“Ariel is having pains telling her the baby is ready to breathe life but Ahhu said the baby is too big for Ariel’s body. They want to take her into surgery and they refuse to let me go with her. She is not leaving my view.” The man shivered, his fists clenching at his sides as he stared intently at his father. “I need to stay with her.” The tall Zorn woman sighed, her attention focusing on Berrr. “He is very emotional over his bound, Hyvin Berrr. I am afraid to take him into surgery in case he loses his control like he is now in his heightened protective state. With every trip to Earth I have had our warriors collect medical information on humans that I have studied with vigilance knowing I am responsible for their care. I am confident that both Ariel and the offspring will be fine but I don’t need the added stress of my first surgery on a human with a snarling male standing at my shoulder.”

Berrr softly growled. “Explain exactly what needs to be done to his bound and maybe that will calm him.”

The woman gave a nod. “Come into an examination room and I will show you on a vid.”

Berrr moved forward, gripped the arm of his son and dragged him through the doorway into the next room. The Zorn woman rolled her eyes, shot a wink at the blonde sitting in the chair and then followed behind both men. It left Shanna alone with the pregnant woman and four silent uniformed men who were now on their feet looking as if they were standing guard in the hallway.

Shanna stared at the blonde who stared back at her. The woman gave her a smile and lifted one of her hands from her very rounded belly to motion for Shanna to come closer. Shanna hesitated and then moved toward the other woman.

“Hi,” the blonde said softly. “I’m Ariel and as you can see, I’m having a baby.”

“I definitely see.” Shanna went to her knees next to the very pregnant woman since there were no other chairs in the hallway. “Is there anything I can do?” The blonde shook her head. “My Ral is really upset that I need a C-section. Here’s a heads-up for you. Zorn babies are too damn big to give birth to naturally if you aren’t a big-boned woman in the hip area. The doctor, Ahhu, and I knew it was coming but I was afraid to tell Ral. He really gets upset at the idea of someone having to cut me open for any damn reason. I was afraid he’d put me on a ship and take me to Earth to make them operate on me there. He would do something like that, not caring what they did to him as long as I was going to be all right.”

Shanna stared at Ariel’s stomach, feeling shock as it sank in for the first time that the woman was pregnant by Berrr’s son. “So we really can have babies with them?”

“Oh yeah,” Ariel gasped suddenly, gripping her stomach. “Sorry. I’m in labor.

Damn, it hurts.”

“What can I do?” Alarm hit Shanna, not knowing much about labor or birth, never having had kids herself or even having had friends who had them. “Should I get that doctor back in here?”

Ariel relaxed a few pants later. “Nope. I’m good. Ahhu and I have read book after book on labor and delivery that she had warriors snatch from Earth on their trips there.

The labor just isn’t that bad yet considering I thought I’d be screaming in pain. Not that I’d laugh over this but I’m hanging on so far.” Ariel took a deep breath, her attention fixing on Shanna fully for the first time.

“You came in with Ral’s father, didn’t you?”

“Yeah. I’m here with Berrr.”

Blonde eyebrows shot up. “Berrr, huh?”

Studying the other woman, Shanna nodded. “I was kidnapped by these alien assholes called Collis who brought me here to auction me off to Zorn men but Berrr and his men saved me. I wanted to go home with him since I thought he was bound so I assumed that meant he couldn’t have sex with me.” Ariel opened her mouth and then closed it, almost looking amused. “He might be bound but they are separated and they have been for some years.” She paused and then her face paled. “Shit, he could only make you a house helper, couldn’t he? That son of a bitch. You’re human. He can’t treat you like that. He—”

“It’s all right,” Shanna said softly. “He’s sworn off his harem.” Ariel relaxed and her features softened. “So Hyvin Berrr has a human. I’ll be damned. I didn’t think he ever would. He’s kind to me and the other women his sons bound to but he’s not real friendly. It’s no secret he would be a hell of a lot happier if they’d chosen Zorn women. He tried like hell to talk Ral into giving me up at first.”

“I heard. He’s afraid your children won’t be strong enough or something like that.” Ariel’s features scrunched into a frown. “I guess that’s a possibility. Well, it’s good to know it’s nothing personal.” She gasped in a breath. “Shit. Here comes another contraction.”

Shanna gripped her hand, holding it through the next contraction. When it lasted longer and the pregnant blonde turned really pale, Shanna grew alarmed.

“Hang on.” She carefully released the other woman’s hand and stood up to dash to the open doorway.

“Hey,” Shanna called out, seeing Berrr, his son and the female Zorn staring at a screen where a taped surgery was being shown. “I think the debating time is up. I think that baby wants to be born sooner rather than later. Help!” Shanna barely moved out of the way in time as Ral about ran her down to get to his wife. He dropped to his knees and took Ariel’s hands in his. Even from across the room Shanna saw the pure terror on the man’s features for the woman he so obviously loved as she panted through the pain of a strong contraction. A flurry of activity suddenly filled the hallway along with other Zorn in white outfits similar to the female doctor.

Two of them came rushing down the hallway with a gurney.

“Ahhu, let Ral go with her. He will never calm not knowing what is happening to her. I would never be able to pace waiting for word of her health if my human was in surgery.” As Berrr spoke his gaze locked on Shanna. “He will be calmer at her side than away from it.”

Ahhu softly growled but nodded her head. “Of course, Hyvin Berrr, as you wish.” The woman spun, issuing orders to the medical staff around her.