Gabe sighed in relief, but I still wasn’tsosure.
“What about magic?” I askedcautiously.
Dr. Lynden turned to Gabriel. “Do you enjoy practisingmagic?”
“I do,” he said withanod.
“Then by all means continue.” She smiled. “I’ve heard anecdotes that children whose bearers perform magic during gestation end up with better magical capabilities, but I don’t know if that’s true forcertain.”
Gabriel shot meagrin.
“But what if he exerts himself again?” I asked thedoctor.
Gabe’s grin turned into a frown. “I know my limits,Dante.”
Dr. Lynden put a comforting hand on my forearm. “Dear, I know you’re worried. But this was just an accident. I’m sure it won’t happen again. Both your mate and baby are in excellenthealth.”
I considered their words, then let out a concedingsigh. “Okay.”
Gabe grinnedwidely.
“Great,” Dr. Lynden said. “Gabriel, I want to see you in a month for a check-up. Don’t hesitate to give me a call if anythingcomesup.”
“Okay,” Gabe said. “Um… By the way, how long is a dragonpregnancy?”
“Six months, depending on the omega’s species. You’re looking at roughly five moremonths.”
Gabriel nodded. “Okay. So far, so good. Dante, can you last that muchlonger?”
Comforted by the doctor’s reassurance, I grinned back. “I’ll see if I canmanage.”
Gabe’s smile was more relaxed now that the tension had left me. I felt guilty for stressing him out so badlyearlier.
“Now, go on and get out of my office,” Dr. Lynden said, shooing us. “I’ve got to get home and watch mysoaps.”
* * *
When we got home,Gabe and I collapsed on the bed. The stress and nerves of the day had tiredusout.
Gabe reached over to the bedside table and dropped my phone in front of me. When I looked at him curiously, he raisedabrow.
“You know what you have to do,” hemuttered.
He was talking about Ryu. I sighed. “Iknow.”
I truly hadn’t meant to snap at him like that. I knew in my heart my friend would’ve never pushed Gabe like that. He was level-headed and didn’t takerisks.
I slinked off the bed and hovered by the window, staring aimlessly at the night sky as hisnumberrang.
“Hello?” Ryu’s voice wascautious.
“Hey, man,” I said. I ran a hand through my hair. “Listen, I’m sorry about today. I shouldn’t have yelled at youlikethat.”
Ryu hummed. “I shouldn’t have let Gabriel push himself. I should have ordered himtorest.”
I chuckled. “He doesn’t take too well to orders. Not evenfromme.”
“Yes. In fact, when I suggested a break, he nearly bit my head off,” Ryu said, and I could hear the smile in hisvoice.
