Chapter 19 #3
“Yes, Kay, I'm here,” he replied. “So... normally this is a conversation girls have with their mothers, but here we go...”
I grew even more confused.
“You're worrying me. What's happening?”
He cleared his throat on the other end of the line.
“I'd already noticed this afternoon, but I didn't want to say anything and ruin your night. I thought it would take a few more days,” he paused, then took a deep breath. “You've been having mood swings, haven't you?”
“Yes, but we know whose fault that is.”
“And you've had crazy cravings for sweets.”
“Yes.” Another wave spread through my belly and I almost screamed.
“And you've also been feeling more... sexually attracted than usual?”
“Yes,” I replied, blushing, but that was the bond's fault.
“You're 22 years old. You're reaching the phase where your physical age freezes. Just put two and two together and we have an answer.”
“By the gods, Ambrose, I’m in no shape to guess anything, and I’m terrible at math. Am I going to die?”
“No, Kay! You’re about to get your period,” he exclaimed.
My brain must have short-circuited, because all I could do was stare at the wall with my mouth hanging open. I stayed silent for so long that Ambrose started yelling at me from the other end of the line.
“Ambrose? Why doesn’t anyone at the academy mention that it hurts like hell? Why doesn’t anyone talk about this?” I asked bitterly. All I wanted was to rip out my uterus right then and there.
“Because it’s a societal taboo and no one’s going to explain these things to you. Actually, in second year there was an intensive course on periods in the gynecology department, but you chose to take neuro-oncology instead.”
I huffed, remembering. I really had skipped that course. Was it too late to say I regretted it? Ambrose continued:
“Normally, mothers talk to their daughters and take care of them, but I can’t come over.
Zion will try to flay anyone who gets close alive.
You’re going to be very vulnerable for the next two days, so it’s normal for your partner to be twice as territorial all week.
Keep him close, and everything will be fine. ”
I thought about what had just happened in the living room and huffed indignantly.
“No chance! That’s not happening. I kicked Zion out not even ten minutes ago.”
I was relieved. At least I wouldn’t have to spend three days with a bipolar, irrational, territorial beast.
“Kay, I’m sure he’s in front of your house right now. A male senses the change before the female does. They never abandon their partner.”
I dragged myself out of the bathroom and looked out the bedroom window.
The fine drizzle had turned into a deluge, and while rain bled from the skies, Zion sat on the garden bench, soaked and scowling.
Lightning slashed through the liquid darkness, and he looked directly at me. I ducked behind the curtains.
“By the gods, he really is out there.” A new wave of pain hit me. “Ambrose, what do I do about the pain? It hurts so much. I know I’m a doctor and should know how to deal with this, but right now I can’t remember anything.”
It felt like a wild animal was slowly devouring my uterus.
“You don’t remember because there really isn’t anything that relieves it, Kay. No medicine works, but healing magic infused in water helps a little, and the good news is you have both magic and water at your disposal.”
The bathtub was almost full, and I started infusing magic immediately. I blushed, realizing how little I knew about periods. I’d studied the fae cycle at the academy, but it wasn’t my specialty, so I hadn’t gone deep into it. Selene and Adele were the healers women sought out during this time.
Ambrose cleared his throat on the other end:
“These first few hours will be nothing but pain. Tomorrow you’ll bleed, and then there’s a recovery period where you’ll sleep like a rock.
I’ll handle the paperwork at the hospital and the academy, so don’t worry about that.
” I heard someone calling him in the background.
“Kay, I need to hang up. Another patient just came in. If you need me, just call. Ask Zion to buy pads infused with healing magic to help with the blood flow, drink plenty of water, and eat well so you recover quickly. I bet Zion will do all that, but if he doesn’t, call me and I’ll bring everything you need to your door. ”
“Thank you, Ambrose,” I said, defeated. The line went dead.
I uncapped the bubble bath salts and tossed them into the water. Kiara was lying in the bathroom doorway.
“Don’t worry about me,” I murmured, unhooking my bra. “It’s just a woman thing. We’ll be fine.”
Her worry didn’t ease one bit.
I shuddered again when the cramp hit me like a punch straight to the gut.
The pain radiated into my back in agonizing waves.
I thought about Zion planted in front of the house.
The rain was brutal, and he’d have to leave at some point because I wasn’t going to lower the barrier.
I felt bad about the situation, but I couldn’t go back on my word. He needed to think and make his choice.
I slipped off my underwear and sank into the hot bathtub, thinking about everything that had happened that day.
I didn’t want to admit Zion was right, but part of me recognized it had been a mistake to expose myself like that outside the walls.
And then another, even more annoying part of my mind replayed the words he’d once said during an argument: “What’s the line where the barrier stops being protection and becomes a cage?
” I groaned in frustration, because that night had proved the grumpy jerk was right.
Those men really wanted to kill me and would have done so with sick pleasure if Zion hadn’t saved me.
Thunder rattled the windows, and I curled up thinking about him out there.
“Damn stubborn man. He’ll leave, won’t he?” I asked the chimera, who was watching me with concern. This time, she didn’t snort in agreement—just kept watching me.
That was clearly a no.