Jodi
*Three weeks. Nearly three weeks since anyone had seen my hellren. I’d neither slept nor eaten, the fear churning in my stomach leaving me too nauseous for food and the little I did eat left my stomach long before check out time. I fought to keep myself together for Sahv but even his new fascination with crawling did little to keep him engaged. The lack of sleep was taking its toll, though I hung on every word, every ring of the phone, my heart shriveled a little more every time I saw Butch’s worry worn face peer into the nursery to give me an anguished shake of his head when he returned from the night’s search. Inevitably, the sun chased all the brothers back to the compound and like always, Butch was the last one to come home, waiting until the first orange rays peeked over the horizon before giving in and even then Rhage often had to haul him through the door by force. My empty stare settled on the pillows that marked Vishous’s place in our mated bed, the dark silk covers tear-stained and wrinkled from endless nights of clutching it in place of my male in a frail attempt at soothing my fears with his lingering scent. My eyes snapped up from the bed at a sharp cry, Sahv’s wail piercing the oppressive silence of the pit. I took the few steps to his bassinet in an instant, his face flushed, satiny skin gleaming with a cold sweat. Scooping him up from the blanket, I instantly felt the heat radiating from him. Fever. “Jodi, I just came to check on…” Rhage froze in the doorway, aqua eyes widening at the panic written all over my face. “What’s wrong with him?”* I don’t know. He’s hot…fuck, he’s burning up. I have to get him to Havers. *Rhage nodded once and checked his phone, fingers flying over the keypad. “I’ll take you.” He stormed down the hall, trench billowing behind him as I hurriedly dressed my squalling young and gathered his bag, following Hollywood’s hulking form out to the GTO to find he’d already moved the car seat from the Escalade. Ducking into the back, I made quick work of snapping him in, crawling into the seat next to him, leaning in to croon softly, stroking his damp hair back from diamond eyes that had reddened with tears. Nervously watching Rhage in the rearview, his face drawn and stern with worry, the engine of the GTO roaring as if in complaint at having to be reined in for the safety of the young within. After an eternity, the wheels screeched to a halt in the parking lot of the clinic and I fumbled with the button to release the belt on the car seat, Sahv’s cries now quieted to a heart-wrenching keening as Rhage plowed through the front door sending nurses scattering in his wake. Nearly running to keep up with his powerful stride, I finally stepped around him to reach the registration window, my voice half-plea, half-demand* Please, tell Dr. Havers that Vishous’s shellan must see him. *my voice cracked even saying his name, his absence still leaving a raw-edged hole in my heart* Our son is sick. Please… *I must have looked nightmarish, my presence having garnered the attention of all in the nurses’ station, including that of what I assumed to be another patient waiting at the far side of the counter, her lavender gaze intently fixed on me and my young, the payload of jewelry adorning her flawless skin screaming Glymera. Assured that care was coming, I glanced a final time at the female and let Rhage guide us to a seat, grateful for the brother while he stood over us, a living Greek statue of powerful perfection standing barrier between my son and anything that would harm us. Nervously running my dagger pendant along its chain as I watched the other patients, not allowing myself a full breath until another nurse motioned us into the back, my legs feeling like lead carrying Sahv into a bland gray exam room and laying him on the table to begin undressing him as she’d instructed, just finishing when Havers entered.*
*Three weeks. Nearly three weeks since anyone had seen my hellren. I’d neither slept nor eaten, the fear churning in my stomach leaving me too nauseous for food and the little I did eat left my stomach long before check out time. I fought to keep myself together for Sahv but even his new fascination with crawling did little to keep him engaged. The lack of sleep was taking its toll, though I hung on every word, every ring of the phone, my heart shriveled a little more every time I saw Butch’s worry worn face peer into the nursery to give me an anguished shake of his head when he returned from the night’s search. Inevitably, the sun chased all the brothers back to the compound and like always, Butch was the last one to come home, waiting until the first orange rays peeked over the horizon before giving in and even then Rhage often had to haul him through the door by force. My empty stare settled on the pillows that marked Vishous’s place in our mated bed, the dark silk covers tear-stained and wrinkled from endless nights of clutching it in place of my male in a frail attempt at soothing my fears with his lingering scent. My eyes snapped up from the bed at a sharp cry, Sahv’s wail piercing the oppressive silence of the pit. I took the few steps to his bassinet in an instant, his face flushed, satiny skin gleaming with a cold sweat. Scooping him up from the blanket, I instantly felt the heat radiating from him. Fever. “Jodi, I just came to check on…” Rhage froze in the doorway, aqua eyes widening at the panic written all over my face. “What’s wrong with him?”* I don’t know. He’s hot…fuck, he’s burning up. I have to get him to Havers. *Rhage nodded once and checked his phone, fingers flying over the keypad. “I’ll take you.” He stormed down the hall, trench billowing behind him as I hurriedly dressed my squalling young and gathered his bag, following Hollywood’s hulking form out to the GTO to find he’d already moved the car seat from the Escalade. Ducking into the back, I made quick work of snapping him in, crawling into the seat next to him, leaning in to croon softly, stroking his damp hair back from diamond eyes that had reddened with tears. Nervously watching Rhage in the rearview, his face drawn and stern with worry, the engine of the GTO roaring as if in complaint at having to be reined in for the safety of the young within. After an eternity, the wheels screeched to a halt in the parking lot of the clinic and I fumbled with the button to release the belt on the car seat, Sahv’s cries now quieted to a heart-wrenching keening as Rhage plowed through the front door sending nurses scattering in his wake. Nearly running to keep up with his powerful stride, I finally stepped around him to reach the registration window, my voice half-plea, half-demand* Please, tell Dr. Havers that Vishous’s shellan must see him. *my voice cracked even saying his name, his absence still leaving a raw-edged hole in my heart* Our son is sick. Please… *I must have looked nightmarish, my presence having garnered the attention of all in the nurses’ station, including that of what I assumed to be another patient waiting at the far side of the counter, her lavender gaze intently fixed on me and my young, the payload of jewelry adorning her flawless skin screaming Glymera. Assured that care was coming, I glanced a final time at the female and let Rhage guide us to a seat, grateful for the brother while he stood over us, a living Greek statue of powerful perfection standing barrier between my son and anything that would harm us. Nervously running my dagger pendant along its chain as I watched the other patients, not allowing myself a full breath until another nurse motioned us into the back, my legs feeling like lead carrying Sahv into a bland gray exam room and laying him on the table to begin undressing him as she’d instructed, just finishing when Havers entered.*
Ione
[That was Vishous’s shellan? Only breeding kept me from
laughing out loud, though the more I looked at she and the young in her arms,
the less like laughing I felt, incredulous amusement quickly replaced with
bitter jealously as my gaze wandered to the child’s face to linger on eyes that
were a perfect reproduction of Vishous’s own. These two were why he’d refused
me? And still did, despite being caged and beaten like a fighting dog by Xcor’s
thugs? My fingers curled into claws under the edge of the counter watching the
nurse escort them through the corridor of examination rooms, tucking a file
under my arm I paused a moment and followed, not so close as to be suspect but
wanting to know more of this female that the warrior had chosen over me. My
pride demanded it.]
Jodi
*worriedly watching Havers look over my son, while Rhage
barricaded the door with his hulking form, Sahv’s cheeks puffed red and
streaked with tears while he wriggled under the pokes and prods of a strange
hand and squeaking faintly when the cold chestpiece of Havers’s stethoscope finally
pressed to his feverish skin. “Heart rate is normal and his lungs appear
clear.” Poking a finger into Sahv’s bowed lips, he winced slightly when his
effort was rewarded with a sharp bite. “Ah, his upper central incisors have
broken the gum line.” Pulling his finger back, he shook it absently. “It is not
uncommon for youngs to develop fevers with emerging teeth. Occasionally, the
temperature can be quite high. It is nothing of concern. The nurse will provide
you with something to control the fever until it passes.” His eyes narrowed
thoughtfully behind his spectacles. “Forgive me for saying but, you look unwell
yourself.” “She has for weeks.” The silent brother finally spoke from his
corner of the exam room.* I told you, I’m fine. *Scowling at Rhage for holding
me in place, my temper soothed only by the now calming young in my arms, his
fever dropping with the minutes that passed since an overly pleasant nurse had
come in loaded down with liquid ibuprofen for Sahvage. “You’re not fine, Jodi. Far fucking from it.
You’re not holding down food, you’re white as a sheet and your eyes are so sunk
in you look like you went 5 rounds with Joe Louis.” Rhage jerked his head
toward Havers, his trench crinkling at the elbows as he folded his massive arms
over his chest. “Let the good doctor see what’s doing. Vishous would never
forgive me for not looking after you while he’s gone. The cop either, for that
matter and I don’t want my balls in a vise.” Narrowing my eyes up at him, I
gave a curt nod to both males, sending Havers darting out into the hall.*
Ione
[My fangs glinted in a grin of sadistic delight. The
subcreature was ill. How sad. I hoped it was serious. Chronic, painful and
fatal would be wonderful. I could already picture the defeat in Vishous’s
diamond gaze when I told him that all the reason he had to deny me was rotting
in damp earth. Laughing behind my hand, I leaned into the door, glaring
lavender daggers at passing staff that stared too long at me as I strained to
listen to the voices on the other side, heels clicking on the vinyl flooring as
I duck into the neighboring exam room when Havers stepped out into the hall,
calling for a nurse. “Ehlena? Could you come in here with a blood draw kit?
We’ll run some tests just to be sure. Please, wait a…” The door closed again,
just to open when the strawberry blonde nurse hurried inside and emerged a few
moments later with the crimson-filled vials.]
Jodi
*watching the clock as the minutes ticked by, irritation
rising with the sweep of its hands until the nurse returned and handed Havers a
folder, presumably containing the results.* Let me guess, nothing there.
Exhaustion, anxiety… My hellren is missing, I’m sure you’re aware so I would
believe both of those are normal under the circumstances. Can I go now? *Saying the words out loud was a
knife to the heart, each syllable another turn of the blade. I was anxious to
return to the pit, to resume my vigil in the nursery where I would wait for
news of Vishous from his brothers as they checked in for the night. He adjusted
his glasses on his nose and scanned the forms, his brows arching as he looked
pointedly up at me. “I’m afraid your condition is not so simple, Jodi. It is
understandable that you should be thinking little for yourself, but show some
concern for the young you’re carrying.” I blinked. And blinked again.*
Something’s wrong with Sahvage? You said he was fine. *my heart hammered in my
chest as my stomach rolled, looking fearfully down at my son, now fast asleep.*
“Sahvage is well, Jodi. I refer to the young in your womb. You’re pregnant.” He
eyed me warily and I could almost hear the disdain in his voice. “About seven
weeks I’d say. You’re also anemic. Your last pregnancy came with… cravings, did
it not? You fed from your hellren?” I nodded slowly, shifting Sahv in my arms
and absently fingering the pendant at my collar.* I.. yes, I did. *wincing, I
remembered the cravings with painful clarity. And I meant that literally, I’d
put off feeding from V as long as I could, until I was doubled over with
cramping hunger, every time earning a scolding from my male for fighting the
new biology of my pregnancy.* But, Vishous isn’t here, Doctor. Can’t you just
give me pills or…? *The question trailed off there. What was I expecting him to
do? “I will prescribe an iron supplement. Assuming this pregnancy is as your
last, you will have to feed. For your young. You must make arrangements with
another male…” Shaking my head, I backed toward the door, my tightening grip
earning me a squeak from my snoring son.* No. You’ve lost your fucking mind,
doctor. I won’t have someone else feeding me, or our child. *Rhage stopped me
at the door, pinning my shoulders with two giant hands. “You have to think of
the young, Jodi. Listen to him. We’ll find someone. Fuck, I can talk to Mary…”
My eyes prickled with tears at what he offered, he and his shellan’s desire for
children manifest in the concern marring his perfect features.* Rhage, I can’t.
I just.. can’t. There has to be another way. *shoving past him, I opened the
door in time to see the violet eyed female scrambling into an empty office,
prepared to make a dramatic exit when Havers’ voice called over my shoulder,
stopping me in my tracks. “He may not come back, Jodi. Not in time. You have to
prepare for that. I am speaking as your physician when I say that if you do not
find an alternate blood source, Vishous could lose you. And your young.”
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