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“I’m sorry for the way things went this morning.”
He was sorry? She finally lifted her head to look at him, but she said nothing.
“Look. This is all new for all of us. But we lost people in the brawl with the townies last fall. You know this. I’m simply worried.”
“Forcing people to marry someone they don’t love isn’t going to achieve your goals, Craig. I’m sorry to be blunt. But I don’t want to be tied to someone I don’t love and I sure as hell don’t want to bring children into a loveless home.”
“I have another proposition for you to consider.”
“A proposition?”
She stood but kept her seeds and supplies between them. She shoved her hands in her pockets.
“What if you had my child? Hanalore and I will raise it, since we can’t seem to have our own. It would help me to do my part in the population increase and you wouldn’t be burdened.”
Her mouth literally hung open. “You want me to have a baby for you?”
“Yes. If you do this, I won’t require you to marry.”
“It’s either or?”
“Yes.”
She sucked in enough air to fill her lungs. Letting it out slowly she swallowed. “Then I suppose you’ll want the recipe for the elixir since it would be my child and the heir to the recipe.”
His jaw ground together but he said nothing other than, “I’ll give you until tomorrow to give me an answer.” Then he stomped across the clearing to the meeting hall.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Aidyn watched Addy process his information.
“So, weight gain, lethargic, slow heart rate. Anything else?”
“She didn’t say. Just that the woman up there who is their doctor listened to her heart and said it was failing.”
“Okay.” Addy looked at the notes she’d made and pressed her lips together. “I’m not a diagnostician. Medic is far different than doctor.”
“I’m aware. Will you discuss it with your mom?”
“Of course. I’ll call her in a minute and see what she thinks. Is there any way I can see...What’s her name?”
“Grace Dorsey.”
“Okay. Grace. Is there any way I can see Grace to make a better determination?”
Aidyn sat back in his chair. “We’re not very popular up there and bringing another medical professional may really set them off.” He grinned. “So let’s see if we can do it.”
Addy grinned. “I’m all for it, but sure don’t want to be the start of another war.”
He leaned in and lowered his voice. “I’m meeting with Elena tonight. I’ll see if we can sneak you up the mountain to do a better assessment of Grace’s condition.”
“Okay.” She stood. “I’ll go call my mom.”
Aidyn stood as well. “Thanks, Addy.”
She sauntered away and he went in search of Tate. His next difficult discussion. He stepped into the kitchen and found it empty. Cutting across the living room he knocked on the closed office door.
“Come in.”
