Page 2 of Forbidden Desires

“I’ll remind you of this when it’s winter and you’re looking for a new thick quilt.” Sarah snorted. She took a wet rag and used it to wipe her friend’s brow.

“It’s time.” Zylar lowered his voice, not wanting to scare the females. They were acting tough, but both were scared. Giving birth without the benefit of a hospital was something neither of them thought would happen to them. And then, to them he was a monster with purple skin and horns. His black eyes with a strip of lavender were hard for them to get used to.

He stepped out of the bedroom and into the kitchen to wash his hands. He didn’t need to do it, but he knew it would make them feel better. When their cable was working, they sat him down to watch programs with women having children so he could see how a human doctor did it. It was barbaric, but even on his planet, few were as talented in the art of healing or birthing as he was.

“Have you ever seen a frya giving birth?” He placed his hands on her stomach, taking measurements of the baby. His soft voice rumbled on distracting Anna-Mae. “They control fire, you know.” His fingers were resting on top of the child, a gentle white light coming from them.

“Fire?” It was all she heard as she came out of her last contraction.

“They can be deadly. I heard the prince’s consort is a frya.”

“You said she was human the last time you were here,” Sarah said. Anna-Mae nodded her head before she grimaced, mouth open wide on a silent scream.

“She is.” Zylar stroked her stomach, taking some of the pain away. “Soon it will be time to push. Then you’ll see how Diza females used to give birth and why they liked to see me come to help them.”

“You’re probably dark and mysterious to your people with those black eyes and that one strip of lavender.” Sarah and Anna-Mae laughed. “Did they swoon when they saw you? Here comes that sexy healer.” Sarah batted her eyes at him.

“I’m just ordinary.”

“Sure.” Sarah grinned at him. “Tell us anything.” Sarah cleared her throat, getting serious. “Anna-Mae and I just want to thank…”

“Stop. None of that. You won’t be losing this baby.” She lost two in the past and there was a law that said she couldn’t get rid of the child even if her life was in danger, which it was. Each pregnancy was taking her one step closer to death. “There will never be another child after this one.”

She sobbed her thanks. He could do what the people of this planet couldn’t get done.

“Push.” Anna-Mae grunted, praying. He lifted his hands, a cloud of white coming from them to cover her from the top of her ribcage to her knees. No one needed to see, and he didn’twant the government to know what he was capable of. He didn’t think that Anna-Mae or Sarah would tell, but they would want everyone to know how Anna-Mae survived.

“With one hand he worked the light around the child, checking on heart rate and breathing. Zylar lifted the baby, not allowing her to drop enough to enter the birth canal. Using his other hand, he did a c-section on Anna-Mae, opening her up without the trauma of using cold hard instruments. When she and the child were ready, he delivered the baby girl.

Zylar lifted the baby girl and made sure her nose and mouth were clear before cleaning her up and handing her to Sarah. The young one let out a loud wail that made her mother wail in relief. Zylar turned back to his patient.

“Are you still in agreement?”

“Yes, please.”

He gave her a complete hysterectomy. This wasn’t something he would normally do, but he could see what would happen if she tried to have another child and he would not let her die because her government didn’t seem to care.

He quickly took care of it and repaired all the damage. “You need to stay in bed for the next two days, and after that you’ll be fine to move around.”

“Only two days?” Sarah asked. Anna-Mae’s eyes were closed.

“Yes, two days. Can you be with her during that time?”

“She’s my best friend. I’m not going anywhere.” Zylar took the child back to give her a final check-up.

“She’ll be just fine. I think she’ll grow like a weed and bring joy to her mother.”

“You stay with us any longer and you’ll be talking in a southern drawl,” Anna-Mae said. Her voice was weak, but she was happy.

“Well, what are you going to name her?” Sarah demanded.

“Zoya of course, after the healer that saved our lives.”

“Zoya,” Zylar said. His happiness lit up the room. It had been too long since he’d seen a child being born.

He placed the baby in Anna-Mae’s arms.

“I shouldn’t ask this,” Sarah stumbled to a stop.

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