Guardian (Sequel to Fearless)

Chapter Ninety Three

            Rhalla inhaled, finally digesting everything. "Now you calm down." Her shoulders relaxed. "I know you didn't rape my sister. Why do you look so terrified of me?"

            "Because I'm expecting you to start swinging at me at any given moment," Kayde said, quite honestly.

            "Don't think that of me," she answered, looking almost offended. "I'm not angry. Even if I was, I'd never just start throwing punches. I'm not that kind of person -not to my friends."

            "Forgive me," Kayde said. "I know you're not."

            "And we are friends," Rhalla felt the need to remind him. "We are. And I respect you. I respect Iris. And the both of you are adults that make your own decisions." Her lips formed into a soft smile. "How do you feel?"

            His eyes glowed. "Wonderful."

            "Hey, congrats from me," she said, touched by the look in his eyes. Now that she'd had time to process it all, she found she was very happy for them. "You'll do great. I know you will -you both will. Have Iris take it easy for the time she needs -take care of her. Do you hear me?"

            "Thanks, Rhalla," Kayde answered. "I'll do everything I can for her."

            "Did Sorella say about how far along my sister was?" Rhalla asked.

            "It can't be too far along," Kayde replied. "But Sorella doesn't know. Azabela was the one who ran the test. We met with her just last night."

            "Hold on," the mighty woman motioned for everything to stop for a moment. "Azabela knew?"

            "She did."

            "That lying huss!" Rhalla gasped -actually gasped, her voice higher by an entire octave. "I knew she was hiding something from me."

            Kayde's laugh came out as almost a bellow. There was something abundantly hilarious at her almost girlish vexation -perhaps it had to do partially with his sleep deprivation. He had to clutch his gut, he laughed so hard. The sound of it went silent in his throat after a moment. Once it started, he couldn't stop it.

            "What did I do?" Rhalla asked, almost drawn into the laughter herself. When he kept going, she patted him on the back. "Come on, breathe."

            Finally, he subdued himself, after his abdomen was on fire. "I don't know what that was." He wiped his eyes, still chuckling. "I think I'm overwhelmed. So much has happened."

            "I'm going to go see my sister," Rhalla slowly stated, and put a hand on his shoulder, "Are you going to live?"

            "I'll give it my best go. Now go see her," Kayde waved her off. "I'm sure she wants to see you."

            With that, Rhalla walked out.

----

            Iris stood a ways off camp, staring into the still sprinkling sky. Rhalla saw the back of her sister first, curls blowing backwards in the wind. The rogue didn't seem to hear her, not even as she got closer. Once she was within a few feet of Iris, Rhalla saw how she cradled her stomach with a hand.

            Without a word, Rhalla walked up and wrapped both arms around her sister. She shut her eyes and felt Iris shift against her chest, and place her small hand on Rhalla's arm.