Page 92 of Alpha Queen
"I heard that," Ares growled, though his eyes never left River's face.
"Good," Dr. Keller retorted. "Now stay out of my way while I check on your mate."
She pulled out a small device shaped kind of like a microphone and attached the cord to a laptop sitting on the nightstand. She squeezed gel onto River's stomach, the coolness making River flinch slightly. As Dr. Keller depressed the wand against her abdomen, the room fell silent except for the steady beep of the heart monitor.
River held her breath. Please, goddess, let my baby be okay.
A moment passed, and then another, as Dr. Keller moved the wand in one direction, the other, and then back again, her face never straying from the laptop screen.
"Figures.” Dr. Keller shook her head and snorted.
"What?" Ares and Apollo asked together.
"Twins," said Dr. Keller.
"Twins?" River asked. "As in, two babies?"
Dr. Keller nodded. "That's what 'twins' means."
Cherry growled and looked at the doctor. "No one in this room is allowed to be a bigger bitch than me. Especially to my daughter."
Dr. Keller raised an eyebrow at Cherry but didn't flinch as she turned back to the monitor.
River hadn't even noticed her mom enter. She looked over at her mom and smiled. Her mom smiled back.
River looked at Apollo and then Ares. "One for each of you."
"No," said Apollo.
"Two for both of us," Ares finished.
Both of her mates covered her in kisses again, whispering to her about their love and never letting her be endangered again. River's heart squeezed. She wanted nothing more than to climb into an enormous bed with both of them and be smothered by their strong arms.
"Well," the doctor finally said, "Everything looks normal. Babies are fine. We just need to get River back on the mend. The babies will take from her what they need, so we need to get ahead of them and nourish her back to health swiftly. She needs blood-"
"Take mine." Cherry stripped down to her tank top and moved toward the bed without being asked. "We have the same type."
Dr. Keller directed Cherry to sit in a chair beside River's bed. "This won't take long, but you might feel lightheaded afterward."
Cherry complied without hesitation, her eyes never leaving her daughter's face. "Take as much as she needs," she said. "Every drop."
Tears watered Cherry's eyes, and River gave her a weak smile.
"Hey, Mom."
"I swear if you ever disappear like that again, I'm going to kick your ass."
River snorted. "I'll make sure my next would-be kidnapper knows."
Dr. Keller inserted the needle into Cherry's arm, and the door opened again. Zeke walked inside with Strider. Zeke's usually stoic expression softening at the sight of River.
"Luna," he said, giving her a gentle smile. "It's good to see you."
"Zeke." Good to see you too."
"Hey, kiddo," said Strider. "I'm glad you're back with us."
River's heart squeezed. "Me too, Dad."
