Page 12 of Forbidden

Kerrek gave Kahn a sidelong glance and spoke softly, knowingly. “Do you wish it, my son?”

Kahn actually blushed, horrified.He knows! “I -- Father --”

“Do it,” Kerrek said, grinning at Kahn. “This woman is your future queen and she will need to have more babies.”

Now,thiswas unexpected. “Wait,” Kahn said, raising a hand in the doctor’s direction. Turning to his father he said, “You have no problem with a union?” How could he not have known his father would have seen things this way?

Kerrek shrugged. “The Universe directs us in ways no one can predict. Given the fact that so many of our warriors were eager to sacrifice an entire world to ‘preserve our people,’ perhaps it is time Gothe’mar learn that all life is precious. Not just the lives of our own people. If this woman has captured your heart, who am I to forbid a union?”

“My relationship with her is… complicated,” Kahn said somewhat uncomfortably. There was no way Kerrek was going to believe any of this.

His father only smiled. “I can imagine. Mine with your mother was, also.” The king chuckled as if remembering. Then his merriment faded and his eyes misted over.

“You miss her a great deal.” Kahn’s voice was soft, quiet with respect.

“She was my soul’s mate. I will find her in the Chamber of Souls when my spirit departs this body.” He smiled. “But, yes. I miss her a great deal.” Kerrek paused and looked at Kahn. The force of that stare was enough to make even Kahn the Merciless squirm. “Kahn,” Kerrek said, carefully, “is this Earth woman your soul’s mate?”

Kahn’s mouth went dry. “Yes,” he managed. How would his father react?

Kerrek merely smiled. “So your time has come. It’s not something I expected -- no one has ever found a soul’s mate outside the Gothe’maran people. This will be the bridge they need to accept Anna as their queen. It is the very heart of our beliefs.”

He clapped Kahn on the shoulder. “I will go now. Don’t leave her side. If this had happened between your mother and I, she would have skinned me alive when she got out of that healing tube. I’m sorry I treated her so harshly, Kahn. You should have said something.” He paused. “That’s something else you’re going to pay for.” Still chuckling, his father turned away to consult the doctor and dismiss the guards who had accompanied them.

Anna’s anger at Kahn had been bitter. He knew she had trusted him to protect her and he had failed. Had he better prepared her for what was going to happen when she reached Gothe’mar, told her she was being accused of her son’s attempted murder, she might have been better equipped to deal with everything. As it was, he had led her into a situation that could very well have gotten her killed. Instead, he had bedded her. Eagerly. He chose to try to get her to accept him, to trust him, instead of telling her the king of Gothe’mar suspected she had murdered her own son. Anna trust him? Probably not in this lifetime.

That had cost her, too. One simply did not assault the king. She was lucky she had survived. She wouldn’t have if Kahn hadn’t stayed the guards when he did. Not that she would see it that way. Not that she should. His father’s last words haunted him. He had denied her in front of his king and his people, not to mention his father, something she would never forgive.

Right now, Kahn could only wait. He had to be the first person she saw when she came out of that tube. He had to gauge her feelings through the link so he would know what he needed to do to regain her trust.

“Sir.” The doctor was speaking to him now. “Shall I proceed? I need to see to her injuries.”

Kahn hesitated only a moment. “Yes. Proceed, but do not repair her reproductive organs. It must be her choice.” He started to turn away, but faced the doctor again. “Can you identify the problem she had with her pregnancy that caused it to be difficult?”

“Yes, sir. It is easily correctable. A minor problem with the shape of her uterus. Fixing that should solve any problems for birth in the future.”

“Then hold your findings and keep them ready. If she decides she wants this, we’ll do it later.”

“As you wish, sir.” The doctor turned back to Anna’s healing tube. “This will take a while, sir. Go rest. I’ll call when she’s close to regaining consciousness.”

Waiting had never been harder.

?* * *

When Anna opened her eyes, Kahn’s face was the first thing she saw. At first she smiled. It must have all been a very unpleasant dream.

Then the tall, thin doctor came into view. “How do you feel, madam?”

Not a dream after all. Well, shit.

She sat up, swinging her legs over the side and remaining that way for a moment before answering. “Fine. Will I still be able to see my son?” Her voice was bitter and she forced herself not to look at Kahn. If she did that, he’d see her hurt. If he didn’t already feel it. She’d give almost anything to be able to block her feelings from him at that moment.

“Of course. All is ready. We are simply waiting for you,” the doctor said, not unkindly. “Please follow me and do not touch your son until I tell you. This process is delicate and cannot be disturbed or he could be in danger.”

Anna followed him without a word. Let him stew. If he even cared. She couldn’t feel him and didn’t want to try.

Gazing into the encasement, she got her first look at her son. The tiny boy was resting comfortably on his back, one hand tangled in the tuft of dark hair on his head. It was like he was sleeping peacefully in his crib.

Grief over losing him, joy at finding him again, all the emotions were so overwhelming, she staggered and would have fallen into the contraption had it not been for Kahn’s steadying hands. She immediately shrugged away from him and focused her undivided attention on what was happening to her son.

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