Mirak tilted his head. “Would you do it for your child? Your Emma?”
She and Ke’lar exchanged a look.
“You got me there.” Summer heaved a sigh. “And I hate to say it but—yeah, I would.” She glanced to where Ar’ar and H’lara were already brushing noses. “I’m happy for him. . . for both of them.”
“You are gracious, Mata.” He cleared his throat. “The clanmother’s jewels—”
“Right,” Summer said with a nod. “They’re in the pack I brought from your enclosure. I’m sure Jenna still has it. I’ll get them to you before you go.”
He looked at Ke’lar. “I hope she will be happy with you, and that you will value her as she deserves.”
“Wow,” Summer said, surprised. “I think you really mean that.”
“I do. And before you return those jewels, I would have you choose one for yourself.” Mirak inclined his head to her. “As a gesture of our friendship. Now, if you will excuse me, I should greet Ar’ar’s intended, the Betari’s new clanmother.”
“That was generous of him,” Ke’lar said. “To offer you such a gift of goodwill.”
“True, but if he were really thoughtful he would have left them alone for five minutes, for God’s sake,” Summer muttered, watching him walk to the pair. “How that man ever got to be a Council member with that level of tact and sensitivity, I’ll never understand.”
“I am only glad the matter is decided,” Ke’lar rumbled.
“Oh, that’s right, I’m all yours—” She grinned. “By default.”
“I would have won, my mate,” Ke’lar mock-grumbled, pulling her close. “No one would doubt you are mine.”
“Oh, believe me . . .” Summer slid her arms around his waist and lifted her face to brush a kiss against his mouth. “Nobody’s ever going to doubt that.”
Epilogue
Emma’s brow creased as she looked between Summer and Ke’lar. “She’ll be like Anna?”
“Yes,” Ke’lar rumbled solemnly, crouching down to get as close to eye level with her as he could with his height. “This baby will be like Jenna’s daughter, Anna. Half-g’hir and half-human.”
The exam room of Be’lyn’s medical center was comfortably homey and Summer didn’t want to put this news off any longer. She’d insisted they waited till they were sure, till every test the healers could run showed the baby she carried was healthy, before they told Emma.
“But she’ll still be my sister,” Emma said.
“Your half-sister,” Summer corrected.
Her daughter’s face took on a look of obstinacy, her little jaw hardening in stubbornness, and Summer sighed inwardly.
Gets it from Dean.
“Don’t care if she’s half-g’hir.” Emma fixed them both with a stern look. “She’s gonna be my whole sister.”
Ke’lar’s mouth twitched, his fangs showing for an instant, but he swiftly controlled his smile.
Man, he’s going to repeat that to anyone who’ll listen . . .
“Hmmm.” Summer shifted, pressing her lips together.
Ke’lar looked up immediately. “Summer?”
Doctor Ki’san was just coming back into the exam room and his gaze went immediately to the display over her head. “The nausea has worsened?”
Her stomach was roiling, and it was a moment before she could speak.
“You know,” she gasped then took a few slow breaths to continue, “with Emma I had morning sickness maybe once but this . . .”
“Mommy?” Emma piped. “Are you okay?”
She wanted to assure her daughter, explain that it sometimes was something you had to get through when you were growing a baby, but right now all she could do was manage to hang onto the exam table and force out a pleading: “Ke’lar?”
“We must wait outside, Emma,” he said, swiftly scooping their daughter up. “So the doctor can help your mother feel better.”
Summer threw him a grateful look as he hustled the little girl out.
“And you are certain the sickness is normal for humans?” Doctor Ki’san asked.
“Absolutely. ’Course this is a little on the high side,” Summer got out. “And it usually doesn’t last so long.”
The doctor touched a few controls to adjust the display then gave a nod. “I see no reason not to administer a mild anti-nausea injection.”
“Hmmm . . . If you value your shoes you might want to hurry . . .”
The injection didn’t even hurt and was instantly followed by blessed relief as her stomach settled right down.
“Thank you!” Summer breathed. “I’m actually hungry again.”
He gave a huffed laugh. “I am pleased I could ease your discomfort. There is an oral version of the medication that we should start you on, to prevent a return of this symptom.”
“And it’s safe for human—I mean, half-human babies?” she asked, laying her hand on the slight curve of her belly.