*Rion*
I opened my eyes just in ti to see Daphne flit toward the bathroom. The sun wasn’t even up yet, but this was how I woke up every morning now. When she didn’t co back after a minute, I got up and stretched, my back popping pleasantly.
Yawning, I slipped on a pair of slippers and shuffled to the bathroom. Daphne was hunched over the toilet.
I knelt beside her and brushed her hair back, gathering it into my hand and out of her way.
“Daphne, I don’t like this.”
She sighed and wiped tears from her eyes. “It was like this with the twins too. Maybe you don’t rember all of that but—”
“And if mory serves, I had to use Blood Magic to avoid complications. I’d rather have you checked out by a doctor before I need to resort to sothing that drastic again.”
Daphne turned toward and rested her head against my shoulder. Her fingers clung to my shirt.
“Please? I’ll have a doctor co here and see you. We’ll keep it on a need-to-know basis.”
“I don’t know, Rion.”
I stood up, pulling Daphne with . With my arms around her waist, I could feel her trembling as I helped her to the sink. She rinsed her mouth and brushed her teeth. When she looked at , I saw just how pale she was.
Her skin was white as a sheet, her eyes sunken in. Daphne’s hands shook as she rinsed them again.
“I’ll be fine. I just need so juice and so toast,” she assured , smiling.
It wasn’t a very convincing smile.
“Alright, I’ll make us so breakfast.”
I headed downstairs and poured Daphne so orange juice. She said she only wanted toast, but she needed more than just a little bread. I started so eggs and bacon, hoping it would get her blood sugar up and help restore her iron.
The baby needed protein, too.
I humd to myself and moved eggs around in the pan.
I heard a thud, and I froze.
The whole mansion shook. I tossed the spatula on the counter and ran up the stairs, taking them too at a ti. My heart hamred in my throat the whole way.
I burst through the bedroom door. “Daphne!”
She was pulling herself back to her feet on the bed, but I could see she had taken a fall.
“Daphne, are you okay?” I rushed over to her and grabbed her arm.
“I’m okay... I’m—” She sighed and leaned against heavily.
“I’m calling the doctor!”
Daphne didn’t argue as I helped her back into bed. I propped her up with pillows and tucked the blankets around her.
“Stay in bed, okay? I’ll take care of you.”
“Th-thank you.” She smiled weakly at .
As soon as I was out the bedroom door, I went to the nearest phone. I called a Light Realm doctor from the city.
“I need you to make a house call, Doctor. My wife is having a rough ti with her pregnancy.”
“I’m sorry, but my schedule is full.”
“Clear it. I’ll send soone to get you and you’ll be handsoly compensated. You’re the best prenatal doctor in the Light Realm, and I need you.”
“I—”
I hung up before he could reply and sent a ssage to Jasper to organize the doctor’s pickup. There was plenty of treasure left over from Hestia’s hoard to keep the doctor happy, and when it ca to Daphne and the baby, no price was too high.
Daphne was asleep when I brought her breakfast in bed. I set the tray on the table beside the bed and sat on the edge. Daphne gasped and opened her eyes.
“Oh, did I fall asleep?”
I nodded and moved the tray to her lap. “Eat sothing. The doctor is on the way.”
Jasper and the doctor arrived shortly after noon. Daphne had barely touched her breakfast, but she did eat a few nibbles. That made feel a little better.
I hovered nearby as the doctor took Daphne’s vitals and asked her so questions. He kept shooting a sharp glare, clearly displeased that I’d forced his hand.
It didn’t matter. Daphne and the baby were going to get the best care possible.
“Daphne, you’re lucky that your husband called .”
Daphne’s eyes went as wide as saucers. “Is sothing wrong with the baby?”
“Nothing is wrong. You need to relax,” he said, putting his hands on her shoulders. “But there is a risk. The baby is in distress, and if you are stressed out, it will only make things worse. You’ll need to take it easy.”
“Take it easy?”
“Yes. You’re on bed rest for the duration of your pregnancy. I’m going to give you an herbal relaxant. It is completely safe.”
“Rion?” Daphne looked at .
I went to her side and sat on the edge of the bed, taking her hand. “I’m right here.” I looked at the doctor. “Are you sure it is harmless?”
“Yes, it’s completely organic and natural. Daphne needs to remain relaxed and stress free for the sake of the baby. And she needs to start eating better. I have an herbal supplent to curb nausea and increase appetite, too.”
“All of it is harmless to the baby, right?” she asked.
“Of course,” the doctor nodded. He administered the relaxant, and it didn’t take long before Daphne slumped back, asleep.
I followed the doctor out of the room. He gave vials of the dicine and a bottle of tablets.
“These are the dications.” He gave clear instructions on what to do with them. “Call if anything changes or if she takes a turn for the worse.
I brought Daphne so water and so lunch when she woke up. She seed a little out of it.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m worried about the baby.” She looped her arms around her swollen stomach. “What if sothing goes wrong?”
I chuckled and took her hand. “Daphne, nothing is going to happen. You are the strongest woman I know, and I believe in you and your resilience.”
“We’ve been through a lot already, haven’t we?” She laughed lightly and lay back on the pillows.
“Here, drink so water and eat so lunch. How’s your appetite?”
“It’s coming back. I’m actually a little hungry for the first ti in days.”
“Good. Let know if there’s anything you want to help keep you occupied. You’re going to be spending a lot of ti in here.”
Daphne groaned. “Yeah, I’ll think of a few things.”
“Rest now. The baby needs a chance to grow, and you need to keep your strength up. I’ll bring the twins in later.”
“I’d like that.”
***
Three days into Daphne’s bed rest, she was going stir crazy. I gave her books to read and spent as much ti with her as I could, but I still had a pack to manage.
Ayla and Selena kept her company, too, and Eva stopped by regularly. I knew Daphne wasn’t happy about it, but she was sticking to the doctor’s orders for the sake of the baby.
After dropping the twins off in Daphne’s room, I t Jasper and Eva in my office.
“How’s Daphne?” Eva asked.
“Definitely has cabin fever. She’s ready to have that baby right now.”
Eva chuckled. “Well, she shouldn’t rush it. No matter how complicated it gets, pregnancy is a beautiful miracle.”
“She might not feel that way right now.”
“I’m glad Daphne’s doing better,” Jasper said. “But Eva and I are here for another reason.”
“What’s that?” I arched an eyebrow.
When they sent word they’d be coming by, it hadn’t seed urgent.
“Well, I’ve been checking in with our scouts recently, and they’ve reported so movent.”
I brightened. “The Lycaon extremists are on the move?”
Jasper shook his head. “We still haven’t heard anything from them, but it seems like Alpha Gareth’s n are on the move.”
“Great....” I plopped down in my desk chair. “Where are they?”
“They are approaching Thorn Forest.”
I groaned and rubbed my temple. “So much for a non-aggression treaty. You have eyes on them still?”
“Yes. I’m tracking all their movents and am checking in regularly. We’ll keep you updated.”
“No, I need to face Gareth. I need him to understand the consequences of what happens when he defies a treaty with .”
“Rion, do you really want to leave Thorn Forest right now? Daphne is on bedrest. You should be here for her,” Eva warned.
“Ensuring that Gareth doesn’t do anything stupid is going to keep Daphne, the baby, and the rest of my family safe. I want to handle this on my own,” I insisted.
“I’ll back your play, Rion. All of Thorn Forest has your back. We won’t let any of Gareth’s n get close to Daphne or the kids.” Jasper gave a firm nod.
“Thank you, Jasper.”
“Rion, I want to go with you.” Eva stood up. “Now that I’m in control, I can help protect you. I have the power.”
“No, Eva, it’s too dangerous.”
Eva narrowed her eyes at and crossed her arms. “That’s not fair, Rion! You know I can help. Gareth and the Lycaon’s are seriously dangerous.”
“I know, Eva. But I have sothing else I want you to do. You’re the only one I can trust with this.” I stood up and held my hand out to her.
Slowly, Eva took my hand. “What do you want to do, Rion?”
“I want you to stay here and look after Daphne and my girls. You’re the only one that I trust to protect my family if—”
“Don’t even say it, Rion. Nothing is going to happen to you.” Eva squeezed my hand tightly.
“Oh, trust , nothing is going to happen to . I need you here to watch Daphne in case this is a trap,” I explained. “Gareth could be trying to get out of the way and move in.”
“I didn’t think of that,” Eva admitted.
I nodded. “It’s unlikely, but I want all my bases covered before I go check things out with Gareth. Can you stay here Eva and protect Daphne and the girls?”
“Of course. They are as much my family as they are yours. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t.” I hugged Eva quickly. “Just... make sure to protect her from yourself, too.”
Eva arched an eyebrow. “What the hell does that an?”
I smirked. “Well, she’s a bit testy these days, being on bedrest. She’ll probably get on your nerves really quickly.”
Eva rolled her eyes. “You know better than that.”
“Alright. Jasper, tell everything you know about Gareth’s movents right now.” I turned to my Beta, and we sat across from each other at the desk.
“For a while, it really seed like they were going to abide by the treaty. Just a few days ago, they started moving. I waited to make sure I could determine their trajectory before reporting their movents,” Jasper said.
“And they are on their way here.”
He nodded.
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