by Crystal Dawn
She went to the kitchen where Selia and Niku waited with the food on the table and the plates full. “Hi, Mama. You okay?”
“Yes, Sweetie. I’m just tired.”
“Is it cause of my brother?”
“Maybe, I’m not sure. Why don’t we all eat now?”
“This is remarkable. What do you call it?”
“Taco casserole.” Selia said right away.
“Yes. We have it once a week at home. We won’t have it here often if I can’t find substitute seasonings.” Betty said.
“Give me a list of what you want. A ship is leaving and whenever they come back, they will bring us a trunk of things.” Niku promised.
“Really?” Betty grinned. It made her happy that he would go to that much trouble for her.
“You know I would do anything for you.” Niku said and leaned over and kissed her.
Selia giggled. “Kissy face.”
“You’ll understand some day, Sweetie.” Betty assured her.
“You’re getting to bed early tonight and I want you to come to the castle with us. You need to see a healer. I’m not waiting to let this get out of hand.” Niku demanded.
“Okay.” Betty could admit the tiredness had scared her. She’d never felt to exhausted in her life. Had Niku not woke her, she didn’t know how long she might have slept. “I do have to put up some of the food I cooked to freeze in.”
“I’ll help. Selia can you clear the table and then go up and start getting ready for bed?”
Selia screeched in glee. “Yes!” She began to clear the table as fast as she could.
“She’s been asking to do more of her own things like picking her clothes.” Betty admitted.
“You’re going to have to let her. You’ll have a baby soon and Selia can help more.”
“I know, but I wanted her to be my little girl as long as possible.”
“She’ll always be your little girl just like you are still your mothers. You’ll never lose her just because she grows up, but she does have to grow up. That will make her strong like you are. You go get ready for bed and I’ll finish this up. I want you to rest because you being so tired worries me.”
“Okay. It worries me too.” She leaned forward and kissed him gently. It was a shame they couldn’t make love, but maybe tomorrow.
Once she was ready and she went to bed, she had no trouble falling asleep. That was odd in itself. Niku woke her in the morning and she got up well rested. It would have scared her terribly if after all that rest she needed more. Niku had already fixed breakfast and Selia was ready to go.
Once they ate, they left the house changed, Selia loaded on Niku, and they went to the castle. When she changed back to her human form, she was tired once more.
“Are you alright?” Niku asked.
“I’m tired again.”
“I should have carried you. Why don’t you go see Damos and I’ll take Selia to school and hurry to meet you.”
“Okay.” She said as she turned to head downstairs.
She found Damos in his office. “Hello.”
Damos looked up surprised. “Did I get the schedule wrong?”
“No, I suffered from exhaustion last night and I just got hit hard again this morning after shifting to my dragon. Niku insisted on me coming to see you and I have to agree it worries me.” Betty explained.
“Well let’s get you in here and I’ll check things out.”
“Isn’t this the royal treatment room?”
“Yes, but it’ll be fine. I’m the one that designated it that way. It was just if we get overrun, one room needed to be kept empty. All the rooms are alike.”
“Okay.” Damos helped her up on the table and made sure she was able to lay down alright.
He stood and listened carefully then he felt her stomach. He’d just finished his exam when Niku walked in. “Do you know what is wrong with her?” Niku asked.
Damos grinned. “I believe I do.”
“Well, what is it?” Betty asked.
“You are expecting twins.”
“What?” Betty asked and she felt faint.
“Two babies?” Niku asked but he didn’t seem as concerned.
“You will have to eat more, rest more often, and don’t strain yourself. You also shouldn’t change unless it’s necessary. You’re dragon pulls too much energy away from you and you’ve already shown you run down easily. I want you on vitamins, dragons don’t normally take them. I also want to examine you weekly as long as you tire like you did today.”
“Okay, anything else?”
“I’ll be honest. I’ve never been a healer for a female that gave multiple births. I’m excited to follow your progress, but we’ll both be learning. I would recommend you hire a female to help around the house when you’re there and watch out for you. If you were my mate, that’s what I’d do. I still want you to move around, just don’t overdo it. It may take us a while to find your balance. Do not skip a meal, not even one! Those babies will take what you need even if nothing is left. Understand?”
“We understand.” Niku spoke up.
“If you take her back home now, make sure someone is with her.” Damos directed.
“Are you sure that’s necessary?” Betty asked.
“No, but what if it is and I didn’t recommend it?”
“Someone will be with her. I’ll get my staff started and then run her home.” Niku noted.
“Fine, I know how to take instructions.” Betty gave in.
It was hard to believe instead of one baby, they would have two. They needed to prepare Selia for the crazy life they would soon have. Hell, she needed to prepare to look like a balloon. They had no baby items or clothing or anything. She felt overwhelmed completely.
“What is my due date?”
“I wish I could say. I understand your kind carry for nine months. Our kind vary from four to five. Multiples are rare, but they have occurred and often come as much as a month early. The prevailing theory is they run out of room and the womb spits them out.” Damos explained. “That means you and your sister may have your children close together.”
“That good/bad news.” Betty commented. It would be good that the kids could play together, but she worried about having preemies.
“It will help that you’ve given birth before. Did you have any problems?” Damos asked.
“Only with her father.” Betty mumbled.
“So it was a normal pregnancy for a human?” Damos pressed.
“It was good especially since there are many problems mothers can have for the first time they may not have in later pregnancies.” Betty assured.
“You may be the first Earther to give birth. You and Bree will be close. It will give us much information to help others.” Damos assessed. “You may go now. I’m sure you don’t want to hang around here all day.”
They said their goodbyes and she followed Niku up to his office. “Rozlee, this is my mate, Betty. Betty, this is my assistant Rozlee.”
“Nice to meet you, Rozlee.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Betty.”
Niku led her past Rozlee’s desk and they entered his office. She sat in a chair across from his while he began to go through the emails that were high priority and make the necessary calls. Once he had done that he looked up at her.
“I’m going to take you home now. Dori will be there waiting for you.” He pulled her tightly into his embrace. “We will get through this together.”
“I know we will.” She said, but she would worry until the babies were in their arms.
Niku led her to the roof where the guards got a stepladder. Who knew they had one available for such situations? She climbed on his back and held on to his neck as he took off into the air. It was a gorgeous view but it was wasted on her. He got her home quickly and she dismounted onto the bench in their yard. She would get good at catching a ride with her mate before they were done.
Following him to the door, he opened it and motioned for her to precede h
im into the house. As soon as she stepped into the kitchen, people yelled. It looked like the family was here including Davy and Jarel. It was heartwarming to have everyone together.
“So twins, huh?” Davy asked. Betty nodded. “We’re talking about trying soon, but hopefully we’ll only have one. I’m not an overachiever like you, Cuz.” She giggled.
Betty thought it would be nice if their children were close in age. She’d enjoyed her cousins visiting when she’d been a child. That’s what she wanted for her children and the other children of the family. It looked like things might work out to make it so.
“I see you had to show me up.” Bree teased.
“I just can’t do anything the easy way like just have one child unless I have her first.” Betty admitted.
“That’s true, you’re either first or you take things to a whole new level.” Bree admitted.
“Yeah, you’re just glad it’s me and not you.”
“I wish you had it easier too, Sis.”
“Well that ship has sailed. Now I just want to survive it.”
“How bad is it?”
“Multiples are rare for dragons. Damos hasn’t ever cared for a female that has had them. He’s actually excited to get the experience in a way.”
“By the gods, I’ve never see such a thing, way?” Bree and Batty giggled. It felt good to relieve some stress.
“Hopefully there won’t be any problems and it will just be the usual twin birth. I may beat you having mine.” Betty enlightened.
“Just when did you two start doing the nasty?” Bree asked.
“Not because I’ve been pregnant as long, because twins often come a month early.”
“At least we can go shopping for baby clothes together.” Bree offered.
“I’ll need to because I’ve got nothing.”
“We have months yet. We’ll be fine.” Betty wasn’t so sure. Bree often would put things off and rush around at the last minute. Romo would probably step up just like Niku would.
Her mom came up to her and hugged her. “I’ll go with you two when you shop for the baby stuff. It’ll keep you both on target.”
“Thanks Mom. I’m worried about the tiredness.”
“What did the healer say?”
“Twins are rare and he’s never dealt with them before.”
“Lucky you. Don’t worry, we’ll get through this and they’ll be here before you know it.”
“I know you’re right. It just seems like a long time before they’ll be here.”
“I had to wait nine months for each of you. That’s a long time, you won’t have to wait as long.”
Dori wandered off but Betty didn’t see Garulto and wondered if they’d split up. She hoped not, because he had made her mom happy. Maybe even happy like she and Bree were. People drifted off and left one at a time.
“I need to go get Selia. I want you to go take a nap until I get back.”
“Okay.”
She watched out the window as Niku took off before she went back to their bedroom stripped down and threw on a sleep shirt. Betty lay down and rubbed her tummy. What would these babies bring into her life and what kind of people would they be. At some point she slipped off to sleep.
When she woke, Selia was staring at her. “What are you looking at baby?”
“I wonder where you’re hiding two babies.”
“They are very small now. You’ll see them when they get bigger.”
“Okay. Niku has supper on the table.”
“I’ll be right down.”
She dressed and went down stairs. They had challenges to overcome, but she had a feeling it would be alright. They were a family and it just felt right as they sat at the table together.
Epilogue
A few weeks had passed and while the babies weren’t ready to be born yet, Betty had an agreement with them of sorts. She ate like a pig, she rested more than she ever had, and they behaved as well as could be expected. They loved it when Niku or Selia rubbed her tummy and talked to them.
They also seemed excited when other members of the family were around. The babies seemed to recognize who belonged to them. Betty had developed a schedule that they followed and it seemed to keep her tiredness to a minimum.
She worked three days a week although Damos agreed to adjust it if needed. He was the world’s best boss, appreciated what she did, and willing to help her in any way necessary. The job itself was wonderful. Betty had always loved working with plants and she was almost in the gardens all the time. Her ability to grow plants impressed her boss a lot.
Everything she was involved in was on track, which was good. Things weren’t so well with Niku’s work. At least she didn’t keep him busy as he searched for Dannia and Gazo. He felt sure Gazo wasn’t in the world of the living but without a body he couldn’t be sure.
Niku’s people had tracked Dannia’s ship to the moon and lost her trail completely. She could see he was frustrated but there was no way to help him. The emperor had been happy with the way he neutralized the rogues and he wasn’t worried about Dannia like Niku was.
Davy had found out she was expecting too and they had thrown another party. So many babies in one family was incredible. Erak had gone by and spoke to Tomi but she’d been hurt by his inattention and she’d been a complete bitch. He’d crawled off somewhere to heal his wounds, but Betty was sure he would be back.
Martz was doing an excellent job on the fields. They were all planted and coming along as expected or better. Finding him was truly a blessing. They also found a teenager from the school that only went part time. She worked with Betty at the house to earn spending money.
Betty hurried to get supper on the table because her mate was due at any time with Selia. Martz and her helper, Felxia, had left and now she and her little family would be by themselves. The door opened and Selia ran in and rubbed the bump that already showed.
“I think they are bigger today.” Selia said just like she did every day.
“They haven’t had time to grow much.” Betty protested. “Go wash your hands and we’ll eat supper.” Selia skipped away to follow her directions.
Niku walked up behind her, his hands resting lightly on her tummy. “Are my dragonlets behaving themselves today?”
“Of course. They like it when Daddy is home though. You don’t work tomorrow do you?”
“No, tomorrow we’ll have the day as a family. Just the three er five of us.”
Betty laughed. “I think they like that. They will be fierce dragons like their daddy.”
“What if they are girls?”
“They’ll still be fierce.”
“I think they might be at that.”
“Come, let’s sit down and eat now. Later, after Selia goes to sleep, we can have some time alone, just the two of us.”
“I love the sound of that.” Niku kissed her softly and they sat down to eat, just their little family.
General of Draconis
Winged Beasts
Book 4
Garulto didn’t know what to do. Dori was his everything but his career, the one he’d always put first before, was interfering with their relationship and he feared she would leave him.
Dori loved Garulto. He was her soul mate and she knew it, but her first husband had put his career first and been killed in action. She couldn’t deal with that kind of loss again.
Will fate step in and give them both what they need or will they call it a day and go their separate ways? Love can be magical but it can also hurt.
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If you want to read more books by Crystal Dawn, check out:
Blue Moon Pack Series
Planet Amazon Series
Cousins of the Moon Series (a complete trilogy)
Legends of the White Werewolf Series (a free series found on limited venues)
Keepers of the Land Series (A completed 6 book series.)
Frozen Origin Series
Frozen Origin Quickies
Love by a God series
The Southwest Illinois Pack Series
The Wilde Pack series
The Strong Pack
The Red Wolf Series
Lucifer (Frozen Origin Demons Series)
Winged Beast Series
White Wolf Matriarchs (Complete trilogy)
The Juarez Pack Series
The Witches of Ulyss Series
Erotic Fantasies series
Chieftains of the Majuri series
Catty Diva
The Mating Games series
Moon Hunter’s Inc series
Zorth
Witch Way Series
Book 1
He found his fated one only to lose her. It sounded like a bad joke but it had really happened to him. Even with all his magical abilities, he’d had no luck finding the woman that had captivated him.
She’d woke up after the hottest night of sex she could imagine, all alone. Embarrassed that she’d behaved so impulsively, she ran and just kept running.
When these two get together, the passion ignites. Unfortunately someone out for revenge wants them both to burn, literally.
The Warriors of the Vinii
Book 1
Xanterie
by Corre Deepe
Can a bad day turn your life around?
Crash landing on Earth seemed the worst thing that could happen to Xan, his crew and their battered ship. It was only the beginning. After nearly freezing to death, Xan’s savior, in the form of a little Earth female, is driving him crazy. He doesn’t want to want her, but he can’t seem to help it. Edie wonders if she’s gone crazy when she wakes up looking into the glowing red eyes of a naked, not quite human male. He seems determined to keep her with him, but she’s just as determined to go.
