Still he hesitated. His mind might know she was hurt and fragile right now, but he wasn’t so sure his body understood. Before he could make up his mind, he noticed her smile was quickly fading. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her feelings. He walked to the side of the bed and kicked off his shoes. When he started to sit down, she stopped him.
“Such a gentleman. Look, you might as well get comfortable.”
In no mood to argue, he ditched his shirt and pants, conscious of her watching his every move.
“I promise to behave,” he said as he slid in between the sheets.
“I know,” she murmered.
Sasha slowly released the breath she’d been holding as Larem snuggled in close until her head was resting on his chest, his arm wrapped around her. Being near him soothed her in so many ways.
The two of them still had some major hurdles to face, no doubt about it, but for tonight, she needed his warmth and his strength to hold back the darkness. As they lay there in the quiet room, there was one thing she needed to know.
“Larem, how did you figure out that I’m pregnant? I only just knew for sure myself yesterday and hadn’t told anyone.”
“It’s part of my Kalith nature, a gift that has been lost to my people for generations because of the fading light in our world. But here, with your bright sun, I have become what you would call a healer.”
She could feel the rumble of his words through his chest as his hand brushed lightly up and down her arm, leaving a warm tingle in its wake. Gradually the warmth spread, easing the aches that had kept her from really falling asleep. On the other hand, she could feel Larem tensing up.
“Tell me more.”
“In my world, I could sometimes do small things—close up cuts, ease minor pain. But when Hunter was dying from a gunshot wound, I took a chance and tried to heal him. My efforts enabled him to come back faster than he would’ve on his own. By early the next morning, his injuries were all but gone.”
He took a deep breath, relaxing a bit. “Other than that one time, I haven’t used my gift on any humans or Kalith to heal major injuries until today.”
He’d been staring up at the ceiling but now angled his head down to look at her. “My gift doesn’t always work as it should, so I’ve been practicing on the abused animals at the shelter. Chance wouldn’t have survived his injuries without my help, and it may be the reason he’s learning to trust people again.”
She smiled against his skin. “What a perfect use for your ability. I can see why you’d have some misgivings about using it to aid Paladins on a regular basis. Is it weird to have so many friends among those you always thought were your enemies?”
He briefly squeezed her tighter. “It is a problem that all of us who now live in the light must come to peace with.”
“Do you think you’ll ever go back?” God, she hoped not, although she wasn’t sure she had the right to ask him to stay.
“I had hoped to someday, but now . . .”
She didn’t need to ask what had changed his mind, not when his hand immediately settled over her stomach. A feeling of warmth and well-being spread through her, right up until it occurred to her that his magic was Kalith and she was human.
She caught his hand with hers. “Is doing that safe?”
“I would not harm you or the child—our child.” But he withdrew his hand anyway. “But I understand why you would worry.”
“Can you tell if it’s a girl or a boy?”
“Not yet. Do you have a preference?”
She smiled again. “I haven’t thought that far ahead yet, but I don’t think so.”
“But you’ll keep our child?”
She turned to stare into his worried face. “Yes, I will.”
“But the Regents—”
She cut him off. “I’ll deal with them when the time comes, but the baby’s more important. Push come to shove, there are other jobs.”
His relief was obvious. “You’ll be a great mother, so fierce and protective.” He gently cupped her face, a small smile softening his somber expression. “Sasha, you know I want to be there for both of you.”
She turned to nuzzle his hand, pressing a soft kiss to his palm. “I never doubted it.”
When she yawned, he pulled her closer again. “Now, you need to sleep. I have to wake you up again in two hours.”
“All right.”
She closed her eyes and relaxed. Maybe she should be worried about how good sharing this moment with him felt, but that was something she’d deal with tomorrow. Or maybe the next day. Right now, she needed this man beside her and that was enough.