The Lunas Second Chance Mate

The needle slid out of  Elaris Veyne's arm, and the healer put a bandage over the small puncture wound.

"That was the last of it," the healer said, not meeting her eyes. "Now you may rest."

Elaris nodded; though her head felt too heavy to even nod.

"Thank you," she murmured.

The healer, an elderly woman named Sela who had healed Elaris so many times they could both not count anymore, did not step back at once. Instead, she tightened the bandage and held Elaris's wrist a little longer than necessary.

"Elaris," Sela's voice lowered to almost whisper. "This is the third donation this month."

"Caedmon needed it."

"I know, but-" Sela paused. "This is not the issue. Your body cannot produce more of what he takes from it. You are pale. Your pulse is weak. If you tried standing on your feet now, I would not be surprised if you fell."

Elaris offered Sela a small tired smile. "I will not fall."

"You say that every time."

"And it is true every time." Elaris eased herself off the table, making sure her legs would support her before putting full weight on them. "I am fine, Sela. Really."

Sela pursed her lips, but did not say anything else when Elaris started walking toward the door. Over the years, she has learned that there was no arguing with her.

Elaris stayed with her fingers near the wall as she walked, though she did not touch it.

She did not have to.

" Just a bit tired," she thought to herself. "I did not sleep well last night. This is what this is."

Halfway down the corridor, the world started tilting.

Elaris halted her steps and put her palm flat against the stone wall.

"I'm fine," she whispered to herself. "I'm fine, I'm fine-"

Her knees gave out before she was able to finish.

But when she opened her eyes next, Elaris found herself laying on a new table, in a new room, with a blanket covering her up to her chest, and with three healers hovering around her, talking quietly amongst themselves.

"She's awake," one of them said.

Elaris blinked at the light from the ceiling lanterns. "What happened?"

Sela came forward. Her face was unreadable. "You fainted in the east corridor. One of the guards discovered you and brought you here."

"Oh." Elaris tried to sit up. But a hand on her shoulder pushed her back down.

"Don't," Sela said. "Not yet."

"I told you I was tired," Elaris mumbled. "I just need some sleep. I will be more careful-"

"Elaris." Sela exchanged glances with the other two healers standing beside her. "We did a complete examination while you were asleep. There is something you should know."

Elaris's insides twisted. "Is it my heart? Did the donations-"

"You're pregnant."

The words didn't register at once. Elaris gaped up at Sela, as if her leader had suddenly started to speak in another language.

"What?"

"You're pregnant," Sela repeated, a little slower. "From what we can tell, several weeks pregnant."

"That's..." Elaris's voice wobbled. "That's impossible. We have been trying for years. Every healer in this pack has told us it might never-"