Page 68 of Hoarded By the Dragon

There’s a notebook open on the table, thick with writing, and a hastily drawn chart of the types of fish to avoid based on mercury content versus fatty omegas.

I blink in surprise.

“I need to be prepared,” she says thickly into my shirt.

Ah. It’s no mystery that Katarina is good at everything she does. I’d have never known she was in the gallery that night if I hadn’t been heading there, she flawlessly forged more paintings than she’s confessed to me, and her restoration skills are in demand even though she doesn’t enjoy the work.

Katarina demands perfection and succeeds through preparation.

She’s studying these books as closely as she would a heist. Thinking through each scenario, but there’s no way to anticipate everything, and she’s going to run herself ragged if she tries.

"How long have you been at this?” I ask.

“Hours,” Stella answers. “Because someone got her all the books she asked for.”

She glares at Ben who presses his lips together in annoyance.

“I didn’t think it would cause this,” Ben snaps back.

I raise my brows at him, and he blushes. “I thought she just needed to check a few things, and she didn’t want to bother Maggie on her day off. This is better than her looking it up on the internet, right?”

Stella rolls her eyes at him, but I agree.

Katarina’s sobs quiet and she pulls away. “I know I’m not being logical, but I’m overwhelmed, and I don’t know what to do—” She breaks off and blinks rapidly like she’s going to start crying again.

Hormones.Stella mouths to me.

Hormones have dissolved the competent, snarky woman I know and care for into a worried puddle. It seems criminal, but now that I understand what a big part of this meltdown is, I can solve it.

“I will read the books,” I say.

“You’ll read the books?” Katarina asks.

“I will read the books and check every warning with what I know about dragons. Then I’ll work with Maggie so you have a list of things that you have in your control.”

“You’re going to read all the books?” Now Katarina frowns. There are at least ten on the table.

My lips twitch. “I canread.”

She narrows her eyes at me, and the fire of her annoyance is much more acceptable than her crying. “I didn’t mean that. I just mean there are a lot of them and about a lot of different things.”

I read the titles, and she’s not wrong. There is everything from pregnancy planning, giving birth, to the first year of life. I spread the books on the table and pick up the two about preparing for birth.

“You can read these ones,” I say and pray that the subject won’t upset her the same way as the pregnancy books did. Giving her a task should help, and at least the birth isn’t something she’s already halfway through with. “Now go and cuddle with Griffin, and I’ll let you know when I have a list.”

Katarina’s eyes widen. “Oh my god. What about toxoplasmosis?”

I don’t know what toxoplasmosis is, but I’m about to find out.

“Rina, do you trust me?” I ask.

She blinks, and I’m almost as surprised as she is when she nods.

“Trust that I will do everything in my power to keep you and the baby safe. Including reading about toxoplasmosis and letting you know if it’s a risk.”

Her shoulders relax, and she holds the books about birth to her chest.

She casts a glance at the notebook in front of me.

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