“I’d say so. Most of the growth happens during that time. I’d say… Hmmm…. Beal, do you want to give an estimate first? It can be fun to fill in the gaps that way.”
“Well, he’s about a month pregnant, I think.”
“We got it on the first try? How do you know that?” I asked and instantly turned into a cherry tomato unable to believe the words that slipped off my tongue.
“I believe so for the reasons I told you before,” he said, meaning his barbs. “So, six weeks? Maybe eight if we’re stretching it but then I can’t account for the draconic genetics. That always brings some unpredictability.”
“I think you’re probably right. I’d like to see you each week, Nic. I know that sounds like a lot of seeing my grey head but that’s eight appointments and a delivery. Think we can manage that?”
“I think so,” I said. “Do you print off sonograms?”
“Yes, and if you provided your email, we’ll send it to you there too,” Edna nodded.
An hour later after a well-omega exam, I left, and we headed out for lunch. Raiel was at home sleeping before his evening shift at the Raven’s Perch. So, Neal had some company. His second favorite hobby right after eating was napping. So, it was probably good company.
Beal wouldn’t stop smiling at me as we walked into the restaurant hand-in-hand and if he didn’t stop, everyone would guess I was pregnant. At least, that’s what it felt like. Then again, soon, everyone would know anyway.
The constant smiling was only the beginning of Beal’s doating on me. It was as if he were everywhere by magic. Doors opened, chairs pulled out, pillows rearranged themselves on beds and sofas as soon as I thought about plopping on them. My toiletries never seemed to run out and my favorite hoodie was always dryer warm as we headed into the cooler months. When it became too tight to pull over my pregnant belly another one appeared, nearly identical except the fingernail polish stain on the inside of the sleeve cuff wasn’t there. By that point I didn’tbother to question the magic. Sometimes you just had to take the good things as they came.
As we updated the nursery with more modern and sturdy furniture, I spent a lot of time thinking about how my child would be in the nursery I was in when I hatched from my egg. Things really had come full circle and my mum wasn’t here to witness it. Dragons sometimes did this. It wasn’t uncommon to have at least one friend who knew or was close to a dragon who was currently sleeping for seemingly impossible stretches.
“I think she’s resting now that she knows you’re safe,” Raiel said one morning when he came home from work at the bar to find me and Beal discussing the matter in the kitchen.
“I know,” I sighed. “I miss her and I want her to know her grandbaby.”
“She will,” Beal said as if it were all set in stone.
Only nothing was set in stone and everything could change at the drop of a hat. Soon, I’d make the drive out to visit Crilus. He wasn’t technically running his attic magic anymore, but he was the only magic user I felt comfortable enough seeking out right now.
“Not tonight, though,” Beal shook his head, picking up my thoughts over our mating link.
“I’m too tired,” I said, scrunching up my nose and shaking my head. “I think I’m going to get some sleep whenever I run out of ice cream.” I glanced down at my third pint of the night nearly half gone.
“Bed now or then?” Beal yawned.
“Now, I’ll just bring it with me,” I said, lifting my arms because I’d became spoiled since we found out I was pregnant. Beal had carried me to bed nearly every night since then with Neal following on our heels like a little sentry. This was the good life and sometimes I could even forget my mum murdered three men to ensure it was exactly that.
Chapter Twenty
Mori
Pierce’s Family Estate
“Preston is close to popping,” someone whispered in my ear, and I startled awake on the sofa.
Instantly I was on my feet looking high and low, ready to catch the baby whenever it decided to pop out. Only Preston was out cold in the recliner. We’d fallen asleep watching old movies as we’d done so many nights now that Preston’s belly was big and showing the marks where his cub had stretched his skin. Going upstairs was too much of a hassle and I wasn’t about to leave him on his lonesome. Some nights he slept in the downstairs bed but there wasn’t a television in there and he’d grown fond of it. Sometimes he knitted while he watched. Other times he just drifted in and out of sleep as the old dramas and comedies played out across the screen.
“Preston is close to popping,” the voice sounded again.
I wiped my eyes and squinted at the otherwise empty room. It wasn’t uncommon for spirits to show up and whisper to me. Usually, they wanted my help with something. Sometimes they came bearing messages, but it wasn’t often anymore. Hell, outside of a few lost animal souls it hadn’t happened at all since I started working with Dern. Maybe something about his energy was off and kept them away.
“Preston is close to popping,” the voice whispered again.
“Should I be annoyed or frightened?”My wolf opened one eye inside his inner sanctum.
I wasn’t sure but if it woke him up someone was definitely speaking to me. I sniffed the air trying to find a scent. Ghostsand spirits usually didn’t have them. It was a man’s voice. So that ruled out Sharon Claudis. It wasn’t coming over the family link so that ruled out both of our parents and any of our siblings. Out of ideas, I squatted down and peeked under the sofa. Nothing there.
“Ni? Is that you?”I asked, poking at the link I shared with my best friend.
