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touched her forehead, then stroked it.
Relax. It s safe here. There s nothing to worry about.
Adina felt herself falling back to sleep but she fought it.
Jin... Flaxon, I want...
She passed out again, but he continued rubbing her temples, only stopping
when he heard the door open.
A woman entered, Maggie Free Bird. She was 3/8 vampire and descended
from an Indian tribe in the American west. Two jet-black plaits hung on the front
sides of her face; two more hung in the back. She had brown eyes, a sharp nose,
and stern lips. Her 5'9" frame was stout, and her long, delicate fingers were expert
for healing. She wore a pale yellow tunic, dark pants and mules. On her right
index finger, a small turquoise stone was set in sterling silver ring. With one
hundred forty-five years of experience, she was the head midwife for all Mixed
Breed
Maggie bowed. My Prince. I am here to serve.
Her voice was soft and soothing. Maggie never spoke loudly. She
preferred to let her presence speak for her.
Flaxon stood, noticing that Sashi was with her. He dipped his head in
acknowledgment. Maggie walked to the bed, sat down, and touched Adina s
forehead.
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The Alpha Promise Hayat Ali
What was done for her, Sire?
Flaxon hesitated but said, I put her to sleep.
With what?
Massage technique. Before that, she had lost too much blood& so I gave
her mine.
Maggie turned slowly. Sire?
What was I to do? She was dying. I didn t expect her to lose blood so
fast.
Maggie continued to stare, but he held her gaze. Finally, she nodded.
You need blood, Sire. Take both of those packs for yourself. Is your wound
serious?
Flaxon looked at his stomach. No.
Then let me do what is necessary to stabilize her.
I ll return in an hour, and I want a thorough report.
Yes, Sire.
Flaxon grabbed the packs and left the room, brushing past Sashi. She
watched his back until Maggie called her.
Yes?
Please prepare a large salad, a glass of whole milk, a rare steak, and a roll
for our guest.
Sashi frowned. Me? I can t cook.
Then find someone who can. She needs food.
Sashi sighed but went to complete the task.
Maggie began to examine Adina. Her pulse was slow, but steady. Maggie
sat back and stared at her. She had the ability to measure anyone s blood flow by
simply focusing on them, the method she had just used on Flaxon. Maggie
determined that Adina would need another bag within the hour. But something
wasn t right. In all the pregnancies she had seen, a human female had never lost
blood so fast.
She hadn t believed Sashi when the girl told her what Flaxon had. A
human pregnant by a vampire? That simply wasn t done anymore. The law
forbade them to make themselves known to humans. The only contact a human
might have with a vampire was through the breeds, but even they mated within
the tribe. Mating with humans only happened after being screened by the council
and approved by the Prince.
Maggie wanted to know more about the human and the mating, but Sashi
was evasive, so Maggie let it go. When the Prince wanted her to know more, he
would tell her. She gathered her supplies and came to the lodge. She thought one
of her other midwives could have cared for the human, but she understood why
Flaxon wanted her. It was more difficult for a human to carry the seed of a pure
vampire than a mixed breed. Now, she wished she had questioned more, because
the woman in front of her was very slowly dying. She needed her mate for her
child to develop properly. It would also help her produce and keep her own blood,
as vampire blood would do more to satisfy a growing child.
The woman s face was wane, but she looked as peaceful as she did lovely.
Maggie could see why a vampire would admire her beauty. The Prince couldn t
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The Alpha Promise Hayat Ali
hide his mild attraction to the human, either. She shook her head and continued
her examination.
She slipped her hand under Adina s shirt and felt the heaviness of her
breast. Already, the young woman was developing milk for the child. Maggie
lifted the bottom of the sweater to feel the slight swell of her stomach. Soon, it
would be twice as big. Vampire babies grew rapidly. She felt around to sense the
child within. Closing her eyes, Maggie linked to the baby to assess its health. She
felt the rhythmic patterns of the child s heart, but something was off. Inhaling
deeper, she focused more.
Hello, little one. Don t be afraid of me. I am here to help you and your
mother.
Hungry
I know, but you ve had plenty to eat. You need to slow down so your
mother can better sustain you.
Hungry ...hungry.
Maggie s eyes flew open. She turned to the sleeping Adina. There were
two voices. The second wasn t as strong as the first. Closing her eyes, she
connected again. But the child drew away.
Little one...what are you hiding?
The child refused to speak, amazing Maggie with its strength. The child s
awareness in the womb depended on the amount of vampire blood in the system.
Adina was pregnant by a pure breed, so her child would be able to communicate
to their mother and manifest their strengths through her. Adina s child seemed
stronger than most though. It was suppressing something.
Maggie placed both hands on Adina s stomach and let herself relax. She
opened her awareness, listening to all that came to her.
Hungry.
It was faint, but she caught it. The dominant child realized what had
happened and panicked, pushed her away, and broke the connection. Surprise and
wonder filled her when she opened her eyes. Adina seemed agitated, her breath
quickening. Maggie sent the children feelings of calm through her hands.
You have nothing to fear, little ones. I will not harm you. You need not
hide from me.
She felt them calm. After a moment of accessing, she stood up and set up
the IV line. Now that she understood the situation, she needed to talk to the
Prince. Those children would need their father, and fast.
* * *
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