that we can use to check most things, but the advanced testing that a lot of women have done is out of the question for dragons. But you can go to most appointments, have ultrasounds done, and all of that. But if you want, I could be your doctor. I’m more than willing to buy the clan an ultrasound machine, anyway. The women have been begging for one.”
I grinned. “I do know how to use one.”
How cool would it be to be able to see my baby anytime?
“Tell me about the witch,” I said as Anthony made me settle on the couch and put my feet up. He covered me in a blanket and grabbed all the pillows in the house, it felt like, to get me up and comfy. “I’m fine.”
“She was just going to wipe your memory and move on, which would’ve been violating enough and cause enough for me to banish Tessa forever, but once she discovered your pregnancy, the witch decided she wanted the baby. I don’t know if she was going to try to kidnap you until you were full-term or somehow speed up the pregnancy and make you deliver now? I have no idea. I killed her before she had the chance.” He paused and closed his eyes. “That was not something I ever expected to do, but I did what I had to do to keep my family safe.”
I smiled and rubbed my stomach, pushing aside the trauma that was going to come from Anthony having killed someone. “I don’t suppose you have a clan psychiatrist?” I asked. “You may need to talk to someone.”
“No, but I can find one in another clan and do a virtual visit.” He shrugged. “Not a bad idea, really.”
“This is why secrets are important. I can’t allow anyone in the clan who could hurt us, which now includes you and our baby. Babies.” He wrinkled his brow and laughed. “Babies.”
I shook my head at him. “I don’t trust Tessa. I’m not sure what to do with her.” I didn’t have the first clue how to handle this. It wasn’t like we could go to the police and demand she be arrested for trying to perform a spell on me. They’d lock us up in the loony bin.
“Mom and Dad will keep her under lock and key. We’ll worry about it another day. For now, I want to focus on you.”
We spent the rest of the day discussing the future. All the what-ifs. And by the end of the day, we knew that me taking the bite right now wasn’t a possibility.
“I think my dragon will stop riding me so hard to bite you. It’s like that part of me realizes how dangerous it could potentially be for the babies. I don’t feel a strong urge like I did before. I can’t say for sure what I’ll feel when we have sex again, but I don’t think I’ll be pressed so hard to bite you.”
I beamed at him. “I want to take your bite,” I said. “I want to be your mate. But you’re right. Not until after.” It might’ve been impulsive and a little too soon, but I knew it was right. Nothing about it felt bad or wrong. My very soul wanted to be Anthony’s mate.
We discussed everything from where we wanted to live, to baby names, to how involved our parents would be. And oh, shit, I still had to tell my dad.
I stayed with Anthony all week. Then he convinced me to call out of work because like someone had flipped a switch, exhaustion set in. We both knew from our OB/GYN rotations during residency that one of the most potent first trimester hormones could cause extreme exhaustion. After what I went through with the witch, we both felt better safe than sorry. He went back to work and covered all my shifts while I stayed home.
I was never alone, though. His mother came, as did Sammy. I got to know both of them so much better and found myself more and more excited about the coming babies. Karah, in particular, was ecstatic. “You have to understand how much I’m going to spoil those children,” she said.
We made plans, then changed them, then thought up some new ideas. We decided to move into my place, then back to Anthony’s, then to build an entirely new place. Then back to Anthony’s, then mine. It was so much fun, as the possibilities were truly endless.
Saturday, my