Chapter Two #3
“Um, I would like to leave in about twenty minutes? I hate watching Rowan crying, and she’s really going to cry.” She shrugged.
Norecayet asked, “Why will she cry?”
“She was really hurt; she was really worried. I am okay, and the baby feels okay. I have to restart my life, but she’s kept everything warm for me.”
Lucia frowned. “You make her cry alone?”
“She doesn’t like to be touched. When she’s sad, I just want to cuddle her.”
The healer from earlier asked, “Why doesn’t she like to be touched?”
“It hurts. She says that it hurts.”
“Do you believe her?” the healer asked.
“Yes, but it is a different hurt that I can’t explain. It doesn’t bruise her, but her face shows pain.”
The healer frowned for a minute, and then his eyes opened wide. He gestured, and a book appeared in his hands. He flipped and looked, and one long, dark finger tapped something. “This seems like it matches a few of the symptoms. Miss, what does she do for her heats?”
Mell pinked. “What?”
“When she goes into heat, what happens?”
“Uh. I don’t know. I haven’t ever heard her say anything about it.”
He smiled and closed the book. “Well, that is very interesting.”
Mell asked, “What?”
“It is just a suspicion. I need to run some tests before I make a diagnosis.”
“She’s not going to like that.” Mell was grim. “The last time she saw a doctor, they reported her to the Omega Centre, and then they started watching her for a heat.”
“When was that?”
“She said she was seventeen.”
“How old is she now?”
Mell paused, “Uh, twenty-eight?”
He cursed. “That would explain the pain. She still needs testing.”
“What, are you a doctor or something?”
He looked at her with a slight smile. “Yes. OBGYN, but I can do first aid when necessary.”
Lucia cocked her head. “How are you with stone?”
Yorwell walked up behind her and leaned to whisper in her ear. “There is no way you are going to my cousin for gynecological checks.”
“Cousin?”
“Third cousin. Father’s side.” Yorwell smiled. “We have families, too.”
Mell looked at the couple standing close. She blinked and turned back to the healer or, rather, the doctor. “Do you have a card?”
He grinned, his tusks bright, and as she looked at them, there were silver bands and marks engraved in them. He produced a card and handed it to her. “There you go. I am one of the partners at the practice. She can call at any time.”
“She won’t be calling, but I will. Do you make house calls?”
He grinned, and the tusks and fangs were terrifying. “I definitely can.”
“Give me a few days. Who can I call about some scans? I have had zero prenatal care.” She tapped her belly.
“Call the same number. There are three specialists at the practice aside from myself. Since Norec is growling, I am guessing one of the females might be a better choice.”
Mell looked at her mate and elbowed him in the ribs, and then she winced. “Ow.”
He reached out and gently rubbed her elbow. “Don’t do that. You are not equipped for it.”
She snorted.
Ted asked, “Mell, what kind of magic do you have?”
“Um, I don’t.”
“What? I thought the shadow mages only cursed mages.”
“Oh. That. Yeah. They were aiming for Rowan. That’s why she killed them so fast. They did one draw, nearly killed me, and she slaughtered them.
Then she kept me fed and protected when more of those bastards came by.
She bought a new property and set it up for me so that I was protected and had shelter, light, internet, everything.
She kept me safe until someone who could help surfaced. Today was that day.”
Norec asked, “Why did she let me near you?”
“Because she knew that one day her protection might not be enough, so she... uh... summoned you.”
Norecayet turned her to face him and shouted, “What?”
She smirked. “You don’t think you found me all by yourself, right?”
The ladies with them chuckled.
He inhaled and exhaled slowly. “I owe her more than I thought.”
She patted his chest. “She guarded us during your rut, so yeah. You do.”
He touched her belly and sighed. “What is her favourite currency?”
“It used to be candy from this one shop in town. I will check with her and let you know.”
Her hand tingled, and she held it out flat. A piece of paper was there with a ten-digit number. She grinned. “This is my phone number if you want to record it.”
He took his phone out and took a picture. “I already recorded the address.”
“Good. I need to see my stuff. I like my stuff.”
Ted chuckled. “I am going to take Mellwyn home. Are you coming, Lucia? I will drop you back home when we are done.”
Yorwell snorted and handed Ted his keys. “Take my car. Better suspension.”
Lucia blushed and pulled him down to kiss his cheek. “Thanks, Yorwell.”
“What do you want for dinner, precious one?”
“Dealer’s choice, but don’t skip dessert.”
Yorwell inclined his head. “Yes, dearest.”
Lucia wrinkled her nose. “I like the endearments. Keep the endearments.”
He grinned. “Yes, my sweet.”
“That one is just accurate. Okay, Ted. Let’s go. I still don’t have a license.”
Mell nodded to her mate and joined the ladies. It was time to go home.