Page 58 of Under the Dragon's Spell
"That is entirely up to you, Mother."
"I wouldn't do anything to your mate. I'm only begging you to reconsider."
"And yet you won't tell me why."
"Because you would only make a foolish decision if I did."
I sighed. She was exceedingly frustrating today. "I'm not a child anymore. I can make my own decisions."
She stared out the window again. I decided to leave before I smashed her precious teacups. I'd made my point; that had to be enough for now. After all, I needed to get back to my mate to ensure his safety… and to take him to a doctor.
23
ADRIAN
The dragon doctor Tyrel took me to see, Dr. Meloy, was a bit different from the human one we'd been to before. For one, he was a he, and he frowned a great deal more. I got tired of his grim expression within the first ten minutes, but Tyrel had promised me this man knew what he was doing, so I didn't say anything. Instead, I was a good boy and let him examine me.
Everything was forgiven when he let me hear my babies' heartbeats. They sounded so strong for being so new. If I hadn't loved these two already, I would have fallen in love instantly. Tyrel smiled at me. He seemed a tiny bit amused by the look on my face, unaware, probably, that he didn't look much better. He looked like a proud dragon daddy and I only wished I'd brought a camera so I could take a shot of him like that.
"I see your problem," the doctor said, addressing Tyrel instead of me, as if I was simply a baby bearing machine.
I tried to shoot Tyrel a look, but all his attention was on the doctor. Of course, he was worried.
"He needs to eat more," the doctor said.
I rolled my eyes. That was his expert solution? "I'm already eating as much as I can. Don't you have any better advice?" Okay, so I was moody. Blame it on the hormones.
"It's an unusual situation you're in and I need a moment to think about this. If you'd come to me a month ago I would have terminated this pregnancy before it got this far."
I stood from the examination chair. "No one's touching my babies!"
"He's right," Tyrel said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Nothing happens to the babies."
"So is it my mission to save the babies even if it kills the host?" the doctor asked with a neutral expression on his face as if this was something he was asked to do every day.
Honestly? I wanted to leave because this man wasrude, but if he could ensure my children's safety… "If you must, that is exactly what I want you to do."
"That's not going to happen," Tyrel said flatly. "Your mission is to make sure that all three of them survive."
"I'm a doctor, not a miracle worker." He shook his head. "The way I see it, you'll be fine through month three, but by month four, I'm not making any guarantees."
"What happens if the kids are born early?" I asked.
"Dragon babies mature in the womb a lot faster than human babies, but they need the time they do take. If you want to give your children their best shot, I'm not going to take them any earlier than two weeks premature, at the max."
Two weeks…So they would be born shortly after the fourth month was over. "I can make it."
The doctor nodded. "You seem determined at least. I value that in a patient. Come back in next week. You might still change your mind about how you want to proceed when you reach month four."
"I'll be back. But I'm not going to change my mind."
After the visit, Tyrel tried to make me eat more, which was ridiculous, but I didn't try to stop him. It was clear that he needed to feel like he was helping, so I let him rummage around in our new kitchen while I lounged on the comfortable sofa in the living area, watching my favorite movie to take my mind off things.
It would have worked, too, if I'd been able to distract Tyrel as well.
"Are you serious about what you said earlier?" he asked, leaning over the kitchen counter with a spatula in his hand. My dragon looked so ridiculously domestic like that that I had to smile in spite of everything. I realized that even if I didn't make it, he'd do okay by the kids. I took a deep breath.
"Yes, I'm serious. If it's me or the kids, I need you to choose the kids."
