Page 25 of Royal Love
“The nausea started with my pregnancy, but it was mild. Today it’s…different.” I close my eyes against the light that suddenly seems too harsh.
“Any other symptoms? Fever? Headache?”
I nod slightly. “Both. Since this morning.”
Dr. Bennett exchanges a look with Shannon. “I’d like to run some tests. This doesn’t appear to be typical morning sickness.”
Fear grips me—fear for the tiny life growing inside me. “The baby?”
“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” he says gently. “But I would feel more comfortable if you came to the hospital where we have better facilities.”
I want to protest, to insist that I just need rest, but the room won’t stop spinning. “Call Tristan,” I whisper to Shannon.
The next few hours blur together. I’m vaguely aware of being helped into a car, of Shannon making quiet phone calls, of the hospital’s sterile hallways. Blood is drawn, monitors attached, questions asked that I struggle to answer through the fog in my mind.
“Virus,” I hear Dr. Bennett say at some point. “Not uncommon but concerning given her condition.”
“And the baby?” Tristan’s voice cuts through my haze. When did he arrive?
“Stable for now, but we need to get Her Majesty’s fever down and keep her hydrated.”
I force my eyes open to find Tristan sitting beside my bed, his face etched with worry. He looks disheveled, his tie loosened and hair mussed, as if he’s been running his hands through it repeatedly.
“Hey,” I manage, reaching for his hand.
Relief washes over his features. “You scared the hell out of me, Lia.”
“I’m sorry,” I murmur.
“Don’t apologize.” He brings my hand to his lips, kissing it gently. “Dr. Bennett says you have some kind of virus. They want to keep you overnight for observation.”
Panic flutters in my chest. “But the meeting with the education board is tomorrow?—”
“Canceled,” he says firmly. “Everything’s canceled. You and our heir are the only things that matter right now.”
A nurse enters, hanging a new IV bag. “This should help with the dehydration, Your Majesty. The doctor has ordered something for the nausea as well.”
I nod gratefully, already feeling the cool rush of fluids entering my system. When she leaves, Tristan moves from the chair to sit carefully on the edge of my bed.
“Parker had to physically restrain me from leaving the summit when Shannon called,” he admits, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. “I’ve never left a meeting that fast in my life.”
Despite everything, I smile. “What will the ambassadors think?”
“I don’t give a damn what they think.” His voice is low, intense. “When I heard you were in the hospital…” He trails off, swallowing hard.
I squeeze his hand. “I’m going to be fine. We both are.”
Tristan’s eyes drop to my stomach, and he places his palm gently over it. “You’re sure?”
“Dr. Bennett seems confident. It’s just a virus. Bad timing, but nothing that won’t pass.”
He exhales shakily. “I should have been there. I knew you weren’t feeling well when we left the beach house.”
“Stop,” I say, more firmly than I’ve been able to speak all day. “This isn’t your fault. Besides, you can’t cancel the kingdom every time I feel a little under the weather.”
A small smile tugs at his lips. “Watch me.”
“The public will start to worry if they hear I’m hospitalized,” I say, thinking of the headlines that are likely already circulating.
