Born of the Night (35 page)

had.

"Please call them," she said again. "I have to go with him." Her heart shattering into tiny pieces, Kiara entered the medical unit and went with them to the hospital.

Sixteen

Kiara sat in the waiting room of the hospital staring out the window. Nykyrian had been

in surgery for over six hours, and as each new second ticked by, Kiara felt her hopes

diminish with it.

Thia lay asleep in her lap, tears still nestled in her closed lashes. Telling the little girl

about her mother's death and about the father she'd only met once, had been one of the

hardest things Kiara had ever done.

She sighed, looking around the room. Jayne sat across from her, along with Caillen and Darling. Hauk just paced the hallway, saying nothing.

Nykyrian's parents were huddled with her father at the other end of the room. They were

a somber group and Kiara couldn't help but wonder what Nykyrian would say if he could

see them.

She held her left hand up before her, letting the dawning rays of the sun play across the

red griata stones. She would give up everything she owned and ever aspired to if she

could have Nykyrian back with her. She didn't even care if he were crippled, just as long

as she had
him.

Kiara drew a trembling breath. She held Thia close as a balm against her grief, and

smoothed the ruffled blond curls off her little, chubby cheeks.

The doors opened at the end of the waiting room.

She looked up expecting to see the doctor, shocked to see Rachol entering the waiting

room with a gorgeous redheaded woman. Caillen got up and stopped the redhead before

she reached her. Rachol came straight to Kiara and knelt at her feet.

"How are you doing?" he asked, concern etched into his face as he gave her hand a

comforting squeeze.

"Not very well," she answered, tears coursing down her cheeks.

His lips trembled. "I'm so sorry. I should have been there. I could've stopped him."

Kiara touched his cheek with a gentle caress. She knew Rachol ached as much as she did.

"You know better, Rachol. Nykyrian's far too stubborn to have listened to you. I have a

feeling if you were there, you'd be lying in the operating room next to him."

Rachol nodded, his lips in a tense line. "I guess you're right."

The redhead came forward hesitantly. "Rachol," she spoke in a soft, lilting accent. "I'm not very good with hospitals. Are you going to be all right?"

Rachol looked up at her, his eyes dark in pain. "Sure," he said, and took a seat beside Kiara.

The redhead nodded. "I'll be back in a little bit to check on you. If you need me, I'll be at my flat."

Kiara followed the woman's graceful walk with her eyes. The redhead's carriage

reminded her of a dancer. "Who is she?" she asked Rachol.

He sighed. "Shahara Dagan."

Kiara's eyes widened in surprise. "The assassin who was out to kill you and Nykyrian?"

He nodded with a weary sigh. "It's a long story," he answered and leaned his head back against the wall.

They were forced to wait another hour before a doctor finally came out. He stopped at

Hauk who pointed him back to Kiara. Kiara watched the doctor move toward her with

cold apprehension, her heart pounding in fear at what he might say. Rachol held her hand.

"Mistress Quiakides?"

Kiara nodded, unable to speak past the lump blocking her throat.

"He's out of surgery, but he's still got a long fight ahead of him. There was a lot of

damage done." His somber, pity-filled eyes tore at her. "In all honesty, I don't know how he's lived until now. I've never seen anyone survive surgery with the type of injuries he's

sustained."

With every word, Kiara's throat tightened more.

"If you like, you may stay in his room," the doctor said quietly. "It might increase his chance of survival if someone he's close to stays with him."

"Can he hear me?" she asked, her voice cracking.

"I doubt he can understand you, but he'll know you're there."

Jayne took Thia from her arms. "I'll take her home to stay with my children. When he's

better, I'll bring her back."

Kiara offered her a shaky smile, grateful for the kindness.

"I'll go with you," Rachol said from beside her.

Patting Rachol's hand, Kiara stood and followed the doctor, Rachol by her side. Hauk

relayed the doctor's words to the rest of the waiting group.

The doctor opened the door to Nykyrian's room. Kiara was tempted to scream, only her

tight, parched throat kept any sound from leaving her lips. Nykyrian lay on the bed with a

gamut of wires and tubes linking his body into several machines. He looked so pale.

Kiara trembled, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"We had to wire his nervous system back together," the doctor said, pulling a chair out for her. "There's a good chance he'll be paralyzed if he wakes." The doctor cleared his throat. "If he makes it through the day, he should have a good chance for recovery."

Rachol pulled him outside. Hearing the door close behind them, Kiara made her way to

the bed.

"Nykyrian," she whispered, her tears falling down her cheeks, dripping onto his arm.

"Don't leave me." She touched the spot on his cold skin where her tears fell, "I won't forgive you if you leave me alone."

She stared at his beautiful face which was swollen and red where they had fused skin

back together over his injuries.

Gingerly, she ran her fingers over his finely arched brows, wishing he would open his

eyes and look at her. At the moment, she would even be grateful for one of his fierce

snarls.

The door opened and Rachol and Hauk came in. Reluctantly, Kiara released Nykyrian's

hand and sat in the chair by the bed to wait and pray for improvement.

The week passed slowly as Kiara waited for a sign of recovery. Everyone had urged her

at different times to leave the room for a little while and sleep in a decent bed, or eat a hot meal, but she wouldn't, couldn't, do it.

On the eighth day, she dozed fretfully in her chair. A soft moan woke her. Kiara jolted

up, her heart pounding. She looked over to Nykyrian who stared at her with open eyes.

Crying in delight, she rushed to him.

"Nykyrian!" she sobbed, tears of relief falling down her cheeks. "How do you feel?"

He swallowed and tried to clear his throat. "Like I just fought a Tourah beast and lost," he rasped. He tried to smile for her, but couldn't quite make it.

Kiara didn't mind. At the moment, she thought she could fly. Biting her lip, she stared at

the gorgeous green eyes she had feared he would never open again.

"I'll get the doctor," she said, squeezing his hand before dashing from the room.

Once outside, she hurriedly spread the news to his friends and family, seeking the doctor

as fast as she could.

She returned to her husband. His parents hovered over him with well wishes and love.

Warmth rushed over her at the sight.

The doctor shooed them out.

With one last smile to her Nykyrian, Kiara followed his parents out of the room.

Everyone chattered enthusiastically while they waited to hear the doctor's final verdict.

Kiara bit her nails, praying for Nykyrian.

An hour later, the doctor left the room with a wide smile. Her heart pounded with hope.

"He'll be fine," the doctor said, stopping before her. "In fact, he should be able to walk normally after a few therapy sessions. He's a very lucky man."

No, Kiara thought to herself, I'm a lucky woman. She was weak with relief as her father

drew her into his arms and held her tightly.

There was a God and he loved her!

Smiling, Kiara grabbed Cairistiona's hand and squeezed.

* * *

Kiara watched Nykyrian wrestle on the floor with Thia, her heart light at the way

Nykyrian "helped" Thia with her homework. Somehow their lessons always ended up in

play.

Kiara smiled, knowing he was a good father and a wonderful husband.

Sunlight poured brightly through the doors of the palace's library. Six months had passed

since Nykyrian left the hospital, and during that time, they had left the cozy little house

nestled among the stars to live with Nykyrian's father, where Nykyrian claimed she and

Thia had protection from the
boowahs
who might harm them.

The two of them laughed as they rolled around on the floor. Thia shrieked, then ran away,

the lorinas following her as she sprinted up the stairs.

A wide smile curved Kiara's lips as she met Nykyrian's gaze. "You must have tickled

her."

Nykyrian laughed. Grabbing his cane, he pulled himself to his feet. He still walked with a

pronounced limp, but he was alive and well.

"Are you glad Thia's with us?" he asked, pulling her into his arms.

Kiara grunted as her rounded belly collided with his firm, muscular chest. She was two

weeks overdue. "At the moment, I wish this one would join us."

Nykyrian's dimples flashed.

Kiara touched the deep indentations, hoping their baby had a set as well. "I'm happy Thia's here. She told me yesterday she wanted a brother this time, so he could help her

beat you up, and a sister the next time, so she would have someone to play dolls with."

One corner of his mouth lifted. "I'm willing to accommodate her."

Warm happiness consumed Kiara. "I am too. At least as long as I don't have to raise them

without you."

His arms tightened around her. "I'm retired. I swear I'll never take another mission again."

Kiara gave him a doubting stare. "Not even if Rachol comes in and begs you?"

He kissed her lightly on the lips. "I love you," he whispered.

Kiara's breath caught in her throat. Her lips trembled as he finally spoke the words she

needed to hear. "What?" she said, wanting him to repeat them.

"I love you,
mu shona,
and I will never again leave you."

Kiara smiled at him, knowing that this time, they were together forever.