Proditor : Book 5 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  “Are you going in to see the doctor with her today?”

  “Yes, which reminds me, we need to get going,” Chevalier said, and they both walked up to the bedroom together. Chevalier released two of the guards until their return, and went into the room with Quinn.

  Emily was sitting up in bed, leaned back against the headboard reading. Both fires were going and the room was hot enough it made it hard to breathe, yet she had a blanket thrown over her legs.

  “Is it time to go?” she asked, setting her book down. Quinn couldn’t help but stare. She was pale and shaking, and seemed thinner and more frail. Her eyes were dull and she obviously didn’t feel well.

  “Yes, I’d like to go with today.”

  Emily nodded and got up. She put on a sweater and then took Chevalier’s hand. He drove the Humvee to the doctor’s office and told the two members of the Cavalry to wait in the car. Emily had complained during the last visit that they stood out too much, and it made people look at her. Right now, everyone was doing what they could to lessen any stress or anxiety in her life.

  “Go right in,” the receptionist told Emily when she checked in. They weighted her as she glared at Chevalier’s back to make sure he didn’t turn around, and then she was seated in a small office. She sat down on the bed and swung her legs while the nurse took her blood pressure and then they waited for the doctor.

  Dr. Hayden came in and smiled, “Good to see you. How are you feeling?” he asked, and sat down on the rolling chair.

  “About the same,” Emily said, watching as he wrote in her chart.

  “You’re at 12 weeks today, so you’re out of the first trimester, and things should be easy going from here,” Dr. Hayden said. “Your blood pressure’s too low, I don’t really like that.”

  “Too low?” Chevalier asked. “I thought we were keeping things calm to keep it down.”

  “There’s down… and there’s low enough she could pass out,” Dr. Hayden explained. “Not sure why it’s down, but we’ll keep an eye on it. You’ve also lost 4 pounds in the last month, are you eating?”

  “When I can, yes,” Emily told him.

  “Is the Zofran not helping?”

  “It does... but not all the time.”

  “She really is trying to eat,” Chevalier said. He wanted the doctor to understand that she was attempting to do as he asked, “She’s craving red meat, but can only eat a few bites or she gets sick.”

  Dr. Hayden looked at Emily and tapped his finger against the side of his head, “I wish I could figure out why your body is fighting this baby so badly.”

  Emily shrugged slightly.

  Dr. Hayden grinned, “You sure it’s a human baby?”

  “Not entirely,” Emily said with a slight grin.

  Chevalier shifted nervously.

  “I may want you to check in with a specialist, see if we can find out why it is your body is so unhappy with this baby,” Dr. Hayden said. “You mentioned morning sickness with your other two was only a month long?”

  “Yes, but I won’t see anyone else,” Emily said, and Chevalier looked up just as she set her jaw.

  “A specialist may be able to tell us why you’re so sick,” Dr. Hayden said. “I can’t figure it out. Your blood work is good, other than we can’t get the iron up. Your blood pressure is too low and you shouldn’t be losing weight. You’re also too pale, which makes me think you may not be making enough blood.”

  “No”

  “I’m willing to give it two more weeks, but if you haven’t put on weight and don’t look any better, you’ll have to go to a specialist.”

  “No”

  “Have you been staying in bed?”

  “Yes, never far from the bathroom.”

  “Then get out, go out horseback riding today. Get some fresh air and some sun,” Dr. Hayden told her, and then turned to Chevalier. “Go out with her. She probably shouldn’t handle one on her own.”

  Chevalier nodded, “Easy enough.”

  “Two weeks then,” he said, and smiled before leaving.

  They pulled into the palace garage just at shift change for the Cavalry. Chevalier saw Kralen and Silas getting their horses ready for the later shift.

  Emily looked out, “I can handle my own horse.”

  “I know, but why don’t you tandem with someone,” he suggested, getting out of the Humvee.

  “I’m heading out. I can take you,” Jaron said as he crawled out of the backseat with the other member of the Cavalry.

  “I’m ok on my own,” Emily said, and headed toward the stables, followed by the two guards and Chevalier.

  “Still, Dr. Hayden said…” Chevalier started.

  “Dr. Hayden is being overcautious. I agreed to get out and get some air, but I ride my own,” she told him, and grabbed a bridle before disappearing into the stall with her stallion.

  Chevalier gave orders to those mounting up, and then walked into the stall, “I have a meeting. I’ll try to come out when you get back.”

  She was just slipping the bridle on the tall horse and leaned up against his neck, trying to catch her breath. Chevalier took the reins and led the horse out of the stables and tied him to the post.

  “Do you want a saddle?” Chevalier asked, watching her come out of the stall. She was still out of breath and shaking.

  “No,” she said, and ran her hand along the shiny coat of the stallion.

  “Just for me, ride with Jaron,” Chevalier said, and motioned for the member of the Cavalry to come over.

  “No,” she said again, and glanced at the ten gathered members of the Cavalry. She put her hands on the horse’s back and looked up, wondering how she was going to hoist herself up there. She jumped slightly when someone appeared on the horse.

  “I haven’t been out in a while. I’ll go with you,” Kyle said, and reached down for her.

  “I can handle my own horse,” Emily told him. She didn’t like when others rode her stallion.

  “I know, but I can’t handle it on my own, come on,” he said, amused, and she glared at him just as Chevalier lifted her up and slid her onto the stallion’s back in front of Kyle.

  “I don’t need a babysitter,” she grumbled as Kyle took the reins and kicked the stallion into a canter, followed by the ten guards.

  “Maybe we do, keep us out of trouble,” Kyle chuckled. Before long, they were up on the hills outside of the city and the ten guards started racing across the field.

  Emily pulled her sweater off, leaving just a light camisole and leaned her head back against Kyle’s chest and shut her eyes, letting the sun soak into her skin and warm her. He clicked his tongue and led the horse toward the trees, past the racing guards as they laughed and joked about who was the fastest. He kept a slow pace and let the horse mosey around the field, picking at flowers and grass along the way.

  Once he reached the trees, he pulled the horse to the side to skirt the outside of them. Kyle leaned down and whispered into her ear, “Are you ok?”

  Emily nodded, “Just tired all the time.”

  “You would tell me if someone was doing something to you, right?”

  “Probably”

  “Probably?”

  “Yes, probably.”

  Kyle sighed, “Chevalier said the doctor can’t figure out why you have such a low blood supply, and we’ve all noticed your scent isn’t very strong.”

  “Are you trying to find out if someone’s feeding?”

  “Is anyone?”

  Emily smiled slightly, “No.”

  “If someone told you that Chevalier was in danger unless you cooperated… something like Damon did, would you tell me?”

  Emily sat up and turned toward him, “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Kyle smiled, “Relax, I’m not hiding anything. I’m just checking to see if everything’s ok.”

  She hesitated, and then leaned her head back on his chest again, “No one’s feeding off of me.”

  “You realize we don’t need a dark abandoned
crypt to talk.”

  “I know.”

  “Ok, so let’s talk,” he said, bringing the stallion to a stop.

  “About what?”

  “Everything, the baby, your aging, the Ferus, Exavior…”

  Emily raised her eyebrows, “Quite the topic list.”

  “The baby then…”

  “What’s to say… oops? I can’t seem to keep from getting pregnant, end of story.”

  “Your aging.”

  “Or lack thereof? Did you know?”

  “No, I thought you were just aging well.”

  “Are you surprised?”

  Kyle shrugged, “I don’t think any of us were.”

  “At least no one will try to turn me now. I’ll live forever on my own,” she said, watching the guards race across the field.

  “What’s made you so afraid of turning?”

  Emily frowned, “What makes you think I’m afraid of turning?”

  “Because you are, terrified of it.”

  “I have my reasons.”

  “Like what?” Kyle asked.

  “Like none of your business.”

  “Fair enough. What about the Ferus?”

  “It’s none of their business either.”

  Kyle chuckled, “Stop being difficult.”

  “I thought the Ferus were gone.”

  “They probably are, but no guarantees. Are you afraid of them?”

  “What’s up with the psychoanalytical crap?”

  “It’s not psychoanalytical crap. I’m trying to find out what’s going on with you.”

  “So did Chevalier give you topics when he called you out to go riding with me, or was he more vague?”

  Kyle grinned, “He was pretty vague.”

  “Let’s see… what’s up with me? I’m sick all the time, I’m tired constantly, I don’t really want to have another baby, my kids were kidnapped by a rogue faction, Exavior’s chained up in the basement along with my oh, so favorite heku, Damon. Everyone looks at me like I’m about to fall over dead, and suddenly I feel like I’m getting interrogated about suspicions that I’m letting someone feed off of me.”

  “Feel better?”

  “No”

  “Is someone?”

  “What?”

  “Feeding off of you,” Kyle said, suddenly serious.

  Emily sighed, “I told you no. What makes you think I’d let someone do that?”

  “You let Damon.”

  Emily glared forward, “Silas!”

  Silas turned toward them, and kicked his horse into a gallop until he was at her side, “Yes?”

  “Em…” Kyle started, but she slipped off the stallion and motioned for Silas to bring her up onto his horse.

  Silas glanced toward Kyle and then picked Emily up and put her on the horse in front of him.

  “Take me back,” Emily told him, and crossed her arms, frustrated.

  “Em, don’t do this. I was just asking,” Kyle said.

  Emily kicked Silas’ horse and he jumped into a gallop, so Silas led him back toward the stables. The other heku followed, figuring the fun ride was over. Emily slid off of the horse and sat down in the stables while the Cavalry put their horses away.

  “I just wanted to talk to you,” Kyle said, coming out after finishing with her horse.

  Emily stood up and looked up, “Look… no bites on my neck.”

  This drew the attention of the Cavalry, and they slowly moved around her.

  “Wrists… no bites,” Emily said, and slowly turned so they could all see her wrists. “Where else do you bite?”

  “I believe you,” Kyle said, frustrated.

  “Where?” Emily asked, stepping toward Jaron.

  “Umm… upper arm?” Jaron stammered, not sure if he was supposed to say.

  Emily slipped off her shirt, leaving on just her bra, and showed them all her arms, “No bites… where else?”

  “We believe you,” Kyle said. “Put your shirt back on.”

  “Where?” Emily yelled at one of the newer members of the Cavalry.

  He glanced at Kyle nervously, and then back to Emily, “Umm…”

  “Do you feed?” Emily asked him, taking a step closer.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” he said, trying to avoid looking at her.

  “Then where’s another spot?”

  “Erm... thigh?”

  Kyle glared at him and he took a step back. Emily quickly unbutton her jeans and slipped them off, now standing in just her bra and panties in the stables, “There… see any bites?”

  The guard was looking up at the loft, “No.”

  “Where else?” Emily asked, turning so Silas.

  “I think that’s about it,” he said, watching out the window. “Please get dressed, the Elder will kill us all.”

  She spun toward Kralen, who was watching her, amused, “Where else?”

  Kralen shrugged, “Seriously, I think we’ve covered them all.”

  “Emily, that’s enough,” Kyle said. “I get the picture… no one’s feeding off of you.”

  “What the hell…” Zohn gasped, walking into the stables. The Cavalry stood tall at attention, but averted their eyes away from the Elder’s wife.

  “You wanna check me for bites?” Emily asked, glaring at him as she crossed her arms.

  Zohn’s eyes grew wide, “No, I don’t.”

  “Fine then,” Emily said, and quickly slipped on her jeans. She pulled her shirt on just as she left for the palace.

  “Don’t you all have something to do?” Zohn growled, and the Cavalry blurred from the stables.

  “She has quite the temper today,” Kyle said, turning to Zohn.

  “What was that about?”

  “I just asked if she would tell me if someone was feeding off of her, and she got mad and decided to show us all,” Kyle said, shrugging.

  “What was her answer to your question?”

  “She said probably.”

  “Probably?”

  “Yes”

  Zohn glanced toward the palace, “Do you think someone is?”

  “I don’t know. I couldn’t exactly check either.”

  “I wouldn’t mind checking,” Zohn said, grinning.

  Kyle gasped, “Don’t let Cheval…”

  “I won’t… course… I’m not the one whose hot wife just stripped in front of the guards.”

  “If you’ll excuse me… Sir,” Kyle said, and turned to leave, obviously irritated with the Elder.

  Emily walked up the stairs slowly. The ride wore her out and all she wanted was to get to the bedroom and lay down. She was freezing from the stables, and still angry at the questions Kyle asked her. When she got to the fifth-floor landing, her guards fell in around her door as she stepped inside and shut it.

  She pulled off her shoes and socks and then slipped off her jeans, laying them across a chair by the fire. She sat on the bed and then slowly leaned back, the warmth from the fires soothing her to sleep.

  Chevalier stood by the bed, watching her sleep. She had a light sweat covering her skin and was dreaming something that caused her to grip one of the blankets tightly. He had the chance to look her over. He wanted to check for himself to make sure no one was feeding from her, though he couldn’t imagine her letting anyone. The doctor’s comment about her low blood supply just made him concerned, and then her reaction to Kyle’s questions furthered his worry that she was holding something from them.

  He scanned her soft skin, the smooth curves of her neck and shoulders, and the tiny dimple where the veins in her wrist met. He ran his fingers lightly along the inside of her upper arm, grinning when she squirmed slightly in her sleep. He sat down softly on the bed beside her and brushed his fingertips along her inner thigh, smiling when she looked up at him.

  “Nice nap?” he asked, taking her hand.

  Emily nodded, “Yes.”

  “Did you strip in front of the guards?”

  “Yes”

  “I went to check on a training schedule, and mo
st of them wouldn’t even look at me,” Chevalier said, amused. “Might I ask why you stripped?”

  “Kyle insinuated that I was letting someone feed off of me.”

  “And asked to see?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “No, I just decided to show him.”

  He ran his fingertips along her exposed stomach and grinned when she got goose bumps, “Why don’t you try to refrain from stripping in front of the guards? They all thought I was going to kill them.”

  “Then tell them to stop asking me if I’m getting bitten.”

  “Kyle’s just worried. In our species, that’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone is low on blood.”

  “What are you going to do with Damon?”

  Chevalier sighed, “We’ll banish him again.”

  “Why haven’t you?”

  “He’s been cooperating and providing enough information that it’s been useful to keep him alive, for now.”

  Emily studied his face, “Are you thinking about keeping him alive?”

  “No, not after what he did… he’s apologized for it, but that doesn’t change how wrong it was.”

  “It must be hard, he was your friend.”

  “Yes, he was.”

  “Do you forgive him?”

  “No, I don’t forgive easily,” Chevalier told her. “What do you want to eat tonight? It’s getting late.”

  “Did your maker, make Damon?”

  “No… food, Em.”

  “Medium rare steak,” she said, and leaned up on her elbow. “Does Zohn want him let out?”

  “I haven’t asked, it’s not an option,” he said, and reached over for her pills. He handed her one with a glass of water and watched as she took it.

  “Does grouchy brown haired guy on the end want Damon out?”

  Chevalier chuckled, “No, Braxter doesn’t want him out… Em, no one does, he’s not getting out.”

  “I want to talk to him.”

  “You are allowed down in the prison, but make it fast. We may banish him again soon.”

  “Not in the prison, alone, in a conference room… I don’t want to go to the prison.”

  Chevalier frowned, “Why would you want that?”

  “I have some things I want to know.”

  “I guess that’s ok, I can go in with you…”

  “Alone”

  “There’s no way to protect you if one of us can’t be in there.”