Chapter 10
Camden
Ididn’t have nearly the experience or abilities that Maxwell did, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t a good doctor.
That being said, why was I so nervous? I was feeling great.
I’d not had any bouts of pregnancy sickness, my mate was amazing as a person and even more so as a mate, and I was starting my new position at the council.
Maxwell leaned close. “It’ll be all right,” he told me as we walked up to the front of the bakery. I looked over at him and would have wondered how he knew I was nervous, but he was my mate, and he could tell through our bond.
“I don’t know why I’m nervous. I’ve started new positions before. I think it’s more that I’m going to be judged and found lacking when it comes to being your One.”
Maxwell stopped and scowled. “Why would you think that? Who is going to judge you?” Maxwell shook his head.
“Anyone? Everyone? You’re the council’s doctor, and from everything I’ve heard before I came here and all I’ve seen in your memories, you’re very much loved.
Which is wonderful. But I don’t want to be found to not be worthy of you.
” It had been one thing when I was joining the council as the other doctor.
I was going to be working with Dr. King.
Now, I was more than that. I was Dr. King’s One.
And now that I’d had time for that to sink in, I was definitely feeling insecure.
“Look at me,” Maxwell said quietly. When my eyes met his, I found nothing but love staring back at me.
“I love you. You are amazing, and you are absolutely perfect for me. Once everyone gets to know you, they are going to agree with me. But I do not care what they think of you, and on some level, you shouldn’t either.
They aren’t in our relationship. You and I are. ”
He was right, and I knew it. Of course, I wanted everyone to like me on a professional level, but it didn’t matter if they liked me or not as Maxwell’s One. Only his opinion on that mattered, and he was correct in saying as much.
“You’re right, of course.” I took a deep breath and smiled up at my mate.
“Good morning, Dr. King. Luc?”
Maxwell stood up and smiled. “Good morning, Ramsey. I would like to introduce you to Dr. Camden Kennedy. He’s the council’s newest doctor and is going to be helping me at the clinic. He also happens to be my One.”
I looked way up at the man. He didn’t scent like a dragon, and his scent was more earthy, so I deduced that he was a gargoyle.
Ramsey looked honestly surprised. “First, congratulations,” he said.
“And I do apologize. You look a whole lot like Luc,” Ramsey said as he held out his hand.
After we shook, he immediately returned his attention to Maxwell.
“The fact that he’s not Luc makes so much more sense in that you two were a whole lot cozier than I would think that Luc would be with anyone other than Garic. ”
Maxwell laughed. “Very true. It was quite a surprise, although a most pleasant one.”
“I’ve actually met Luc. My first day here, Alpha Osmund introduced us because one of the first things he noticed was how much I looked like Luc. I’m several inches shorter than he is though.”
“Yeah, I think I can see that now,” Ramsey said. “It’s very nice to meet you, Dr. Kennedy.” Ramsey nodded. “Are the two of you taking time off of work? Getting sweets?” Ramsey’s eyes widened. “You said you are mates. Are double congratulations needed?”
I chuckled while Maxwell nodded. “Camden is with child, yes. And since we work together and have a somewhat slower caseload at the moment, we’ve decided to come back to work early. We will take some time off after he has the baby.”
“Can I share the news with Phineas? He’ll be so excited.”
“It’s no secret,” I said as I glanced up at Maxwell. “At least, I don’t believe it is?”
“It’s not. Everyone in the council will know soon enough. With Camden’s quick gestation, we’ll be taking more time off in just a few weeks really.”
Ramsey’s eyes widened. “Do not mention to Phineas that I didn’t pick up on the fact that Dr. Kennedy is a fox shifter.”
I was confused, but Maxwell threw his head back and laughed. I looked at Ramsey, still confused. “He’s laughing because my mate is also a fox shifter.”
“Oh,” I said. “Well, since I don’t know your mate, I won’t say anything. There are a lot of different scents out here anyway, so it’s understandable.”
Ramsey smiled. “Thank you. There really are. And to be honest, I scented fox but didn’t quite pick up on the fact that it wasn’t my fox.”
“How are the children doing?” Maxwell asked.
“They’re good. Rynn is bigger than Hazel, but that’s expected.
I’m just incredibly thankful that they and my mate are doing well.
” Ramsey gestured over his shoulder. “I promised Phineas that I would swing by and pick up some maple bars as well as plain donuts before they’re all gone.
I better get them so I can take them back to him before I have to be at work. ”
“Understood,” Maxwell said. “We’re going to be getting a selection of things for the clinic. I’m not sure just how busy we’ll be today, but I know that if nothing else, Owen will enjoy the donuts.”
“What’s this Owen stuff?” I asked, certainly not serious at all. “Pregnant omega here. Why wouldn’t I enjoy them?”
Maxwell’s eyes widened. “I didn’t even think. You haven’t asked for sweets. Are you craving them?”
I rolled my eyes and pulled on the door to open it.
“Sweets are always a good thing as far as I’m concerned,” I told the pair standing there.
“It was very nice meeting you, Ramsey,” I added.
I disappeared inside, suddenly overwhelmed with the scents of bliss.
Yes, this was what I had missed the most since leaving Bangor.
There was a bakery I loved to stop at and treat myself every so often, but something I’d noticed two days ago was my craving for something lemony.
I didn’t know if it was the tartness or the actual fruit that I was craving.
It wasn’t exactly a normal craving, as far as I knew, but here I was, standing in line to see if they had anything lemony.
“You are fond of sweets,” Maxwell said as he joined me and placed his hand on my back.
“I am. It seems that at the moment, my body really wants something sweet and lemony. I’m not sure if they have that here today or not, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. And I really wanted to come inside and see.” I sighed. “I don’t know what came over me,” I said as I looked up at my mate.
Maxwell leaned close. “Well, if they don’t have what you want, just say what it is, and I’ll provide that for you.” Maxwell sent me a confused look. We took a step forward, and then he leaned closer again. “Why didn’t you say something? I’ll happily provide you with anything you desire or crave.”
I grinned up at him. “I know. And it isn’t something you did or didn’t do.
I don’t normally crave any one particular flavor of something, but I noticed recently that I really wanted something lemon.
It wasn’t an overly powerful craving, so I let it go.
It wasn’t as if I didn’t have enough other things to eat.
” I had never had such an abundant selection of foods before.
Maxwell, as a warlock, could obviously provide anything we had desired for our meals.
I’d learned that he could cook, but he often didn’t. I didn’t know if I would either if I had the ability to snap or wave my hands and things suddenly appeared.
When it was our turn at the counter, Maxwell stepped forward and tugged me along with him.
“Good morning, Dr. King. You’ve been absent lately.”
“Lewis, it’s good to see you again,” Maxwell said. He pulled me even closer, and I smiled over at the slender blond behind the counter. “Lewis, this is my One, Camden,” he said. “Camden, this is Lewis. He’s fae and runs the place with Beau, who is also fae.”
“Dr. King? You’re mated?” Lewis asked.
Maxwell smiled. “Yes. Camden is the council’s new doctor, who is here to run the clinic with me. It just so happened that he was my One as well.”
Lewis’s mouth dropped open, and he stood there staring at us.
“You’ve shocked him.”
I looked behind us and smiled up at Ramsey. “Apparently. I didn’t do anything.”
Ramsey grinned. “Beau!” he called out, getting the attention of someone else. Beau came over and stared at Lewis.
“What did you do to him?” Beau asked.
“Dr. King is mated,” Ramsey said as he placed a hand on my shoulder. I realized he’d done the same to Maxwell as well.
“Yeah? Congratulations,” Beau said. He glanced at Lewis and shook his head before rolling his eyes.
He pushed him over toward another man who was standing behind the cabinet, who grabbed Lewis’s shoulders and marched him through a door.
“What can I get for you this morning?” Beau asked when he returned to the counter.
He held up a box and gestured toward Ramsey. “This is Phineas’s order.”
“Perfect,” Ramsey said. He looked at Maxwell, but I had zeroed in on the lemon bars with wide eyes.
“You have lemon bars,” I said quietly. When I looked up at Beau, he grinned.
“I do. And lemon-filled powdered donuts.” I moaned involuntarily. “I understand that type of moan,” Beau said. “How many of each do you want? Are the cravings bad?”
I smiled. “Honestly, I don’t think they’re that terrible just yet. But I’m just barely pregnant. Who knows what things will be like next week or even next month.” I sighed. “Can I get three of each? It’s more than I really need, but I’m not sure how the day is going to go.”
“I can certainly do that,” Beau told me. “Is there anything else you need?” Beau glanced to my right, and I noticed that Maxwell was standing right there. “Did you want an assortment for the clinic?”
“Yes, please,” Maxwell said. “A box of pastries, as well as one of muffins.”
“You got it, Dr. King.” Beau handed me a box, and I brought it close to my nose and took a deep breath.
“These smell so amazing.”