“Kyler, I’m finished.”
Several moments later, he cautiously sticks his head around the curtain with his eyes closed. “You said you are finished, yes?”
“Yeah.”
He opens his eyes and he helps me back to my bed. No sooner am I situated with the blanket over me than Sage comes in. As much as I wish it had been her helping me, I’m not sure we would have made it there and back. Of course, she may be stronger than she looks, but it’s probably better that it was Kyler.
“Sorry I’m late.”
I wave her off. “It’s fine. You were taking care of your family.”
Sage’s whole face lights up. “My mate and daughter. She recently turned one, although I suppose I should say this is her second warm season since calendars are a bit different here.”
A sharp pain gets lodged in my chest at the thought of a baby, but I’m not sure why. “What’s her name?”
“Makahla,” she says, her smile not dimming in the least. “We wanted something that spoke to both her human and Tavikhi heritage.”
“It’s beautiful.”
Kyler clears his throat and shifts uncomfortably. “If you do not need me, I will take my leave.”
Sage’s happiness dims and in its place is sympathy. “Thank you for checking in on Elodie for me.”
“Of course.” He nods and then quickly exits the tent.
The female healer sighs. “Ugh, I hate he’s upset.”
“What’s wrong?” Kyler had been perfectly pleasant and friendly up until a few minutes ago.
“It was the baby talk. He and Zara have been trying to get pregnant for over three years without any luck,” she tells me. “He blames himself even though there’s no way for anyone to know why it hasn’t happened for them yet. They’re both happy for those of us with kits, but it’s also a reminder of what they’re missing.”
“Oh, man, that’s awful.”
“Yeah.” There’s a brief silence before Sage shakes it off. “Anyway, how are you feeling today? I brought you some kokkra with the tiniest bit of shurup nectar in case you’re hungry.”
She sets it on my lap.
“Thank you. I am getting a little hungry. I’m also better now that I’ve peed, I think. My leg’s a little achey, but I suppose that’s from hopping to and from the toilet.” I laugh lightly. “I probably could use some water and maybe a small bit of pain medicine to take the edge off.”
“Coming right up.” She fills up two cups with water, adds a pinch of some powder in one of them, and brings them over to me.
I drink down the pain medicine first and give her back the empty cup. The other, I set near my hip and pick up the bowl of kokkra. It trembles in my hands, but slowly they steady.
“I heard Ortak and Gannen returned home already.” I try to sound casual, but I’m not sure how well I succeed given the way Sage looks at me. It’s too close to pitying.
“Before the morning meal, from my understanding.”
“No doubt Ortak needed to get home to his wife. I’m sure she was worried.” My focus is intent on the oatmeal-like food in the bowl I keep staring into.
“He’s not mated,” Sage points out.
“Oh.”
Thankfully, she doesn’t say anything else about it and soon, our topics of conversation turn elsewhere, but it’s awkward. I finish eating and the pain medicine has made me sleepy, which I would normally hate. However, in this case I’m grateful. Sage graciously leaves me alone when I mention I’d like to take a nap. At least if I’m asleep I don’t have to keep thinking about Ortak or his son.
Chapter 5
Ortak
