16. Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Tavian
I walked the length from the fireplace back to the couch and then back again, careful not to step on the nest or get too close to it. The stench of my worry would infect the happy space we had built. Kier let out a sigh.
“Tav, are you going to pace for the entire afternoon?”
My body acted on instinct at the sound of his voice. I was by my mate’s side in an instant. “Is everything all right? Do you need anything?”
He laughed. “You need to take a chill pill.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“Calm down.”
I closed my eyes and tried to recall any of the meditation techniques I’d learned in my century being alive. Nothing came to me. Nothing had prepared me for this moment. “I know, I’m just nervous.”
“Well, we’ll get all of our questions answered as soon as the doctor arrives.”
Just then, a knock sounded at the door. I practically sprinted across the house and opened it.
“Come in, come in. Kier is in the sitting room. He’s ready for you.”
“Perhaps our guest might like a little breather. I’m sure it was a long drive,” Kier called out.
“Yes, of course. Do you need anything?” I asked the man in front of me.
Hugo chuckled. “No, I am just fine. I recognize an anxious father when I see one. Let’s get right to the examination, and then we can make small talk. I am sure you have a lot of questions.” Hugo worked as the head healer for the clan. He was recently stationed at the Dragon Flight Academy, but when there was an opening at headquarters, he took it.
I let out a long breath. Thank the dragon scales. I wasn’t sure how much more waiting I could take. “Oh, thank goodness. Where should we go? Does he need to be on a bed or standing or ...”
Hugo patted me on the shoulder. “The sitting room is fine.”
I led him into the room, and Hugo sat down next to Kier.
“How have you been feeling? Any discomfort? Odd symptoms that you’ve encountered?”
Kier shook his head. “I mean, my stomach is big, but that hasn’t been too bad. Some reflux, but as long as I avoid tomatoes it isn’t too bad.”
“No nausea or anything like that? Any pain in your abdomen.”
He shook his head.
“And I’m assuming you are nesting.” Hugo’s gaze landed on the nest that filled the corner of the room. Kier spent at least an hour each day fluffing and arranging the blankets in different ways. Soon he’d get it just right. In the meantime, he had his scent all over it. Mine as well, since I tended to hover close by while Kier worked.
“Yes, although I’m debating if I should take it up to our bedroom. Where is the best location for the nest?”
Hugo smiled. “The best location is wherever your inner dragon feels that it should be. Or in your case, inner wolf.”
“Is it normal that I shift constantly throughout the day and lie in the nest? Because that’s been odd.”
More than once, I had come home from work to find my mate curled up in the nest in his beautiful wolf form. On those days, I shifted with him, and we lay in there together.
“Quite normal. And you, Tav, have you shifted and put your scent on the nest?”
“Yes. And I do touch it all the time when I go by, of course.”
“Totally natural. Our dragons can be interesting creatures. No one acts the same when they are expecting. All right, let’s have a listen here, and then I’m going to use my ultrasound machine to get an idea of how many eggs we’re dealing with here. Okay?”
My heart rate had slowed when Hugo arrived, but now that we were getting into the exciting stuff, it was kicking up a notch. I stood behind the couch, my hands on Kier’s shoulders, while Hugo pressed against his belly, took a few measurements, and then finally pulled out the ultrasound. It was with bated breath that I watched as he moved the wand around until three little bubbles filled the screen.
My skin tingled, and my dragon roared to the surface.
“Ah, three. That is a beautiful number of eggs.”
Kier’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Three?”
“Yes, that is the average number of a dragon litter. Some have just one, but many have two to three. I’ve seen as many as six.”
“Oh, goodness, please don’t let that happen to me.”
Hugo chuckled. “Now, they’re progressing along quite nicely, and as firm as your stomach feels right now, I anticipate you’ll be laying within the week.”
“So soon, are we ready?” Kier’s shoulder tensed under my fingertips. I couldn’t take my eyes away from the screen. Those were our eggs. Our little children, snug and safe inside my mate’s womb. They were perfect.
“You are, I promise. Once you do lay the eggs, I would like you to put some effort into having your wings come out.”
“All right.” Kier swallowed thickly.
“Once your wings emerge, it helps the dragonets get a little bit closer to you, like your own personal inner dragon.”
“There’s no concern with me being a wolf?”
“Of course not. My brother-in-law was once human. We have a dragon mated to an otter shifter in the clan. Species is not important.”
“Really?”
“Love and bonds are what matter,” Hugo said. “I’d like to come back in two weeks, sooner if you need assistance laying the eggs. Usually that takes place without assistance.”
“Thank you,” I said, finding my voice.
Hugo smiled. “My pleasure.”
Kier remained on the couch as I showed Hugo the door. I made note of when he would be arriving next and added it to my and Kier’s calendar. Once the eggs were laid, they would get regular checkups.
Kier smiled up at me when I walked back into the room.
“Three. We’re having three children. Can you believe it?”
I settled on to the couch and pulled my mate into my arms. “I’m terrified.”
He laughed heartily. “I’m excited,” he said.
“I’m that too, but this is big, darling. Being dads... it feels so much more real now.”
“What if, by some crazy fluke, there is actually more than three in there? Or maybe a set of twins! Wouldn’t that be exciting.”
The color drained from my face, giving a cold, clammy feel to my face.
Kier burst into laughter. “I wish I had my phone out to take a picture of you! This is kind of nice, being the one who isn’t worrying.”
My stomach rolled. I hated it. I kissed his cheek. “Happy to be of service.” I gulped. Really, I was starting to feel better now that I had my mate in my arms. We could tackle whatever life threw at us. Even twins.
Though, I’d pray to all the dragon gods that we didn’t have twins. Three would be enough for us.
“We should let your dad know how many we’re having.”
“That’s a good idea. Let me text him.”
Kier stopped my hand. “No, let’s do something fun. Tomorrow on the way to work let’s pick him up donuts and we can have them put something cute on them.”
“He needs a ‘World’s best Grandpa’ mug.”
“He really does. That will have to come later, though.”
I rested my cheek on top of Kier’s head and laced our fingers together while I held him. “I’m so happy, mate. Thank you.”
“Mmmh,” Kier sighed. “Me too, love. Me too.”