Strong hands gripped hers and soft words answered her query. Kavala noted the lack of hesitation in his answer, the truth coming from his lips veiled so onlookers would not hear his private misery or misunderstand his situation. But she understood. Kavala’s glance trailed down his arm and onto his ill-tinted hand, catching a glimpse of what he was trying to say without saying it. Azure orbs flashed with rage for a moment before she turned her gaze away to conceal it from him. It was ironic she’d met his gaze to see the truth and then had immediately tried to conceal her reaction from him. Her anger wasn’t directed at him, but rather at the Goddess who was such a harsh mistress to man who should have to answer to none. Blinking, she calmed the fire within and met his eyes again with a gaze more tempered with worry than a woman willing to sacrifice anything to defend her mate.
“Is your family well?” She asked, glancing around to see if any of his siblings – especially the girls - had trailed him here or perhaps his parents were about. It was a safe topic, one that didn’t involve wanting to strangle a Goddess who took perverse pleasure out of hurting others.
“You look wonderful too.” She said, answering his statement to her and his comment on his clothing. She stretched forward and rested her forehead against his for a moment, not bothering to hide how much she cared for him and worried when he wasn’t around. But she’d give him no grief for his busy life. It was no secret when they’d met that his duties with the Kuvay’Nas kept him busy a great deal and that his life was full even before she’d come into it. Kavala would give no more comment to the tiredness she saw in his face and the worry that was there also. He’d explained himself well enough and she needed no more reassurance than that.
But Krysus was a heartless bitch. And where Riaris could not see, Kavala clenched her fist again in rage when Riaris pulled her into his lap and hugged her against him. She wrapped an arm around him, ran a fist into his hair and stroked the silky length of it, and sighed. She’d be glad when the baby was born. He was treating her like she was a delicate flower and it bothered her somewhat. The Healer could tell he thought before he made a move, always careful, always not putting too much pressure on her, not hugging as tight or lifting as high. Even when they sparred – before Caelum had put a moratorium on it – he’d held his strength in check which she knew did her no good at all trying to learn to defend herself. So once the baby was born, maybe he’d stop being so restrained, and treating her like she was a doll made of porcelain instead of a Konti with more muscles than most.
She didn’t have the heart to tell him though that the party was anything but fun. The food smells were making her sick, the alcohol was less than appealing, and her beautiful dress covered a pair of sensible work boots that supported her swollen ankles and knees. His son or daughter had shifted sometime during the day and was wrapped around her bladder so that every movement she made caused her to feel like she was going to wet herself, even though there was nothing in her other than the fruit juice she’d just drank. And on top of that, her back ached, and she was starving, but not for anything available here in terms of refreshments. A nice still-squirming crab would hit the spot, but the Konti knew it would be a long night before she could slip away and get herself one – or a full dozen. The little boy inside, or girl for that matter, agreed and wanted ten a dozen for themselves as well..
But still, she pasted on a smile, just grateful to see him after so many days. And when he kissed her like that, with passion infused despite the fact that she was ready to burst, it suddenly made the hunger, the tired, the swollen ankles all go away. She returned his kiss, relaxed against him, and muttered… “I missed you.” Then, where Riaris was pressed against her, Kavala’s stomach rolled as the little one inside her gave a hearty kick that landed through her stomach and reverberated against the male Akalak’s chest. Riaris could feel it all the way to his core. Kavala blushed, ran her hand down her stomach, and whispered softly to the child inside, soothing it.
“He’s going to be making an appearance soon.” Kavala said softly, apologetically, as she pushed away from Riaris, giving the child between them room. “And I’ve learned he doesn’t like to be crowded.” He? Yes, she knew she was carrying a boy. She was bigger than she should have been and the child inside was far to restless to be anything but male. Would he be there when the child was born? Kavala didn't know... and she wasn't sure she wanted him there. The last birth of her son hadn't gone well. She was hoping this one would be different though.
“I hope you have thought of some names. I sure haven’t. I haven’t gotten a chance because I’m never alone. The people at home follow me everywhere, especially Caelum. They are driving me nuts. I have no time to relax and every time I pick something up to do some work, someone seems to magically manifest and take it out of my hands and sent me to ‘rest’ which of course I get none. Because every five or ten chimes someone ‘checks on me’ or brings me something to eat that I can’t stomach.” Kavala complained, sounding a bit shrewish for a moment.
“The only decent one in the bunch is Tasival and Shayru. They’ve been acting out though, jealous I think, and it’s a good thing. It’s distracting enough I don’t go stir crazy doing nothing. I think I’d strangle him if they took on the part of a perfect older brother without some knee jerking and complaining.. And I would go crazy, Riaris, sitting doing nothing with my hands folded in my lap because suddenly I am too fat to peel potatoes for dinner or throw hay to horses or even muck out a simple stall.” The Konti said, suddenly glad she was out of the facility, off on a holiday, even if it meant being somewhat benched and with the swollen limbs and bruised pride.
The Konti wished he’d drop by more, suddenly, if nothing else to distract her. They’d had a healthy sex life before she’d gotten huge, and the Konti was more than willing to find creative ways to keep that aspect of their relationship going. But he’d been so busy and she suddenly wondered if his dark brother or perhaps even Riaris himself was finding distraction elsewhere. The thought made her want to growl possessively though she held her tongue and her temper. Riaris had talked about moving in, but that hadn't happened yet either. So that left a lot of assumptions out there as too why.
Kavala shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts. It was the baby crazy konti talking, not the sensible healer.
“Would you like to dance or something? I think I need to get circulation back in my feet.” Kavala confessed, not wanting to sit there another moment. When she sat, she thought, and the closer to term she got, the crazier the thoughts became.
