The Hidden (Kelderan Runic Warriors Book 5) Read online

  She was valued as an equal, which was something she'd never known back on Keldera.

  And after everything she'd endured in her early life, fate couldn't be cruel enough to snatch away her happiness via some sort of incurable condition.

  By the time the doctor came and banished Thorin from the apartment to conduct his scans and examination, Vala did her best to push every thought from her mind. She'd save her worry for later, if it were needed.

  However, as the doctor used a portable body scanner over her midsection, he frowned. "That can't be right." He fiddled with the device and scanned her again.

  Wanting to know what was going on, she asked, "What's wrong, Doctor?"

  Iljan was no more than an acquaintance, a male she'd only met after moving to Jasvar to become part of the Kelderan colony. However, unlike many of the doctors she'd worked with back on Keldera, Iljan didn't dismiss her or view her as an annoyance. He'd always been fair, and more importantly, truthful with her.

  The male finally met her gaze. "On the way here, I quickly accessed your digital records to ensure I knew about your health history. However, what I read and what I'm seeing now are two different things."

  Vala sat up and laid her hands in her lap, careful to keep them away from the area giving the male such concern. "I can handle the truth, Doctor. No matter how extreme it is, please tell me what concerns you."

  His steady gaze soothed her nerves a bit. "To put it concisely, you were born with a severely misshapen uterus. It's the reason you were given to the Barren, and why you never had a monthly cycle. However, this scan shows a perfectly normal-looking one. It makes no sense."

  She blinked at the last part. She may be no doctor, but internal organs didn't shift and change on their own. "Pardon?"

  "I have a spare scanner in my bag. Let me try again."

  As she watched the doctor move across the room, her gaze fell on the fading red band on her leg.

  A thought instantly came to her, one that was ridiculous. Strong as her husband may be, not even he could will her body to right itself.

  However, a niggle of doubt crept into her mind, one that had always been there. If a Brevkan's need to claim a possession was instinct and fate, Vala should never have triggered the reaction with Thorin. From what little they knew of the Brevkan, lineage was important to them. So much so their biology often focused on the act of procreation, dismissing desires, love, or even a willingness.

  After all, Thorin's mother had been raped by a Brevkan warrior, his instinct not caring about the young woman or her wishes.

  And yet, Vala had reacted to Thorin's post-orgasm musk, triggering the need to claim her or leave her paralyzed for life.

  Maybe, just maybe, the Brevkan male biology had a way of correcting things to ensure a continuance of the line.

  Fear flooded her body and she gripped the sheets. Some may be happy with the news, but it terrified her. The one thing Thorin never wanted was children of his own. And since no matter of birth control had seemed to prevent conception during the Brevkan wars, if Vala could conceive, then it would happen.

  The doctor returned, and she did her best to stare at her fingers clenching the sheets. Never in her life did she hope for a mistake as she did for the initial scanning.

  But when the doctor blew out a breath, her insides twisted further. His words didn't help, either. "The same result. If you're able to move without pain, I'd like to take you to the hospital to examine you further."

  She finally met his eyes, an act she never would've been allowed to do back on her old planet of Keldera. "I will on one condition."

  Iljan raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"

  "Don't tell Thorin what's going on. Let me be the one to do it, once we know for sure."

  The doctor tucked the medical scanner into his doctor's bag. "Legally, males still have the right to know everything about their brides under Kelderan law."

  "But we're on Jasvar. I wouldn't be talking to you right now if we weren't."

  He met her eyes again at that. "Fair point. However, I promised your lord a full report. If you don't give it to him immediately after I finish the examination inside the hospital, then I will do so. I made the promise with him first."

  She bobbed her head. "I understand, and will tell him quickly, as soon as we're alone."

  Because the news could provoke a rage, and Vala would be the only thing to keep him calm.

  Or, she still hoped her presence would. If it proved true that her body was changing and she'd be able to bear children, it meant Thorin would either have to accept it or never touch her again.

  And the last thing she ever wanted was for him to resent her by giving her a child and forever looking at both her and the little boy or girl with disdain.

  No. She couldn't start thinking the worst until she had all the facts. The initial appearance of blood and the doctor's words had thrown her off guard. Now, however, she had time to gather her thoughts and remain calm. She would never use emotions to manipulate Thorin, and tears would most likely do it.

  In order for even the slightest chance of keeping her lord, she had to be strong. And logical. And everything else people expected of her.

  True, she'd probably not be able to hide the truth from her friend Kalahn since the Kelderan princess often picked up stray thoughts via telepathy, but to everyone else, she had to.

  ~~~

  Thorin paced the hallway so aggressively he would've started a small trench if it'd been dirt instead of the synthetic compound used for all the initial Kelderan apartment buildings on Jasvar.

  He should be with Vala, holding her hand, and giving her whatever strength he could. Not banished to the hall, unable to lend her his love and hear the truth of whatever was wrong with her.

  Although if his suspicions were correct, he couldn't blame his bride for not wanting him by her side.

  Thorin clenched the fingers of one hand into a fist and eyed the wall. It was tempting to hit it repeatedly until he bruised and bloodied his hand. It wasn't enough of a punishment for hurting his female, but it would at least be a start.

  The door opened and he whirled around, his eyes searching first the doctor's and then Vala's. "What's wrong with Vala?"

  Iljan glanced at Vala and then answered, "I need to run more tests. If you could help Vala to the hospital, I'll race ahead to get everything set up."

  The doctor took a step, but Vala spoke before he could move further. "Please tell my lord that he didn't hurt me. Thorin won't believe me, no matter how many times I say it."

  Iljan looked at Vala, and then Thorin, his brows furrowed. "Most definitely not. It's—never mind. You didn't injure her, Thorin. That I vow."

  Kelderan vows were serious, and he had no choice but to believe the other male.

  Of course Iljan's evasiveness only heightened his unease and worry.

  The doctor jogged away before anyone could ask more questions and Thorin searched Vala's black eyes. His guilt faded a fraction, but he refused to let it dissipate completely. "There is something you're not telling me, zyla. Please, I need to know what's wrong."

  She closed the distance between them and placed one hand on his chest and the other on his jaw. "Let the doctor run his tests first. I don't want to worry you unnecessarily."

  As she stroked his skin, he leaned into her touch. "I will worry regardless."

  She smiled and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him briefly. "I love you, Thorin Jarrell. Please trust me on this. Once I have all the facts, then we'll talk."

  Trust had never been easy for him, and even now with his bride, he wanted to keep pushing until he had all the information.

  But as she stroked his chest and stared up at him with love in her eyes, he nodded. "I trust you." He kissed her gently before scooping her into his arms.

  Vala squeaked. "I can walk, Thorin."

  "I may trust you and will wait to discuss what's going on. However, if you think I'm going to let you walk on your own when there could be something
wrong with you, then you don't know me at all."

  Looping her arms around his neck, she laid her head on his shoulder. "I do know you, zylar. Better than anyone."

  Something about her words and tone made him uneasy, but he pushed it aside. All that mattered was conveying his bride to the hospital as quickly and gently as he could. The sooner he got there, the sooner he could find out what was going on with his love.

  Chapter Three

  Two hours and numerous tests later, Vala sat and waited for the doctor to speak. He'd been studying the latest results for a full two minutes.

  Only because she'd worked with doctors over the years back on Keldera, when it came to children or epidemics, did she hold her tongue. She'd seen many a parent push and bully a doctor for an answer, which only made revealing the result take that much longer.

  With a grunt, Iljan set aside his precious notescreen—Jasvar was a low-tech planet and every Kelderan treasured what technology they'd been able to bring with them—and finally spoke. "The initial results from the first scan haven't changed. Your uterus is now healthy and functional, as are your ovaries. The blood is from the first shedding of your inner uterine lining. While I can't guarantee anything, my initial diagnosis is that you're no longer barren. If you wish, you should be able to have a child."

  Vala had been preparing herself for that answer, to the point she was able to ask calmly, "Do you know why the change happened?"

  He shook his head. "That I can't determine. It could be something you've eaten on Jasvar or even some sort of microbe on this planet that heals and restores flesh. But at the moment, I can't say. If you'll occasionally allow more testing and interviews with me, then I might be able to better pinpoint the cause. Because if I could discover it, we could help any female who wishes to have children and can’t, thus allowing them to live without stigma."

  The sincerity of Iljan's words didn't go unnoticed. "Someone you know was or is labeled a Barren."

  Iljan grimaced. "Or, could be one day—my daughter."

  The reason why such a young, well-liked doctor had made the journey to Jasvar, where he might soon have to practice medical techniques from hundreds of years in the past if their technology faded, made sense. On Jasvar, the Barren weren't kept separate from the rest of Kelderan society as they were back on their home world.

  Maybe before Iljan's revelation, she could've allowed him to think it had to do with being on a new planet with a multitude of new organisms.

  However, her gut knew it was because of Thorin, and Iljan should know the truth. Especially since her lord had come forward publicly about his mixed heritage some weeks ago, it wasn't a betrayal to bring it up. Taking a deep breath, she spoke before she lost her nerve. "Or, it may have something to do with my lord's heritage."

  Iljan raised his brows. "There is much we don't know about the Brevkan, but I've never heard of them being able to heal or repair bodies to such an extent."

  Neither had she. However, she explained about the red band, how it had faded over time, and even revealed her early paralysis, when she'd first been affected by Thorin and how it signaled a possession. When she finished, she added, "All of it seems too coincidental to be unconnected."

  Iljan had sat down by this point, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "I never rule something out until I can scientifically prove otherwise, but that does seem a stretch. The only way to see if your hypothesis is valid or not is to take fluid samples from your lord and run more tests. And forgive me, Vala, but until you talk with him, I can't do that. He has to know why I'm running the tests. The colony charter is clear about transparency."

  Kason tro el Vallen—a prince from Keldera who now helped run the Kelderan colony on Jasvar—had wanted to prevent secrecy as much as possible. Not being as forthright as the government and the royal family could have been had stirred a lot of trouble back on Keldera, to the point it had nearly cost the Kelderan king his life.

  She admired the charter's ambitions, of course, but Thorin hated his Brevkan half. So much so, he had declined any and all tests since they'd moved to the colony on Jasvar.

  And after she told her lord about the doctor's findings, she didn't know what to expect. Coaxing him to allow testing may not be possible.

  However, she wouldn't know until she tried. With a sigh, she bobbed her head. "I understand. If I could have some time alone with Thorin, I'll see if he will agree to the tests."

  Iljan searched her gaze. "If you need me here, I can stay."

  "No, no, that's not necessary. Go look after your daughter. She needs you more than I do right now."

  He hesitated, but finally stood. "Call the nurse if you need me to come back, and I'll return as quickly as I can. I live on the floor above the hospital, so not far."

  "Thank you, Doctor. Tell Thorin to come in on your way out, please."

  After one more glance, Iljan exited the room.

  Thorin waltzed into the room within seconds, taking her hands and squeezing them lightly. "What did he say?"

  Staring into Thorin's eyes, she took a moment to memorize the love mixed with concern. Because once she told him that she could have children now, she had no idea how he would react or look at her in the future.

  And if it were with disgust or disappointment, Vala's heart would break into a thousand pieces.

  ~~~

  The second he was alone with his bride, Thorin took Vala's hands in his and tried his best not to worry about the flashing colors of her markings. She was nervous, as well as a little bit afraid.

  So he asked what the doctor said, and after a few seconds, Vala took a deep breath and answered, "Somehow, my body has healed itself and the blood was a sign of my first monthly course. I am no longer barren, zylar. Going forward, I can have children."

  He stared, unable to respond despite the multitude of questions swirling inside his head. Not even the advanced Kelderan technologies could repair inner organs to such a degree, to help someone like Vala.

  But somehow, some way, she could have children now.

  Children that would be part Brevkan and sentenced to a life of inner demons and constantly fighting rages that wanted to come to the surface.

  All the things he had endured, things he'd never wanted another to suffer the same way.

  Vala's voice cut through his mental haze. "Please tell me what you're thinking, Thorin. The silence only makes it worse."

  He hadn't realized that he'd released Vala's hands and started pacing. Turning toward her again, the sight of fear in her eyes went straight to his heart. He needed to soothe his bride. Closing the distance, he pulled her against his chest.

  Vala was his everything. No matter his fears, he needed to talk with her and figure out a solution. Because life without his bride wasn't worth living. "I'm sorry, zyla. I'm here, and we'll figure this out together."

  She lightly stroked his chest. "Will we, though? I know you don't want children."

  As much as it pained him to ask—Vala's answer could make him face his worst fears—he did. "But do you want children of your own instead of adopting?"

  "Maybe at one time I thought so, when I was younger and only wished to be considered normal instead of an outcast. However, in the present, all I want is you, Thorin. You loved me as I was, accepted me as I was, and I can't imagine my life without you."

  He hugged her tighter against his chest, treasuring the female he didn't deserve. However, his sense of relief was short-lived. Wetness trailed down his chest, meaning his female was probably crying.

  Gently maneuvering her face to look at him, the sadness and desperation he saw there stole his breath away. "I'm right here, love. There are plenty of ways to prevent pregnancies. We can try any and all of them."

  A sob escaped her throat, putting his every nerve on end. Something was wrong. Something Vala wasn't telling him.

  He lightly stroked her cheek and murmured, "Talk to me, Vala. I can't help if I don't know all the facts."

  She sniffled a few times
before her low voice filled the room. "I'm fairly sure that no matter what we try, it won't matter."

  "You're not making sense."

  "I know. But Thorin, I think the reason my body healed itself is because of you." He frowned in confusion, but she continued before he could say anything. "Remember the red band around my ankle and how it started to fade? I think it's a signal, one that I've been claimed but not yet impregnated by a Brevkan. As it lightens, it signals I'm closer to breeding, as they put it. Somehow, someway, I think your semen has healing chemicals, ones that ensure a female can continue the line."

  He wanted to deny it outright. But damn it, he knew so little about his father's people.

  Vala spoke again. "And if I'm correct, it means no matter what we do, eventually I'll be with child. Not through any choice of yours or mine, but it will simply happen."

  At that, Vala sobbed and crashed against his chest.

  Her distress cut through his shock, and he rubbed circles on her back and kissed her hair. In that moment, all that mattered was his female.

  As he continued to hold her and murmur sweet nothings, a different section of Thorin's brain tried to process everything. If Vala were correct that no matter what happened, she would one day fall pregnant, it meant he could either never touch her again or embrace one of his greatest fears—passing on the monster-like genes of his rapist father.

  The thought of giving up Vala forever sent a resounding no through his mind. He had promised to always love her, cherish her, and protect her. And he meant it.

  Although he wasn't as sure about himself when it came to holding a child of his in the future, though. Simply giving a baby life would sentence it to an existence of pain and suffering. All because he was the father.

  What he needed was more information. He'd already met one half-Brevkan male who'd fathered children. Maybe there were others. And maybe, just maybe, if they all met and shared information, they could discover a way to prevent as much—or maybe even all—of the suffering associated with a part Brevkan individual's upbringing.