The Lobos' Heartsong

by Laura Jo Phillips

  Faron’s head came up with a snap as he heard a soft gasp of pain from Lariah. The intensely focused expression on her face confirmed his fear. The Princess was in labor. To make matters worse, they were far from the ranch, and soon they would have to complete the ritual with Saige. He glanced over and saw that Riata was still lying on the grass not far away and he frowned.

  “Is Riata unconscious?” he asked. He hoped not as they would need her help with both Lariah and Saige.

  “No my friend,” Garen said softly. “Riata is lost to this world. She now travels to the next,” he said.

  Faron’s heart filled with sadness. Riata had been a truly kind and gentle being, and the world would be a sadder place without her presence. And, on a more practical side, without her healing, what were they going to do?

  “Let us get to the ranch first, then we will figure it out,” Garen said, easily guessing Faron’s thoughts since they were the same as his own.

  Faron nodded as he rose to his knees and carefully picked Saige up, cradling her gently in his arms.

  “Faron, I will carry Saige, and Val will transport you at the same time,” Garen said.

  Faron released Saige into Garen’s arms reluctantly, knowing that he would never have handed her over to anyone other than his Prince. Garen spun around and vanished. Faron hurried to Val, who placed a hand on his shoulder and a moment later, they vanished as well.

  “You ready, little love?” Trey asked Lariah, who gasped as a new contraction began. She nodded quickly, wanting to be in her own home more than anything right then. Trey kissed her gently, held her close to his chest and spun in place, disappearing before he had turned half way around.

  While they were gone, Dav went to inspect the two male bodies lying nearby. He realized at once that Saige had taken them both out and felt a rush of pride in her. They were easily three times her size and weight, yet she had made short work of them. One of them was dead, the other injured. Dav had no doubt whatsoever that Saige had left one alive for a reason. That was all that prevented him from killing the man where he lay.

  A soft popping sound announced Garen’s return, followed a moment later by Val. Dav explained to Garen what Saige had done, and both men agreed that the one still living needed to be kept alive. Hopefully, he would have some answers for them. Then, Garen transported Dav back to the house while Val took Ban.

  Moments later, Trey and Val returned. Val lifted Riata’s body carefully and with great respect, noticing only after she was in his arms that she had been dropped onto a large angular boulder with a sharp edge down the center of it. That is what had broken her spine and killed her. Trey lifted the two human males by the backs of their shirts. Just as he was ready to leave, Val spotted something metallic on the ground where the glittery being had stood. He lowered Riata back to the ground and carefully inspected the area. He pocketed a small square object with several buttons on it, and tore a piece of his shirt to wrap his other findings; several small pieces of what looked like charred skin but smelled strange, as though they were part flesh, part plastic. He put the wrapped items in his pocket and bent once more to retrieve Riata before transporting back to the ranch.

  Val and Trey placed Riata on the bed in the guest room she had been using for the time being, and dumped the human male’s body in an area of freshly turned earth that Pater had just prepared for a vegetable garden not too far from, or too close to the house. The living human they turned over to Ric who was standing guard over the house, along with every other hand on the place.

  “Be careful with him,” Trey said. “It may be that he and his friend have explosives planted in them. If that is the case, and they are detonated, we don’t want anyone else harmed or any buildings destroyed.”

  Ric nodded, pulled a length of rope from his pocket and tossed it to another ranch hand. “Tie him up,” he ordered shortly.

  “Tiny?” Trey asked, bracing himself for bad news. Suly had told them over the vox that Lariah’s beloved dog had been drugged and injured. He did not want to have to be the one to break any bad news to Lariah about her dog.”

  “He’s okay,” Ric said, much to Trey’s relief. “The drug has mostly worn off and he seems fine. I think he landed badly on his shoulder when they shot him because he has a limp, but that’s all.”

  Trey nodded. He wished beyond anything that Doc was there, but he was still at the Katre’s ranch at the far end of the continent, helping with a sudden outbreak of a mysterious illness infecting the local cattle.

  Trey asked Ric to keep a sharp eye out for anyone or anything suspicious, then hurried into the house, anxious to check on Lariah.

  Chapter 32

  Lariah insisted on seeing Tiny before doing anything else. Garen considered arguing with her about it, but changed his mind when he realized that Lariah would not relax until she was able to check on the dog personally. He crossed the bedroom and opened the door to the patio, hoping that Tiny was there. The dog leapt to his feet immediately and hurried inside, going directly to Lariah, his tail whipping back and forth with obvious relief to find she was well. Lariah spent a few moments communicating with the dog in her own special way before sending him to go lay down on his bed near the patio door.

  “He’s okay,” Lariah said as she watched him curl up on his bed and sigh as he rested his huge head on his paws. “He fell on his shoulder when they shot him with that dart, so that’s sore, but otherwise he was mostly just worried about me.”

  “I am very glad that Tiny was not seriously injured, sharali,” Garen said. “But right now, I am more interested in you getting into that bed.”

  “No, I want to take a shower first,” she replied. “And I want to wash my hair.”

  Garen opened his mouth to argue with her, but she jumped in before he had a chance to say a word. “I have only just begun labor Garen,” she said reasonably. “I have hours of time. Besides, I am not going to be able to relax until I get the smell of Darleen’s trunk off of me.”

  “Darleen?” Garen growled. “What has she to do with this?”

  “I’m not sure exactly, but she was with the two men who drugged us and put us in the trunk of her ground-car. She told them that Saige and I were wanted unharmed, but that she didn’t care what they did with Riata.” The last was said with a trace of bitterness that Garen had never heard in Lariah’s voice before.

  “I am sorry, sharali,” Garen said, gathering her close in his arms.

  “So am I,” Lariah said softly. She shook her head against Garen’s chest. “Before Darleen left she told the men to wait for the pick-up, but she didn’t use any names. We don’t even know why that man wanted us, let alone who he is.”

  Garen gave Lariah a careful squeeze. “We shall discuss that matter later,” he said. “Right now we must focus on other things, like getting you in the shower.” Suddenly Garen was glad of the excuse of the shower to divert Lariah’s mind.

  Lariah nodded and stepped back. “Yes, I really must have a shower before anything else,” she said. The way she said it made Garen realize that her need for a shower was more psychological than physical.

  “Come then,” he said as he guided her into the bathroom.

  After a quick shower, during which Lariah was allowed to do no more than stand motionless and let Garen do the washing, he helped her into a clean nightgown and combed her long hair for her while she sat in a cozy chair by the fireplace in their bedroom. The slow, repetitive motions of the comb sliding through her hair relaxed both of them. By the time Val and Trey joined them, her hair was braided neatly and she was just finishing another contraction.

  “They are coming closer together already,” Lariah said when the contraction ended. “I don’t think it will be much longer.”

  Garen, Trey and Val looked at each other helplessly. Without Riata or Doc, they weren’t certain what to do.

  Lariah had a sudden urge to get up and move. She used the arms of the chair to help herself to her feet, all three of her men rushing to her i
mmediately, trying to convince her to stay in the chair. She ignored them and began walking slowly across the room.

  “Lariah, you need to sit down,” Garen said.

  “You need to lay down,” Trey insisted.

  “You need to stand still,” Val added worriedly.

  “No, I need to move,” Lariah said as she reached the far end of the room and paced slowly back. The feel of the thick, soft carpeting against her bare feet felt exceptionally good to her for some reason.

  “Okay guys, listen up,” she said, glancing up to be sure she had their attention. “We are going to have these babies, and that is all there is to it. Riata is not here, and that makes me sad, but right now we need to focus on our children.”

  Garen, Trey and Val focused intently on her, watching her carefully as she walked. “You guys told me that my body is shifter, and will do as it must to insure that the babies are born without getting stuck, or anything else horrible, right?”

  “That is correct,” Garen said with a nod.

  “All right then, there is nothing to worry about. When they come, you three will have to make sure that their airways are cleared so they can breathe, and you will need to cut the umbilical cords.”

  Garen swallowed hard, but nodded again. He was fairly certain that gutting a man without benefit of his dracon claws would be easier than what Lariah so casually suggested, but he wasn’t going to admit that to her.

  “Little love,” Trey said as she turned around at the far end of the room and began walking toward them again. “Would you please lie down now?”

  “I will in a bit, Trey,” she said, her mind on other things.

  “Riata and Suly had things prepared for this,” she said as she turned again and paced away from them. “Blankets, towels, some things they borrowed from Doc and sterilized, I don’t know what all. We are going to have to ask Suly where those things are and get them in here and set up.”

  “I will ask her in a moment,” Trey said, “but first, don’t you think you should lie down?”

  Lariah frowned as she turned back toward them. “No, I do not want to lie down,” she said. “Why do you keep asking me that?”

  “Because you are in labor and it just seems like you should be lying down,” he explained weakly.

  Lariah turned and paced back across the room again. When she turned back she was smiling. “Trey, love, I promise you that the babies will not just fall out of me,” she said. “In fact, it is going to take some effort to get them out, so don’t worry. Walking actually eases the contractions and is good for me right now.”

  Garen and Val both looked at Trey with expressions of surprise, which Trey did his best to ignore. When they started grinning he shrugged his shoulders.

  “Okay, it’s dumb, but how many babies have you two watched being born?”

  Garen and Val had to concede that point.

  “Trey, please go inform Sully that Lariah is in labor and ask her to tell you where the items are that have been prepared.”

  Trey nodded and left the room. “Val, you stay here with Lariah. I must go check on Saige and the Lobos.”

  “Please don’t try to keep me in the dark about what is going on with Saige,” Lariah said. Garen paused to look at her doubtfully but she scowled at him. “She is my friend Garen. My only friend. I want to know how she is doing.”

  Garen nodded reluctantly and left the room.

  “Val, would you please get me some ice chips?” Lariah asked.

  Val shook his head. “Sorry, my heart,” he said. “I am not leaving you alone for any reason. It will have to wait until Trey or Garen return.”

  “All right,” she agreed. She stopped walking and leaned one hand against the wall, breathing deeply as the muscles in her abdomen contracted strongly. The pains really were coming quickly. It would not be much longer before her daughters joined her in the world.

  Garen closed the bedroom door and hurried across the living room and down the hall to the guest room that Lariah had used when she had first come to them. It was hard for him to believe it had been less than a year. She was so much a part of their lives now that it was impossible to imagine life without her.

  He knocked softly at the door and waited until he heard the low “come in” before turning the knob and entering the room. Saige lay on the bed, her face pale and smudged with dirt. The Lobos had removed her shoes and jeans, and covered her with a light blanket. They stood beside the bed watching her, their faces worried and sad.

  “How is she doing?” he asked.

  Faron shrugged. “Her heart is beating more strongly and her breathing is better, but she is still unconscious.”

  Garen thought back to when they had injected Lariah after she had been brutally stabbed. “I think that she should awaken very soon,” he guessed. Faron shot him a hopeful glance. “Yes?”

  “It is difficult to remember because it was such an intense experience,” Garen said. “But if I remember correctly about this much time had passed before...,”

  He broke off as he noticed Saige’s eyes opening, her hand going at once to her chest. “Ouch,” she said softly.

  All three of the Lobos released a sigh of relief.

  “What happened?” Saige asked. She looked at Garen and frowned with worry. “Lariah?” she asked.

  “She is fine,” Garen said. “She is in labor, but doing well. “ He turned to Faron. “Assuming this goes as it did with Lariah, I believe you will have less than an hour,” he said. “Enough time for her to bathe if that is her wish, and to tell you what happened, again, if that is your wish, but not much more. I must return to Lariah.”

  “What happens next?” Faron asked.

  “Lariah became very sleepy quite suddenly. She fell into a deep sleep, followed by a light coma from which she could not be awakened. When that happens, you will have about another hour. Let me know if anything else occurs.”

  Faron nodded. “Thank you, Highness,” he said.

  “Do not worry, all will be well,” Garen said before leaving the room and closing the door gently behind him. As he hurried back across the house he noticed that the light through the living room door was fading. It was going to be a very long evening.

  “You’ve started the ritual, haven’t you?” Saige asked as she tried to sit up.

  “Yes, amada,” Faron replied as he reached down and lifted her into his arms. “I am sorry we had to do so without your consent, but it was the only way to save your life.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” Saige said. “You had already had my consent, and I am glad you were able to save me. I am not ready to release life, especially now that I have so much to look forward to.”

  Faron smiled and kissed her gently as he carried her into the bathroom where Dav was already filling the large tub. Faron sat Saige on the counter and Ban helped him begin undressing her. The large bruises that covered her chest where the energy weapon had hit her had them growling softly. Fortunately, the sonic disrupter had been keyed to the ‘stun’ setting.

  “Easy guys,” Saige said, “It’s just bruising and will be gone soon. No need to get all worked up about it.”

  “Sometimes Saige, I am convinced you need a spanking,” Faron said as he lifted her just enough for Ban to slide her panties off of her.

  “Oh, now that is something I’d like to see you try,” she said archly.

  “Didn’t anybody ever tell you it is not wise to dare a Lobo?” he asked.

  Saige screwed up her face as though trying hard to remember such a warning. Finally she shook her head. “No, sorry, never heard that one before.”

  Faron stepped back and quickly removed his clothing, as did Dav and Ban. Dav stepped into the tub and nodded to Faron, indicating the temperature was satisfactory.

  Faron picked her up once more and carried her into the tub, not releasing her even as he sat down. “You can let me go now,” she said. “I’m okay.”

  “No, I cannot,” Faron argued. “Not just yet. Now please tell us what h
appened.”

  Saige scowled at Faron, then Dav, then Ban, giving each of them a good long stare. “Do not ever attempt to judge a female again,” she said. “I mean it. You are terrible at it and cannot be trusted in that department.”

  All three men looked at her with surprise, not understanding at all where that had come from. She reached for a clean cloth from a stack on the edge of the tub and the bottle of lightly scented wash, working up a lather as she waited patiently for them to get it.

  “Oh, hell, no,” Faron said finally. He turned Saige in his lap until he could see her face. “Darleen Flowers was involved, that’s what you are getting at, isn’t it?” he demanded.

  Saige rolled her eyes. “Duh,” she said.

  Faron wasn’t at all sure what duh meant, but he had a feeling that, in this instance anyway, it meant the same as yes.

  “She deserves to be sent to the mines for this,” Ban said, his voice trembling with barely controlled fury.

  Saige snorted. “The mines?” she asked. “She deserves to have her head ripped off and put...well, never mind where. And I intend to do that as soon as I find her. Riata is dead because of her, and Lariah and I nearly ended up on some creep’s spaceship.”

  “By our own laws, we are not allowed to use death as a punishment against humans or humanoid beings living on our world unless, and until, they are first tried in a court of law,” Faron said.

  Saige studied him carefully for a moment. “As a punishment,” she repeated slowly. “If they die in the heat of the moment while committing a crime, that is different, correct?”

  “Very different,” Faron agreed.

  “Well, I do not work for your government. Nor am I Jasani. I’m just another human female and I assume that what I do with another human female is beneath the notice of the Jasani council.”