Fuck, just the one thing I don’t want to talk about.“Honestly? My best guess? Cause that’s all I can give you…I don’t know. Hopefully, there is.”
“Right,” Hunter murmured, not really expecting any other answer. “I know you’ll do your best, Mac.”
~/~/~/~/~/~
Now at the hotel, Reif slipped into the warm blue water of the pool, waiting for Kieran and the doctor to arrive. Taking deep breaths, he hoped his nervousness wasn’t obvious to his mate but he had a sneaking suspicion Brian had picked up on it already. On the way back from his mate’s cottage, Reif had come to terms with himself?at least in the abstract—that his sea dragon was pregnant, and he was going to be a parent. But now, standing in waist high water, about to shift so a doctor could examine his beast, those thoughts had disintegrated.
“Yer goin’ to be fine,” Brian murmured to his mate, reaching out to hold his hand.
Smiling weakly, Reif appreciated his mate’s support, but he really needed answers to the many questions flying around his mind; as soon as possible, he’d call his father who he hoped would know the answers. Hearing the door to the pool area open, Reif saw Kieran followed by three others who had been at his house.
“Hi Reif,” Kieran said brightly, “isn’t this exciting!”
“I guess so,” Reif mumbled, still not wholly convinced.
Kieran pointed to his mate. “You know Logan, and this is Ian and Colton.”
“Yer Majesty,” Brian said, bowing his head.
Reif looked at the slender man Brian was bowing to. At his side was a large wolf shifter he figured was Colton. Turning to Ian, he said, “Doc, my mate told me you want to examine my beast.”
“That’s right. I’ll need you to shift. How’s your sea dragon? Relaxed or aggressive?” asked Ian.
Reif knew the answer without having to check with his beast. “Definitely aggressive.”
“Figured that,” said Ian. Turning to Brian, he said, “After Reif shifts, I want you to shift and wrap your sea serpent around your mate. Try to hold him still, but don’t cover up his belly as that’s the area I need to look at.”
“Babe,” Colton asked Ian, trying not to sound too over protective, “is there a chance Reif’s animal could hurt you?”
“Yes, but with Brian holding him…”
Stripping his jeans off, Kieran slipped into the water. “Don’t worry Colton, I’m going to help. Ian will be safe.”
“What?” asked Logan, alarmed his mate was going to be anywhere near a pregnant serpent. “Babe, wait a minute. What about you? Are you in danger?”
“Of course not,macushla,” grinned Kieran.
“Go ahead and shift, Reif,” Ian ordered, slipping off his sweatpants.
Within seconds, Logan saw a huge green sea serpent wrapped around a sleek black sea dragon, both floating in the pool, their bodies displacing water over the edge, drenching his shoes. “Fuck,” yelped Logan, hopping out of the way.
“You should’ve worn flip flops like me,” Colton smirked.
“Fuck off,” growled Logan, removing his wet shoes.
“Kieran, how’s Reif’s sea dragon?” asked Ian.
Wrapping his arm around the sea dragon’s neck, Kieran said, “He’s good, but do what you need to do quickly. Pregnant sea dragons don’t particularly appreciate touchy-feely.”
“Will do,” Ian acknowledged, lowering himself into the pool, careful not to make any sudden movements Reif’s animal might view as a threat.
“Babe, what do you want first? A stethoscope?” asked Colton.
Keeping his voice low and calm, Ian murmured, “Nothing for now.” Moving so Reif’s sea dragon could see him, Ian reached out, placing his hand under his nose. “That’s it, go ahead and take a good sniff,” he crooned. After a minute, he placed his hand on the sea dragon’s forehead, slowly moving it in a tiny circle while murmuring reassuring words.
Then, after not seeing any fear reflected in the beast’s eyes, Ian moved to the side, his hand remaining in contact as he slid it along the sea dragon’s length, pausing occasionally, before continuing his examination. When he finally reached the belly, Ian said, “Brian, please turn Reif on his side, his belly facing me.”
Colton tensed, biting his lip in an effort to keep silent, barely controlling his protective instincts toward his mate.
