Page 28 of Healer
Stress left my body with a tremor, and a roll of nausea assaulted my gut. In a hospital, I would spend the moments after surgery writing post-op orders and speaking to family members. In the middle of this jungle, there was nothing to do but wait… and pray I’d been successful. The color deepened in the fleshy portions of Irsay’s face, and the pulse beating in the center of her throat seemed stronger, which was a very positive indicator.
“Let her stay here for at least an hour,” I issued my post-operative instructions, mouth dry. “It will give the sutures time to settle.”
Vienda and Talamus nodded in agreement, their dark eyes never wavering from Irsay’s face.
Hakkar rose, and we shared a glance, both wanting to give the family some privacy. I went to take a step, but my knees gave way. Hakkar’s muscular arms went around me, supportive and comforting.
I leaned against him until we exited the theatre and made our way to a log bench by the fire, stepping over the lingering corpses of the beings responsible for Irsay’s injury. I didn’t let my gaze linger. I’d seen enough of broken flesh and blood for one day.
Hakkar settled me, moving away only long enough to retrieve a cup of Talamus home brew from a nearby jug.
“Drink,” he ordered, golden eyes heated as he held the bone cup out to me.
I took the cup with shaking fingers, taking a sip and letting the liquid settle my nerves. Gods, I hadn’t fallen apart after surgery like this since... well, my very first surgery.
“That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen,” Hakkar murmured, settling on the bench beside me. His focus on myface felt too intense, as if he was trying to see deep into my soul. I turned my gaze away, not wanting him to see the worry there—for Irsay—for myself.
Hakkar’s hand trailed along my spine, forcing away the stress. I relaxed into his touch, letting it soothe my frazzled nerves—at least until Vienda and Talamus exited the shelter, and worry forced my heart into my throat.
“Irsay?”
I asked, making to rise, but Vienda’s wave kept me seated.
“My child is well, thanks to you.”
With those words, both Kerzak stopped directly in front of me, going down on one knee and bowing their heads. The left arm went skyward, while the right fist rested directly over the heart.
“It’s a salute of great respect,” Hakkar whispered, his arm going around my waist to steady my trembling.
“I....” My voice broke, to overcome with emotion to form coherent words.
“We bless you for Irsay’s life,” Talamus said hoarsely, a shimmer in his dark brown eyes.
“Thank you,” I whispered, furiously blinking back tears. It didn’t matter that these two were the embodiment of walking-talking grizzly bears. They loved their child as much as any human parent. It was all that mattered.
“Agnes needs to rest,” Hakkar said as the Kerzak rose to their feet.
“Vienda, too,” Talamus agreed, gently touching his mate’s shoulder.
“I will rest beside Irsay and watch over her,” Vienda glanced at Talamus, a stubborn glint in her eye.
Her mate didn’t argue. He only gave a grunt of acquiescence before turning his attention to Hakkar. “We mustremove the dead before it draws predators.” His dark brown eyes scanned the horizon as he frowned. “Or others.”
“I will gather tools and meet you in a moment,” Hakkar agreed, helping me from the bench. “I must take Agnes to rest.”
Vienda and Talamus turned away before I tried taking the first step. When my knees shook, Hakkar’s golden eyes stared at me tenderly for a moment before he swung me into his arms.
“It is okay, Aggie. I have you.”
Maybe it was the use of the nickname. Perhaps it was the tender way he touched me. Maybe being in his arms made me feel so safe, like nothing known or unknown could hurt me. Perhaps it was simply the emotional and mental exhaustion that often accompanies intense surgeries.
Despite the underlying reason remaining unknown, I let myself melt into Hakkar’s hold and sobbed.
He said nothing as he carried me into the cave and to the bed, tucking me beneath the furs.
“H—Hakkar?”
His name trembled from my lips without a thought to what I wanted to ask.
