Passionate Desire (33 page)

“Didn’t say that.” He gave her one of his secretive smiles.

“What are you saying?”

Storm showed up at that point with her brother in tow. “Help her before she angers too many people. Including me.”

“Your mate is fine.” Hynna patted her hand. “And if you paid any attention to Vespian physiology you would know she has eaten something that doesn’t agree with her. It will pass.”

Storm and her brother looked at each other. “What are you talking about?”

“An allergic reaction? Ever heard of it?” He looked at the two men. “What? You feel this can’t happen to Heather because her ancient blood is stronger than her Vespian blood? That’s where the issue came from. Most Vespians don’t glow, although they do turn a very becoming pink.” He stood. “Don’t forget what I know, boys. My knowledge of the ancients is vast and now I have two students to pass that knowledge onto. Four if I teach the two of you as well.” He pointed at Storm and Kuarto.

“They’ll be there, Uncle,” said Heather. “I’ll be sure of it.”

“You need to stay away from the luswenda plant.” He kissed her cheek. “Pretty sure that’s what caused this.”

She nodded and stood. Once Hynna walked away, she turned to her brother. “So, you going to explain his comment or am I going to have to make a scene to know what’s going on.”

“Heather.”

She totally ignored her mate and stared at her brother. “Properly or not?”

“Why is this so important to you?” Kuarto looked at her oddly.

“Because I care.” Now she was on the verge of tears. “Oh, my.” She walked away. She was losing total control of her emotions and she didn’t want anyone to see it.

Storm came up behind her. “My heart?”

“I’m fine.” She wiped her eyes. “Just a little emotional.”

“I hate seeing you like this.” He wrapped his arms around her.

“What was that plant he mentioned?”

“Uncle? A berry I think. It is used as a seasoning most of the time.”

“Great. Now I have to be careful what I eat.” She rubbed her stomach. “Anyway you two want to come out early?”

“Stop.” He walked her back to where her brother stood. “Can you give her something for the reaction?”

“I can try.”

Heather sat down. Fatigue started to set in. “I don’t want anything injected unless you’re sure it will work. This isn’t doing anything more than messing with my emotions and skin.” She looked at her hands again. The glow had faded just a little.

Her brother knelt in front of her, scanner in hand. He got the reading he had been after and gave her a quick injection. Within minutes she returned to nice healthy tone with no glow.

“I have made promises to my mate and the council that keep me from answering your question. You have been a member of this race long enough to know there are things they want kept a secret. Toki gave you a hint at the reasoning in her speech earlier.” He ran the scanner over her once more. “You should be fine in a moment or two.”

“So I have to wait for the changes to start before I get my questions answered?”

“Yes.”

“Then you have already answered it.” She closed her eyes as the medication finished clearing her system. “I feel much better, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He helped her to her feet. “I’m going to learn how good a doctor I truly am working with you, aren’t I?”

“I fear you will,” said Storm. “But it’s one of the reasons she’s my heart. It’s never a dull moment around here.”

“That I believe.”

“You three have got to stop taking off like this or I’m going to have to put bells on you so I can hear when you disappear.” Toki looked at Heather. “I see the glowing has stopped. Feeling better?”

“Much.” She took Toki’s hand. There was no invisible bond wrapped around her wrist. “We were just coming in.”

“Good.” She looked at Kuarto. Her formal dress shifted as she leaned into him for a moment. It was all Heather needed to see the mark her brother sported now on the soft swell of Toki’s breast.

Heather grinned. Feeling much better, she hugged her mate and smiled up at him.

“What?”

“You were there, weren’t you? The witness they needed.”

“You have very good eyes.”

“I know.” She rested her head against his chest, happy to know they had been able to go through the mating ceremony before she took the position over. If they hadn’t, Heather wasn’t sure who would be able to do the ceremony for them.

Now all she had to do was get her daughter back.

About the Author

Writing for Barbara Donlon Bradley  started innocently enough, like most she kept diaries, journals, and wrote an occasional letter but she also had a vivid imagination and wrote scenes and short stories adding characters to her favorite shows and comic books. As time went on she found the passion for writing to be a strong drive for her. Humor is also very strong in her life. No matter how hard she tries to write something deep and dark, it will never happen. That humor bleeds into her writing. Since she can’t beat it she has learned to use it to her advantage. Now she lives in Tidewater Virginia with two cats, one mother in law – she’s 83 now, her husband and teenage son.