Chapter Four #2
“I blame Neekil. If he hadn’t disappeared, then they wouldn’t have called me in because two medics he had been flirting with were emotionally devastated after finding his body at the Grunwald mansion.” She snorted. “They suddenly needed me, and since this was basically home, I came.”
“And yet, you went to Zerul’s party.”
“It was a party. He asked me nicely. He told me I was just extra, and just in case, so... I went.” She stroked Bump. “And I came home with a party favour.”
Solor snorted. “I am glad you weren’t upset about it.”
“Ah. Well, I always wanted a big family, but I always felt like I was imposing myself on any potential partners. So, I just didn’t.”
He smiled. “I am glad that Demuel and I were acceptable.”
“Well, it was a stampede. It was either get down or get out of the way, and there wasn’t a lot of room in that room with you guys there.” She shrugged.
He grinned. “Lucky that hotel had high ceilings.”
She snorted. “Do you want to have a DNA test done?”
He paused. “Would you mind?”
“Nope. It’s just a blood test, and I am definitely past the point where the markers are in my bloodstream.” She paused. “Oh, shoot. I have to get to the doctor’s office. Time for my checkup.”
He raised his brows. “Now?”
“In forty minutes. I completely spaced on it. Kaitha normally reminds me.” She watched a naked Demuel grin, and he got dressed again in jeans and a tee. “Sorry. I forgot.”
She leaned past the deer king, who was against her, and got her purse, checking her phone. “Thirty-six minutes. Dang.”
Demuel grinned. “I will drive you. You just remembered you don’t have a car here, right?”
“That would be my problem. At least I just have to get my shoes on, and there isn’t any cum in me right now.”
Solor blinked. “They can see that?”
“Uh, depends on the type of exam the doc thinks is necessary. Right now, I am on external scans, so he would be able to smell it, but I haven’t been spotting recently, so no internal exam is necessary.”
He grinned. “This will be fun.”
“Are you going to change?”
“Why?”
“Because it would look like I was under arrest.”
He grinned. “We can play with the cuffs another time. You did respond favourably to restraint.”
She went scarlet as he got up and got out of his work pants and into some jeans. He had a shirt with a leaping stag on it, and she snorted as she wiggled her feet into her shoes.
Nylora got up, and Demuel hugged her. “I am glad you had a good night.”
She hugged him back and burrowed against him, breathing him in. “Thank you. I hope that yours was forgettable.”
He touched her chin and tipped it so she was staring up at him. “It was. Just some traffic issues and one violent event.”
“And you won’t tell me anything else because it might hurt my fee-fees.”
He chuckled. “That too.”
He kissed her, and then Solor touched her back. “Where are we going?”
“Mathwell Clinic. Just down the street from the diner.”
He laughed. “I know it. Let’s go.”
She grabbed her purse, and they headed back down the stairs. Startling Dia. Dia blinked. “What?”
“I have an appointment in half an hour and forgot about it with all the fun of the gathering tonight. Off I go to get my belly scanned.”
Dia paused. “Oh, right. I remember Kaitha mentioning it. Do you need a ride?”
Demuel said, “Nope. We will drive her and stop for breakfast afterward.”
She laughed. “Right. Well, enjoy yourselves.”
They headed downstairs and left the building to get into one of the SUVs. She was settled in the centre of the back seat, and they headed into town. They were ten minutes early for the appointment.
Dr. Mycos-Wenthwit came to the waiting room. “Nylora, I had to come out and see for myself. Which of the gentlemen is the father?”
She pointed to Solor. “This one. We have added him to the paperwork. Demuel is my emotional support horsey.”
Demuel snorted.
“Would you like them both to come with you? We are in the bigger room today.”
“Sure. They have both seen it all anyway.”
The obstetric orc laughed and led the way. She got the smock and went behind the screen, taking her dress and her underwear off.
She walked over to the exam bed and kicked her feet while the guys chatted. She said softly, “Do I need to be here for this?”
The doctor chuckled, his banded tusks gleaming. He stood in front of her. “How is the nausea?”
“Mostly gone.”
“The pain?”
“Same.”
“Any additional spotting or bleeding?”
The guys focused on her intently. She smiled. “Nope. All normal for the last two weeks.”
“Any on-the-job injuries?”
“Not since I saw you last.”
“No more stabbings? That was a close call.”
“You are trying to start a stampede.”
The orc chuckled. “No, I am just trying to make sure that they keep an eye on you.”
“I don’t want to be under house arrest.”
The orc paused. “What do they do for a living?”
Solor said, “Head of the shifters and active-duty XIA.”
Demuel said, “His deputy and active-duty XIA.”
The doctor said, “Do you know Day-ek?”
They both nodded, and so did she.
“He just got his mating band on his arm last night or this morning. My niece did it.”
“Oh, that I have to see.”
Nylora smiled. “Jennel wants her to do Corit’s clan and adult markings in a few weeks.”
The doctor said, “The clan will take a look at Day-ek’s marks and render their opinion.”
“As will his mother.”
Dr. Mycos smiled slowly. “So she will. Now, speaking of mothers, hop up, lean back, and scootch.”
She sighed and said, “I thought I could avoid that particular festivity now that I am in my final trimester.”
He paused. “Right. So you are. You look so flat.” He got her to lie back, draped a sheet across her hips and thighs, and raised the smock to expose her barely curved belly. “The baby might be too deep for this.”
“I know, but let’s leave me with some dignity.”
She pointed to the screen. “When something shows, it is going to be there. If you ask nice, he will make some images, and you can take them and show them off.”
There was the cold blast of the gel on her belly and the standard apology for the temperature. “I don’t know why more women don’t want to get pregnant. It’s so fucking fun with so much respect from health practitioners,” she muttered.
Dr. Mycos paused. “You are right. I am sorry.”
She tapped his hand and gestured to Solor, staring at her belly. “Do you think he thinks he has X-ray vision?”
The monitor came on, and the wide probe started moving on her, pressing in, and the clicking occurred as he took notice of developmental markers.
Everything was quiet, and then there was a hand, a shoulder, and a kicking foot.
The baby took shape in the scan, and Solor had forgotten to breathe.
The baby kicked and wiggled on the screen, and a ton of clicks happened as images were printed.
She said softly, “Solor, are you going to take care of this little one?”
“I am.”
“Cool. You get to know what it is.”
He blinked and grinned. “I am very happy to know.”
Demuel walked over, and the answer was whispered in his ear. He grinned.
“Doc, there is also the matter of confirming DNA. I know, and he knows, but there are some members of the clans who might not take it for certain. So, can you set that up?”
“Sure. We can do the draws today. You’ll know in a few days.”
Solor asked, “How fast can it be?”
“Tomorrow if we rush it. Why?”
“Because my parents are coming into town in a week, and I want all things confirmed so that no one can give Nylora any attitude.”
“Ah. Family. I understand. As soon as I get a few more measurements, we can get the bloodwork done.”
He clicked and explained that he was measuring the development, and it was nearing thirty weeks. “It’s going to be big.”
She laughed. “Figured. As long as it doesn’t come out with horns, I will be fine.”
Solor took her hand. “None. Promise.”
The doctor put her images in the file and gave Solor a handful. She saw the paper shaking in his fingers.
Demuel looked at it and smiled. “There it is. Wow.”
The doctor wiped off most of the gel, and she took care of the rest.
“Okay, so we are going to check your blood pressure and then send you for your bloodwork, including the paternity test.”
She nodded and relaxed as he took her blood pressure. He nodded and smiled. “Excellent. You are doing really well. Are you drawing from your partner?”
“No. Not yet. But there are a few women with dark fae blood who aren’t pregnant, and they are willing to lend me what I need when I need it.”
Solor said, “You can draw on me. On us.”
“If I need it, I will. As Bump gets heavier, my life will be harder. Everything will be harder, and my balance will be shot. That is why Dia moved in.”
“When are you stopping work?” Doc Mycos asked.
“A week or two. I am slowing down already, and Bump is heading for a whole lot of growth spurts. I don’t want to take Skip down with me. HR is already aware that I am getting ready to ease out.”
“Bump is already in a zone where an incubator could be used if anything happens. So, Bump is viable right now. Now, take care of yourself.”
Demuel said, “That is our job.”
“Then, do it. She forgets to eat. She needs to get on a schedule. Working nights is rough on her.”
“Doc, you are sabotaging me now.” Nylora got up and swung her legs over the side, hopped to the floor, and headed behind the screen again.
“I am registered at three hospitals in the city, and when a dark fae goes whipping through with her eyes alight, I get notified. When you are riding a nearly dead woman in and have managed to order four units of blood for her before she arrives, I am notified. When you fight a spirit in that same parking lot and destroy it, I am notified.”
“That has stalker vibes, Doc.”
“I golf with Skip.”
“Damn. He is one chatty brownie. He is so lucky that this is our longest time before we are back in the rig. I swear, he’s not getting any more snacks.” She pulled her dress on again and fluffed out her hair.
She walked around and scowled. “Having an informant is not very nice, Mycos.”