledback against him and returned to sleep.

Alohi woke hergently and helped her sit up. “Come on, Haravin. You have to havebreakfast and some medication. You can’t take it on an emptystomach.”

She felt alight ache and moved carefully to swing her legs out of bed. Shewas wearing one of her nighties, and it covered her to herknees.

She got up,swayed, and steadied. “Okay, where is my phone? I have to sendAmbrose some flowers.”

Alohi hoveredaround her as she walked slowly and then with more confidence.

Kekoa wassitting at the table, and he smiled when she came in. “Goodmorning, Haravin.”

“Good morning.I formally apologize for anything I said last night, but I reactthat way to sedation or alcohol.”

Alohi snaked anarm around her waist. “You were adorable. Very proud of yourbody.”

She froze inplace. “Oh. I am sorry.”

Alohi urged herto keep walking. “It was cute. We saw another side to you.”

“The heavilysedated side?” She walked toward the table, where a plate wascovered, and a cup of coffee and another of juice was standingby.

She eased downonto the chair, and Kekoa glanced at her before resuming whateverhe was reading.

Dismissed, shelifted the lid off breakfast and found her favourites. A ton ofprotein and a single slice of toast. She worked her way through theeggs, bacon, and sausage.

Alohi keptrubbing her back. “I am so sorry that happened to you.”

“It is what itis. I am going to be doing a video call with my family, though. Allthese years and no one said a thing. Even my regular GP didn’tnotice.”

Alohi murmured,“Dr. Oriel likened it to a popped seam on your jeans.”

She put herfork down and covered her face, breathing slowly.

“I have no ideahow I am going to address this. I have regular medical exams thatcan attest to my ridiculous narrowness. A history of agonizingperiods. Pain when I walked, moved, danced. Panic at the thought ofsex.”

Alohi said,“Olivia said that it was trendy for religious fanatics and betapurists to sew females closed. In her case, it was messy; in yourcase, it was so tidy that it was not visible if you didn’t knowwhat you were looking for.”

“Right. I don’tknow what to do about this.” She paused. “Actually, I know where tostart. I need to find my medical records for theappendectomy.” She wiggled her fingers in the air around thefinal word.

Kekoa nodded.“We have a cyber investigator working on it.”

She frowned athim. “You do?”

“We do.We are taking you on as our beta and, hopefully, offering you anenvironment that is easier and less painful.”

She swallowed.“I feel like I am offering you a product with a manufacturer’sdefect.”

Alohi caressedher shoulders. “You are not a product; you are a charming womanwith good taste in museum exhibits. So, can we take you home?”

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