Entranced Read online

  Lora started to laugh and the instant she did, they stopped fussing.

  Toth picked up his present and came to the bed, offering it to her tentatively. “It is for the baby. Dell says it is fine and healthy.”

  “Yup. So far. She says I could have it at any moment. Here’s hoping.” Smiling, she pulled the package next to her because her lap had left her three weeks earlier. Untying the bow, she worked at the wrappings until she found the blanket, baby gown and tiny slippers within. All of the garments were in a soft butter yellow silk. Pretty and gender neutral.

  “Oh, Toth, they are beautiful.” She struggled out of her nest on the bed and Tiern helped her rise to her feet. She threw her arms around the startled progenitor in a hug and was gratified when he hugged her back. Her water breaking was a bit of a surprise and Toth began to apologize to Tiern for squeezing her to tight while Lora laughed her ass off.

  Tiern looked to his giggling mate and abashed progenitor, sighed and called for Hami. “Hami, alert Dell that Lora is in labour. Get the birthing chair ready and prep Lora for the necessities.”

  “Yes, Tiern. Dell is on her way.” Hami took Lora into her arms and washed, dressed and took care of the essentials for her mistress.

  Tiern’s family was still standing around and as Hami resettled Lora on the bed and began to clean up the amniotic fluid that was still pooled on the floor, they fidgeted from foot to foot.

  “This is going to take a while, guys. If you want to continue with the gift giving, I will find it a nice distraction from the pain.” She held out her hands eagerly and Daka was the first to take the invitation.

  Daka gave her two stuffed animals. One for her and one for the child. That was thoughtful and the suggestion of his pregnant mate. Tiern kept her calm with his touch on her mind, she was fairly sure that he was entrancing her like he had the first day they met, but if it kept the pain at bay, she was all for it.

  Eto gave her a baby sling and kissed the back of her hand. He had taken to calling her sister in the last few months and she felt very comfortable with him.

  Siro looked anxious as she opened his gift. “Norhala told me that babies needed a lot of those.”

  Spit cloths, diapers, light-weight receiving blankets and bibs filled the two-foot-by-two-foot box.

  “She was right. It is a wonderfully thought-out gift. Thank you, both.” Lora held her smile as a ripple of pain started in her centre and flowed out on a wave.

  Dell came in at that moment and swiftly checked her progress. “Doing good, Lora. Almost there.”

  Ahkon’s present cut her eye contact with her doctor and she heard Tiern chuckle.

  “Why thank you, Ahkon.” She opened the box through rapidly increasing contractions and when she opened it, the glow was beautiful. Tiern helped her lift it and the mobile made of rare minerals sparkled and spun in the light of the bedroom. “It’s beautiful. A mobile?”

  “Yes. I researched Terrans and it is common to hang an attractive item over the infant’s cradle.”

  “Thank you again, Ahkon. You may want to get your female. I think that it’s time.”

  He asked Tiern, “Time for what?”

  Tiern ignored him and held her hand as Dell checked and announced that she could see the head.

  Time stretched into a blur of pushing, the murmurs of Tiern in her mind and the thought that her baby was almost here and then it was. The tiny squall broke the amazed silence of the room.

  Dell broke the silence, “She’s alive, she’s healthy and she is Seth-Ari. Call the Alliance.”

  Lora looked tiredly over at her mate and he looked back at her, then over to their daughter. He pressed his forehead against hers and purred. “I love you, Lora of Terra.”

  “I love you, Tiern of the Seth-Ari. Now, what do we name her?”

  Dell finished her examination of the tiny one and handed her to her mother.

  “Tiera. Our names combine nicely, don’t you think?”

  “Tiera. It’s a good name.” The baby scrunched up her face and opened her eyes. A wide chocolate brown gaze contrasted with her silver skin and deep pewter downy hair. “She has my eyes.”

  “And you have my heart.”

  “And you have my soul.”

  Tiern gathered them into an embrace and looked to the amazed faces of his family. The future had arrived and she had her mother’s eyes.

  About the Author

  Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there.

  She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No co-worker is safe from her character analysis.

  In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.

  Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush.

  Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.

  Viola can be reached at this email:

  [email protected]

  Viola’s website is located at:

  http://www.violagrace.com