Chapter 56: The Medical Plan
At the subsequent doctor's consultation, they all joined via video call. The doctor explained the proposed safe plans that the medical team had developed and then gave some suggestions on alternative ways to give Kael satisfaction and gratification.
Dginnie listened with some initial confusion, but the more she listened the more her face began to bloom with a deep red blush that went from the tips of her toes all the way to her hair roots. They were asking her to... play with Kael and... perform various other indescribable acts with him, some of which involved using her mouth or back end. Between breasts, under arm, between thighs...
Furballs alive.
Dginnie covered her face with her hands.
Then there was the mention of a few toys that could be used as tools and to prepare her body without it hurting her.
"We have all of those," Halven nodded to the doctor's suggestions. "I prepared quite an extensive range in case of eventualities like this."
The doctor praised Halven for his forward planning.
Dginnie couldn't help but feel Halven's thoughts that were surging at the back of his mind of how much he wanted to play and experience those things with her too.
Dginnie wanted to bury herself right there and then, because she could feel Kael's emotions raging and reaching for her through the matebond.
Clearing her throat, Dginnie slammed the doors to the matebonds firmly shut, heaving a sigh of relief when she felt she was at last alone in her thoughts. Kael had jumped at the slam. Halven's fingers had twitched and he glanced at her.
"Sorry," she mumbled, lowering her hands. "I didn't mean to slam them quite so hard."
"Don't apologise," Halven said. "You are entitled to close the connections whenever you wish."
"Even when you're trying to communicate with me?"
"Especially then, if you need privacy."
Dginnie looked at him, then at the doctor, who was making a note on the consultation record.
"Is that normal? Can I really shut them out completely?"
"With practice, yes. The bonds themselves remain intact, but you can limit what passes through them. At present, you're still adjusting to the connections. You may find that emotions occasionally spill over before you learn to regulate them."
"That's a very polite way of saying my mates can accidentally broadcast things I don't want to know."
The doctor considered this.
"That is one way of putting it."
Kael's face appeared on the screen, his ears angled back in embarrassment.
"For the record, I wasn't deliberately sending you anything."
"I know," Dginnie said quickly. "I could tell."
She paused.
"Unfortunately."
Kael groaned and covered his face with one hand.
Halven looked down at the consultation notes, but the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
Dginnie pointed at him.
"And you. I know what you were thinking too."
"I had several thoughts."
"Halven!"
"I did not say they were all relevant to the consultation."
The doctor coughed.
It sounded suspiciously like an attempt to suppress laughter.
Dginnie considered closing both bonds again and refusing to open them for the rest of the day.
Instead, she took a deep breath and tried to recover some dignity.
"Can we return to the medical plan, please?"
"Certainly," the doctor replied, with admirable composure.
The consultation became more serious after that.
The doctor explained that the proposed approach would involve carefully managing Kael's condition while allowing his body to complete the interrupted biological process. The adjusted suppressant regimen was intended to reduce the intensity of his symptoms without suppressing the process altogether. His response would be monitored, and the medical team would remain available throughout the procedure.
The doctor also emphasised that medication alone could not guarantee that Kael would remain fully in control. His condition had to be assessed continuously, and the plan would be modified if he showed signs of deteriorating.
Halven would remain present as an additional safeguard, with clear instructions on when to intervene and when to call for medical assistance.
Dginnie listened closely.
"What happens if Kael starts losing control?"
"We stop the procedure," the doctor said. "Halven will follow the agreed intervention plan, and the medical team will take over if necessary. We will not ask you to manage a medical emergency by yourself."
"And if he doesn't respond to me?"
"Then you do not try to force him to respond. You move away if you can do so safely and follow the instructions we have given you. Halven will be responsible for the intervention."
Dginnie looked at Halven.
He nodded once, his expression serious.
"I understand what is expected of me," he said. "I will not hesitate if I believe either of you is in danger."
Kael was quiet on the screen.
Then he asked, "What if I don't want him to have to intervene?"
"Then you must cooperate with the plan," the doctor replied. "You will have to communicate clearly, take your medication as directed, and accept that the process will stop if your condition becomes unsafe. If you don't like the idea of Professor Halven intervening, we can arrange for another medical staff to stand in."
Kael's ears lowered.
"I understand. Halven... would be preferable to another person," he paused, "but Dginnie, are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Dginnie looked at him through the screen.
"Kael?"
He raised his eyes.
"I'm not doing this because I think I owe you something," she said. "I want to help you. I want you to recover, and I want us to find a way to live together without being frightened that this will happen again. But I need you to understand that if I say stop, we stop."
"I understand."
"And you can't keep asking whether I'm sure every five minutes. I'll tell you if I change my mind."
His expression softened.
"All right."
She gave him a small smile.
"I mean it. I want to help."
Kael looked as though he wanted to reach through the screen and hold her. His emotions stirred at the edge of her awareness, but this time she kept the bond closed. She could see his affection without having to feel the full force of it.
It was a relief to discover that she could separate the two.
The doctor continued explaining the practical arrangements. Dginnie would have the opportunity to stop at any point, and the team would provide clear instructions on how to communicate discomfort or distress. They would also make sure that she understood the purpose of the suggested equipment and how it was to be used safely. Nothing would be introduced simply because it was available.
Dginnie was grateful for that last point.
She had already discovered that Halven's idea of preparing for eventualities could encompass an astonishing range of possibilities.
She wasn't sure she wanted to investigate the full extent of it.
Not today, anyway.
"What about the egg?" she asked.
The doctor's expression became attentive.
"That remains one of our principal concerns. Your pregnancy is still in its early stages, and your body is adjusting to the demands of the two mate bonds, one of which is the more demanding dragon bond. We will review your condition immediately before the planned procedure and monitor you afterward. If there is any indication that proceeding would pose an unacceptable risk, we will postpone it and reassess the alternatives."
"And if I become unwell during it?"
"We stop and assess you. Your health is not secondary to the completion of Kael's rut."
Dginnie nodded slowly.
That was what she needed to hear.
Not a promise that nothing could go wrong, because no one could honestly promise that. She needed to know that the plan would change if circumstances changed, and that no one would expect her to endure something dangerous simply because they had already agreed to it.
"All right," she said. "I understand the plan now."
The doctor asked whether she had any further questions.
She did.
Several, in fact, though she decided that she would ask some of them privately rather than in front of both her mates. There were limits to how much embarrassment one person should be expected to endure in a single consultation.
For now, she asked about timing, preparation, and what they should do if Kael's symptoms worsened before the scheduled meeting.
The doctor answered each question patiently.
By the time the consultation ended, everyone had a clearer understanding of the plan and their respective responsibilities.
Kael was to remain under medical supervision and follow the adjusted medication schedule. Halven would arrange the shared mating room and ensure that the agreed safeguards were in place. Dginnie would have time to rest, review the instructions, and decide whether she still wished to proceed when the time came.
The final decision would remain hers.
When the call ended, Dginnie sat quietly for a moment.
Halven waited.
At last, she looked at him.
"Do you really have everything the doctor mentioned?"
"Yes."
"Everything?"
"I believe so."
She stared at him.
He met her gaze with impeccable composure.
"Would you like me to provide an inventory?"
"No!"
"Very well."
She covered her face again.
Somewhere at the back of her mind, she could almost imagine Kael laughing.
Almost.
She had the bond closed, after all.
------------------------------------
Chapter 57: The Quiet Before
On the day that the planned assistance to help Kael complete his rut, Dginnie found herself a bundle of nerves. She just couldn't settle down. And so, she had decided that a bath would help.
It was a perfectly sensible decision. She had spent the morning reviewing the medical instructions, checking that she understood the proposed arrangements, and reminding herself that she could change her mind if she needed to. There was only so much practical preparation a person could do before her thoughts began circling the same questions.
A bath, therefore, was the obvious solution.
She had her own bathroom, after all, complete with a bathtub that was more the size of a spa pool (although not as big as the one downstairs in the shared mating bathroom), complete with massaging water jets that she had admired when Halven first showed her around her wing. It was private, peaceful, and stocked with enough grooming products to supply a small beauty salon.
If there was ever a time to appreciate those amenities, this was it.
She selected a pleasantly scented bath preparation and lowered herself into the warm water.
For several minutes, she managed to think about nothing at all. She read the descriptions and directions of use on the product bottles. She played with the water jet modes. She held her breath and blew bubbles..
Then her thoughts returned to Kael.
She hoped he was feeling better. She hoped the adjusted medication would work. She hoped he wasn't sitting in his room worrying himself into knots over the possibility of losing control again.
She also hoped he wasn't thinking too much about the suggestions for how she could help him that the doctor had made during their consultation.
Dginnie sank a little deeper into the water.
Her cheeks warmed.
Furballs alive. She had actually agreed to participate in a medical procedure that involved doing all sorts of intimate things with her mate while another mate and a medical team stood ready to supervise. People were going to be watching.
Watching.
Argh!
She pressed her palms over her face.
It wasn't that she didn't want to help Kael. She did. She loved him, and the thought of him suffering while she remained safely tucked away in her wing had been unbearable.
But there was a difference between wanting to help someone and feeling prepared for every detail of how that help might be given. And also doing it in front of a live audience.
She had never imagined that becoming a mate would involve so much negotiation, medical terminology, and discussion of things she would previously have considered far too private to mention in polite company. Or do in front of polite company.
Then again, she had never imagined being transported to another world, either.
Her life had developed an unfortunate tendency to introduce her to new experiences without consulting her first.
At least this time, she had a say in what happened.
The thought steadied her.
And she could stop if she wanted to.
She repeated that to herself until it felt less like a reassuring phrase and more like something she genuinely believed.
Then she reached for the soap.
A little later, wrapped in a soft robe, she sat before the mirror and began drying her hair. The familiar routine helped. She combed through the damp strands, applied the products she liked, and took care of her skin with slow, deliberate movements.
She didn't need to hurry.
Nobody was going to grade her performance.
The thought made her smile.
She wondered whether Kael would be nervous enough to forget how to flirt. The image was so unexpected that she laughed aloud.
Then she imagined Halven, who could discuss an entire household's finances with the same composure he used to order lunch, trying to remain dignified while standing guard over a deeply personal medical procedure.
Her laughter became harder to suppress.
Perhaps they were both nervous.
Perhaps they were even more nervous than she was.
She had been so preoccupied with her own embarrassment that she had scarcely considered how the situation might feel to them.
Kael had already experienced the frightening side of losing control. He would be anxious about what his body might do, and he would have to trust Halven to intervene if necessary. For someone as physically confident as Kael, that might be difficult.
Halven, meanwhile, had accepted responsibility for keeping them both safe. He would have to monitor Kael without humiliating him, protect Dginnie without treating her as helpless, and remain alert while managing his own feelings.
Dginnie paused with the comb in her hand.
She hoped Halven wasn't feeling that he had been reduced to a glorified medical attendant.
She hoped Kael wasn't feeling ashamed.
And she hoped she could help them both understand that she loved them, even when circumstances became awkward.
She finished grooming herself, then selected comfortable clothing. She considered changing into something prettier, rejected the idea, and then reconsidered it.
After several minutes of indecision, she settled on something that made her feel attractive without being uncomfortable and could be easily removed if and when things heated up.
There.
One problem solved.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
"You're going to be fine," she told her reflection.
Her reflection looked unconvinced.
Dginnie sighed.
"Well, we're going to find out."
She checked that her communication device was within reach, took a final look around her private wing, and prepared to leave.
Before she did, she opened the mental connection to Halven just enough to send a small, tentative impression of affection.
His answering warmth came almost immediately.
She closed the link again before either of them could accidentally share anything more revealing.
That, she decided, was quite enough emotional communication for one morning.
---
Kael had taken two showers.
The first had been perfectly adequate.
The second had been an attempt to stop himself thinking.
It had not worked.
He stood in front of the mirror, examining his reflection with the sort of critical attention he usually reserved for a badly prepared report.
His hair was clean. His ears were brushed. His claws were neatly maintained, and the fur at his tail was smooth rather than dishevelled.
He looked fine.
He knew he looked fine.
He turned slightly to inspect his profile anyway.
The problem was not his appearance.
The problem was that he had never before had to prepare himself for a meeting quite like this one.
He was accustomed to his rut being a private matter, managed through the usual biological arrangements and medical precautions. He had not expected to fail to keep track of when his suppressant would wear out when he had been so concerned about Dginnie's mating with that stiff of a dragon. He certainly had not expected the resulting situation to leave him dependent on both his mates for a safe resolution.
He had been frightened when he realised that he was no longer thinking clearly.
He had been even more frightened afterward, when he understood how easily things could have gone wrong.
Dginnie had chosen to help him. She said she trusted him. Believed in him.
He was grateful beyond words.
He was also afraid of asking too much of her.
He could remember her face during the consultation, the way her embarrassment had grown as the doctor explained the proposed alternatives. He had wanted to reach through the screen and reassure her, but his own emotions had been surging through their new bond so forcefully that he had barely been able to think about anything else.
Then she had slammed the mental doors shut.
Kael winced.
He hadn't meant to overwhelm her.
He had simply wanted her so badly, missed her so much, and worried so deeply about what might happen that his feelings had escaped him before he could contain them.
He knew now that the bond did not give him permission to pour every emotion into her mind. If anything, it made restraint more important. How easy it would be to misuse the bond.
He would have to learn.
He would also have to accept that she might close the connection whenever she wished, even if he was lonely or frightened.
That was fair.
He didn't have to like it every time to recognise that it was fair.
Kael turned away from the mirror and dressed in comfortable clothing. He checked the medication schedule once more, then read the doctor's instructions again.
He knew what was expected of him.
He knew what to do if he began to feel that his control was slipping.
He knew that Halven would intervene if necessary.
What troubled him was the possibility that Dginnie might see him differently afterward.
Would she be afraid of him?
Would she feel that helping him had been a mistake?
Would he become another responsibility she had to manage, another person whose needs threatened to overwhelm her own? He had managed to priortise her needs over his when they were living together in the same dorm room. Why couldn't he do it now? What if he did become a burden to her?
He sat on the edge of the bed.
That last thought hurt.
Dginnie had spent so much of her life looking after herself. She had worked and studied, struggled through difficulties she rarely discussed, and learned to make do with what she had. He wanted to be someone who made her life easier, someone she could lean on without worrying that he would become another burden.
He did not want to be the reason she felt trapped.
His communication device lay beside him.
He picked it up and opened their conversation.
He typed:
[I'm looking forward to seeing you.]
He stared at the message.
It seemed too casual.
He added:
[I miss you.]
That sounded too needy.
He deleted both lines and started again.
[I hope you're feeling well. I'll see you soon.]
He stared at that one too.
It sounded like a message from a distant acquaintance.
"Furballs," he muttered.
He nearly threw the device onto the bed, but reconsidered when he remembered how expensive it was.
Finally, he sent a simple message.
[Thinking of you. I'll see you soon.]
It was honest. It was enough.
He put the device down before he could revise it again.
A moment later, a faint warmth brushed the edge of his awareness.
Dginnie.
The feeling was small and affectionate, gone almost as soon as he recognised it. He did not reach after her. He did not try to open the connection wider.
He simply sat still and let himself enjoy the knowledge that she had thought of him.
Then he stood, checked the instructions one last time, and prepared to leave.
He could be nervous and still do what needed to be done.
He could be frightened and still trust her.
And if she decided that she could not continue, he would respect that.
He repeated the last thought deliberately.
It was not a consolation prize.
It was part of loving her.
---
Halven had checked the shared mating room and it's adjacent bathroom three times.
The first inspection had been necessary. He wanted to make certain that the room had been prepared according to the medical team's instructions, that the necessary supplies were available, and that the doctors would have everything they needed.
The second inspection had been prudent.
The third was difficult to justify.
He stood beside the enormous bed, looking at the arrangements with a critical eye.
Everything was in order.
The bedding was clean and and smelling of the sweet boran blue that she loved. The temperature had been adjusted. The medical equipment had been checked, and the necessary supplies were arranged where they could be reached without difficulty. There was space for the medical team to work without crowding the bed, and the room remained comfortable rather than resembling a clinical examination chamber.
He had also ensured that Dginnie could leave the room whenever she wished without having to ask permission or explain herself.
The room was intended to be a shared space, not a place where she would feel confined by the expectations of her mates.
He had done everything he could think of.
So why was he still uneasy?
Halven adjusted an item that did not need adjusting.
He had always been good at preparation. He preferred to identify possible problems before they arose, make arrangements for contingencies, and ensure that the people depending on him had what they needed.
It was a useful habit in his professional life.
It was less useful when the problem involved people he loved.
There was no checklist that could guarantee Kael would remain in control. No amount of preparation could promise that Dginnie would not become frightened or uncomfortable. He could make the arrangements safer, but he could not remove every uncertainty.
He would have to respond to what actually happened.
He would also have to manage his own feelings.
He was not entirely pleased that circumstances had brought them to this point. He would have preferred Kael's rut to resolve without placing Dginnie under further strain, and he would have preferred to spend this period helping her recover rather than preparing to supervise an intimate procedure that he would not be participating in when he wished he would be the one on the receiving end of Dginnie's special care with the alternative options for intimacy.
Seeing Dginnie blush shyly while she performed them on him would be...
Ahem.
He was not proud of the small, possessive part of himself that wished Kael's needs would simply disappear for a few days.
But he was not going to pretend it did not exist.
He loved Dginnie. He enjoyed the time they spent together, particularly their conversations. During her recovery, they had found a comfortable rhythm that Halven had come to value more than he expected.
He wanted more of that time.
He also knew that Dginnie loved Kael, and that Kael was suffering.
The two truths were not mutually exclusive.
Halven could want Dginnie to himself and still choose to help the male she loved.
He could feel jealous without allowing jealousy to determine his actions.
He could be protective without treating her as incapable of making decisions.
And he could be nervous without trying to control every detail of the situation.
That last one was the most difficult.
He left the room and returned to his own bathroom to wash and dress. His grooming routine was ordinarily straightforward, but today he found himself paying unusual attention to the smallest details.
He adjusted his hair, inspected his horns, and considered his clothing. He decided to polish his horns again.
Formal attire seemed inappropriate.
Something too casual might suggest that he was not taking the situation seriously.
He selected a comfortable, well-fitting outfit, then changed it for another. And another. And another.
He stood in front of the mirror.
For a man who had once spent an entire afternoon negotiating a complex financial arrangement without losing his composure, he was behaving remarkably foolishly.
He changed back into the first outfit.
There. Decided.
His communication device signalled.
Kael had confirmed that he was ready to leave.
Halven replied that the arrangements were in place and that the medical team would meet them at the shared mating room.
Then he paused.
He wanted to check on Dginnie.
He could open the mental link and ask whether she was ready. He could reassure himself that she was calm and comfortable.
But she had already spent the morning preparing herself, and he knew she sometimes needed solitude to sort through her thoughts.
If she wanted to contact him, she could.
He would not turn the bond into another obligation.
Instead, he sent her a short message.
[Everything is ready. Take whatever time you need.]
He received no immediate response.
That was fine.
He put away his device, took one final look around, and left his room.
---
They arrived separately, though not by much difference in timing.
Dginnie entered the shared mating bedroom with Halven just as Kael arrived with a member of the medical team. The doctor and an assistant followed them inside, carrying the remaining equipment and confirming that the preliminary checks had been completed.
The enormous bed occupied much of the room.
Dginnie had once flopped onto it, rolled among the blankets, and wondered aloud how many people Halven had expected to accommodate.
At the time, the question had seemed amusing.
Now she was acutely aware of the bed, the medical supplies, the doctor, the assistant, and the two males she loved.
She was also aware of the fact that everyone seemed to have forgotten how to behave naturally.
Kael's tail moved behind him.
He noticed and tried to still it.
The tail moved again.
Dginnie pressed her lips together.
She was not going to laugh at him.
She was absolutely not going to laugh at him.
Then Kael looked at her, and she realised he was trying very hard not to laugh himself.
That nearly finished her.
"Hello," she said, in a voice that sounded rather more formal than she intended.
"Hello," Kael replied.
Halven glanced between them.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine," Dginnie said.
"Well enough," Kael answered at the same time.
They looked at each other.
"Good," Halven said.
There was a pause.
The doctor stepped forward and began reviewing the final instructions. Kael answered the questions about his medication and current symptoms. Dginnie confirmed that she understood the stopping procedure and knew how to communicate discomfort. Halven confirmed his responsibilities and repeated the conditions under which he would intervene.
Then they all took a deep, nervous, collective breath.
Their expressions were no where near calm.
Dginnie kept smoothing the front of her clothing. Kael's tail continued to betray his nerves. Halven, despite his immaculate composure, had clasped his hands behind his back with such precision that Dginnie suspected he was resisting the urge to rearrange the room again.
The doctor finished the review.
"Do any of you have further questions before we proceed?"
Dginnie opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then she asked, "Can I have some water first?"
"Of course," the doctor replied.
Halven immediately reached for the water.
Kael moved at the same time.
Their hands nearly collided.
Both withdrew.
"I can get it," Halven said.
"I was closer," Kael replied.
Dginnie looked at them.
Then she began to laugh.
It wasn't a particularly dignified laugh, but it was genuine. The absurdity of two powerful beastmen nearly getting into a disagreement over who should fetch her a glass of water had finally broken through her nervousness.
Kael laughed too, relief softening his face.
Halven regarded them both for a moment before his own expression relaxed.
"Perhaps," he said dryly, "we should establish that fetching water is not a competitive activity."
"Probably wise," Dginnie agreed.
She accepted the glass and took a drink.
For a moment, the three of them stood together beside the enormous bed, awkward and nervous and entirely aware that they were about to embark on something none of them had experienced in quite this way before.
But Kael was looking at her with affection rather than desperation.
Halven was watching both of them with concern rather than possessiveness.
And Dginnie knew that she could speak, ask questions, or change her mind.
She took another breath.
"I'm ready to listen to the final instructions," she said.
The doctor nodded and began.
This time, none of them tried to pretend that they were not nervous.
They simply listened.
-------------------------------------------
Chapter 58: Kael's Conclusion
When the doctor finishes, he and the medical team retreated to another room where refreshments and seats had been set up for them. On a display screen, they would be able to observe what was going on through the robot that had been designated to monitor the conditions of all three.
Without the medical team visibly hovering, the trio released the breaths they hadn't realised they'd been holding and relaxed a little.
"Hello, mate," Kael said to Dginnie after a long an awkward silence. "Long time no see."
His tail flirted with her, making her want to catch it.
"Hello, Kael," Dginnie said, trying not to keep staring at that tail that was trying to entangle her legs. "So... How have you been?"
Kael closed his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh.
"Great balls of fur. You know what, Dginnie? I'm going to hug you and kiss you. Alright?"
Dginnie opened up her arms.
"Go ahead," she invited. "I've missed your hugs and kisses. Just as much as I've missed your tail and ears."
Kael rushed over and scooped her up with a whoop, carrying her over to sit her in his lap on the bed, rubbing himself all over her. He draped his tail around her waist and after a slight hesitation, kissed her when she raised her face to him and pointed at her lips.
He allowed her to stroke and play with his tail and ears to his heart's delight, until she signaled she was ready for more.
Excited, he yowled to her an ancient snow leopard song, singing of how the his mate was better than rolling in the snow, back rubs against coarse barked tree trunks and the excitement of catching fish in icy streams.
Dginnie tried not to grimace at the sound, but hearing the words through the matebond, she also had to try to stifle even her internal laughter so that he wouldn't think she was laughing at him or disdaining his song. It was an ancient courtship song after all. It was wise to respect traditions.
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for Halven, he could turn off his hearing and hear the translation Dginnie shared with him through the matebond, sharing in her amusement. Dragons were definitely much better song writers and singers than snow leopards. One point to him.
To reciprocate the song, Dginnie thought for a bit and then sang him a romantic pop love song, which after she had sang through a few times at Kael's insistence, he learnt well enough to sing along in the chorus with her.
Great fur balls alive. His awful caterwauling was making her sing off tune.
Kael got so excited that he almost pounced on her, only to find a strong finger on his forehead preventing him from moving. Kael snapped out of his over excitement to see Halven's sombre face glare at him.
"Be gentle."
Coughing at the admonishment, Kael nodded and took a break from singing to take a sip from a glass of water, much to Dginnie's relief.
Recalling the mating rituals of snow leopards, Dginnie began to flirt with Kael, touching him with little strokes or tugging his tail, singing him a different pop song. A seductive one. A striptease one with little dirty dancing moves, beckoning him to follow.
Yowling with excitement, Kael leaped off the bed and was reminded with another finger poking his forehead, to restrain himself a bit before he could hurt Dginnie. Casting Halven a dirty look, Kael transformed into his snow leopard form, prowling after Dginnie, and pausing at each discarded article of clothing to drink in her scent.
Halven had to admit. Dginnie's dance and striptease was hot. He couldn't help loosening the collar of his shirt and undoing the top button. And then the second button.
Dginnie wanted to face palm. Faced with a stalking snow leopard, she just couldn't keep up the act anymore. Snow leopards didn't turn her on. Her interest was much more so in the beastman with a furry tail and ears.
She sent Kael a plea via the matebond, asking him to transform back, but he didn't seem to hear it. He continued to nuzzle the discarded clothes and then stalk toward her as if she were his prey, making her tremble.
Sniffing her fear, Kael paused with confusion, having trouble comprehending her words that were spoken aloud or through the matebond. He could only sense her fear and so he began searching for the source of danger.
Halven caught Kael while Dginnie escaped into the bathroom with her heart pounding. The call and follow part of the mating ritual was just too scary. She didn't know if she'd ever want to do that again. After all, Kael's full form as a snow leopard was almost twice her size.
Kael and Halven growled and snarled at each other, with Halven having to resort to basic beast speech using body language and tail before Kael stopped fighting him and sat back with confusion, trying to work out what was wrong. Halven explained to him with some frustration that he had scared his mate.
Scared his mate? No way. Kael was the handsomest and strongest snow leopard in these parts. No way his mate could be scared of him. She would be in awe of his strength and the beauty of his sleek body. She should be in love with his fluffy fur and his masculine scent.
"Wake up, you idiot. Change back," Halven ordered in basic beast speech. "Stay in human form or you aren't going to get any further with attracting your mate."
Kael's ears went back and he hissed at Halven.
Halven snarled back at him with frustration.
"Stop letting your instinctual rut overwhelm you. You're intelligent. Use your brain."
Huh? Intelligent? This mighty snow leopard was intelligent? Use his brain? Hmm. Yes. This magnificent snow leopard could do that. Just... How should he use his brain?
Halven rolled his eyes with a sigh and used the matebond to speak to Dginnie, giving her a suggestion.
Dginnie concentrated and sent Kael an image through the matebond. An image of Kael in his human form hugging Dginnie.
Oooh.
Kael almost drooled at the image. His mate wanted him to hug her like in this image. He could do that. He could.
There was a pause and crack of bones and joints. Kael combed back his blonde hair with his fingers and looked around the room for Dginnie. Where was she?
"Are you back with us now?" Halven talked to him in proper, ordinary speech. "You scared Dginnie when you transformed. You were stalking her like prey and she freaked out. You almost pounced on her again. If you harm the egg in her womb, I am not going to let you off. Do you understand me?"
Kael blinked and his reason came back to him with a snap. More like a stinging slap to the cheek. Right. No more transforming into his beast form. It was harder to think properly like that. He needed Dginnie. He couldn't afford to forgotten her like that again.
Kael crouched on the floor and rubbed his face vigorously to help anchor himself in the here and now.
"Sorry," he said to Halven. "Thank you for pulling me back out. It won't happen again."
"It better not," Halven hissed. "Otherwise I might use the tranquiliser gun on you early."
"No," Kael held up a hand. "Don't do that. Please. I'm sorry."
"The one you should apologise to isn't me. Hurry up and go to her. She's in the bathroom."
Kael rubbed his face again, took a deep breath and walked over to the bathroom door. He knocked.
"Dginnie, are you in there?"
There was silence on the other side of the door.
"Dginnie, it's me, Kael. Sorry. I'm sorry. I got overexcited and lost my head for a bit. It won't happen again. I'm sorry I scared you. Do you still want to try and continue or should we stop here?"
The bathroom door opened and revealed a teary eyed Dginnie.
"Kael? Are you alright? Can you continue?" she asked.
"I'm asking you and you're asking me?" Kael chuckled, holding out his arms.
"Then," Dginnie hesitated and then stepped into his embrace. "Then let's continue."
And she went up on her tiptoes to reach a kiss onto Kael's chin. It was the highest she could reach. Kael lowered himself down and caught her up into his arms. And then he kissed her soundly and passionately.
Honestly, he had the best mate ever in the whole wide world.
The rest of the session after this went relatively smoothly. With Halven stepping in to remind Kael to be gentle when he began to get too worked up and excited, everything went well.
They tried all sorts of things and enjoyed various new ways to stimulate and satisfy Kael, until Dginnie began to tire. Then, they cleaned themselves up in the bathroom and Kael hugged Dginnie to sleep in the bed, with Halven on Dginnie's other side, keeping watch.
The rut wasn't going to end with just one session in one day. It was going to take a few days before the snow leopard's rut would finally begin to settle.
So it was a few days later, Dginnie, Kael and Halven, were all relieved when Karl's rut finally ended naturally and without any fanfare. None of them had slept properly, especially Halven who had needed to remain alert and on watch for so long. Now that it was all over, all three were glad to just flop in the bed there and then to catch up on their sleep. They didn't stir when the medical team left and the medical team didn't want to wake them up either. They were tired too, although they had taken turns keeping watch. They left a message with the housekeeping robot and showed themselves out.
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Chapter 59: After the Storm
Dginnie woke to the uncomfortable realisation that she needed to use the bathroom.
Unfortunately, she was trapped.
There was a very large arm resting across her waist, a heavy tail curled over her legs, and something warm and solid pressed against her back. In front of her, Halven was lying on his side, apparently enjoying the deepest sleep she had ever seen him take.
She tried shifting.
The arm tightened.
Dginnie paused.
"Kael?"
A sleepy rumble answered her from behind.
"Kael, I need to get up."
His tail moved, but the rest of him did not.
"Bathroom."
That seemed to reach him. His arm loosened, and he made a vague noise that might have been an apology. Dginnie carefully extracted herself from his embrace, untangled her legs from his tail and slipped out of bed.
She was almost at the bathroom when she heard Halven's voice.
"Where are you going?"
She looked back. His eyes were barely open.
"To the bathroom."
"Very well."
He closed his eyes again.
Dginnie smiled and continued on her way.
By the time she returned, Kael had rolled onto his back. His ears were flattened, and his tail had fallen over the space where she had been sleeping. Halven had not moved at all.
She stood beside the bed for a moment, considering them.
They looked rather less impressive when they were asleep and rumpled.
She climbed back in, settling herself between them. Kael immediately shifted towards her, one arm finding her waist. Halven's hand came to rest lightly against her back.
For a little while, she simply enjoyed the warmth.
Then her stomach growled.
Loudly.
Kael's ears twitched.
"Are you hungry?" he mumbled.
"Very."
He opened one eye. "I'll get you something."
"You can barely keep your eyes open."
"I can still walk."
"That remains to be seen."
Halven made a quiet sound that might have been laughter.
Dginnie looked at him. "You're not much better."
"I am perfectly capable of walking."
"Then perhaps you could both demonstrate your impressive abilities by getting out of bed."
Neither moved.
She sighed.
"I'll call the housekeeping robot."
Kael finally lifted his head. "You don't have to get up again."
"I'm not getting up. I'm using the communicator."
He seemed satisfied with that arrangement and settled his head back down.
Breakfast arrived shortly afterwards. The robot brought several dishes, along with drinks and a selection of foods recommended for Dginnie's increased nutritional requirements. The sight of it all made her realise just how hungry she was.
Kael managed to sit up long enough to eat beside her. Halven took a little longer, though he eventually joined them.
"You should eat more," Dginnie told him.
Halven looked at his plate. "I am eating."
"You've been pushing food around for several minutes."
"I was considering something."
"Can you consider it after breakfast?"
Kael gave a quiet chuckle.
Halven glanced at him. "You seem unusually pleased with yourself."
"I'm not the one being told to eat."
"You're also not the one who has been awake for the better part of several days."
Kael's expression changed. "You should have slept."
"And left you two unattended?"
"We had the medical team."
"Who were monitoring you from the next room."
"They were watching the robot."
"And I was watching you."
Dginnie looked between them.
"Well, now I'm watching both of you. Eat."
For once, neither argued.
The medical team arrived later that morning. They examined Kael first, confirming that his rut had resolved naturally and that his body was recovering as expected. His hormone levels would need monitoring for a little while, but there was no indication that another intervention was necessary.
They also checked Halven, who was showing signs of accumulated fatigue rather than any particular medical complication.
Dginnie was examined last.
The doctor was pleased with her recovery. Her condition was stable, and there were no immediate concerns regarding the developing egg. Her appetite and nutritional needs would continue to be monitored, particularly as the pregnancy progressed.
"Does this mean I can return to my usual routine?" Dginnie asked.
"Gradually," the doctor replied. "Your recovery has been good, but you should still avoid exhausting yourself. Your body is adapting to several changes at once, and we don't yet know precisely how your nutritional requirements will develop."
Dginnie nodded.
"And the egg?"
"Developing as expected at this stage. We will need further assessments as time passes."
It was reassuring, though she found herself wishing the doctor could tell her more. There was still so much she didn't understand about what was happening inside her.
After the examination, the doctor gave Halven some additional recommendations and arranged the next review.
When the medical team finally departed, the three of them were left in the bedroom again.
Kael looked considerably more awake.
"Would you like to go for a walk?" he asked Dginnie.
"Perhaps later. I think I'd like to sit somewhere comfortable first."
"Your private wing?"
"Maybe the sitting room."
Halven offered his arm, and she took it. Kael followed them, his tail swaying behind him.
They settled into the sitting room, where Dginnie found a comfortable place on the sofa. Kael sat beside her, leaning close enough that she could stroke his ears. Halven took the chair opposite them.
For a while, they simply enjoyed being together without a medical team, a treatment schedule or the need to monitor anyone's condition.
Eventually, Dginnie looked at Kael.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Much."
"Really?"
He nodded. "I'm still tired, but the pressure is gone. My head feels clear again."
"Good."
Kael watched her for a moment.
"Are you alright?"
Dginnie knew what he was asking.
She reached for his hand.
"I'm alright, Kael."
"I frightened you."
"Yes, you did."
His ears lowered.
"But you stopped when Halven intervened. You listened, you changed back, and you apologised. I know you weren't trying to frighten me."
"I thought you'd like seeing me in my beast form."
"I do like seeing you in your beast form. I didn't like being stalked as prey."
He looked down at their joined hands.
"I understand that now."
"Besides, I rather like you with your ears and tail. You don't have to turn into a giant snow leopard to impress me."
His ears perked up.
"Really?"
"Really."
Kael smiled, and his tail curled around her ankles.
Halven watched them quietly. There was something reassuring about seeing Kael regain his usual confidence, though he was not entirely convinced the snow leopard would remember every lesson the next time his instincts became difficult to manage.
Dginnie turned towards Halven.
"And you?"
"Me?"
"You're exhausted too."
"I'll recover."
"That isn't what I asked."
He regarded her for a moment, then gave a small smile.
"I am tired. More than I would like to admit."
"Then you should rest."
"I intend to."
"Properly."
Kael chuckled. "She's giving you instructions now."
"Apparently."
Dginnie reached across and took Halven's hand.
"You looked after both of us. Let us look after you for a change."
His expression softened.
"That would be appreciated."
The afternoon passed quietly. Kael eventually fell asleep on the sofa, his head resting against Dginnie's shoulder. Halven went to retrieve a blanket and returned with one large enough to cover all three of them.
Dginnie settled back, allowing herself to be surrounded by their warmth.
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Chapter 60: A Dragon's Appetite Again
Halven had a great many documents open.
Some were medical records. Others were historical accounts, nutritional studies and old dragon clan references. There were also several messages waiting for replies.
He had been researching for much of the morning.
Dginnie, meanwhile, was sitting at the breakfast table, looking rather suspiciously at a bowl of food.
"Is something wrong?" Halven asked.
"I'm not sure."
He put down his reading device.
"Does it smell unpleasant?"
"No. It smells lovely."
"Then is it the taste?"
"I haven't tried it yet."
Halven waited.
Dginnie picked up her spoon, took a small mouthful and considered it.
"It's nice."
"Good."
She took another spoonful.
Then another.
Halven returned to his research, though he kept half an eye on her.
Her appetite had been increasing again. The medical team had warned them that her nutritional requirements might change as the egg developed, and he was determined to understand as much as possible before those changes became more pronounced.
He had already contacted his parents.
His mother had been delighted to hear from him, although her delight had quickly turned into a series of questions about Dginnie's health. His father had been more measured, but had promised to contact several members of the clan who maintained historical medical records.
There was a great deal of information available about dragon pregnancies.
Unfortunately, much of it was old.
The absence of dragon children for so many centuries meant that some of the records were incomplete, and many of the more recent medical recommendations were based on theoretical models rather than actual pregnancies.
A human carrying a dragon egg presented another difficulty.
The medical team could monitor Dginnie and the egg, but they needed to establish which traditional dragon recommendations were appropriate for her physiology and which might require modification.
Halven was not particularly fond of uncertainty.
He opened another document.
"Halven?"
He looked up.
"Yes?"
"Would it be possible to have something savoury?"
"Certainly. What would you like?"
Dginnie considered the question.
"I'm not sure. Something warm, perhaps. Maybe broth."
"I'll arrange it."
"And perhaps something with a little more substance in it."
"Of course."
She looked at the food in front of her.
"I seem to be hungry again."
"That is not unexpected."
"I only just ate."
"Your nutritional requirements are increasing."
"Apparently my stomach hasn't received the message that I had breakfast."
Halven smiled.
"I'll make sure the housekeeping robot understands."
He sent the request, then returned to his research.
A little later, Kael joined them.
He had been spending more time resting, although he was beginning to recover his usual energy. His ears were upright, and his tail moved with considerably more enthusiasm than it had the previous day.
"What's for lunch?"
Dginnie looked at him.
"Broth, apparently."
"Only broth?"
"Something more substantial is coming."
Kael sat beside her and looked at the documents on Halven's screen.
"Still researching?"
"Yes."
"Have you found anything useful?"
"Several things. Some of them contradict one another."
"That's helpful."
"Extremely."
Dginnie smiled.
"What are you researching?"
"Your nutritional requirements, primarily. There are several differences between a dragon pregnancy and what the medical team initially expected from your human physiology."
"Such as?"
"Mineral requirements, the development of the egg, and the relationship between the developing child and the mother's body. I am trying to establish which recommendations are appropriate for you."
Dginnie looked at the screen.
There were unfamiliar terms, diagrams and tables of nutritional measurements. She recognised a few things from her own studies, but most of it was well beyond her knowledge.
"Have you asked your parents?"
"Yes. My mother has already contacted several relatives. My father is looking through the clan's older records."
"Do they know much about human pregnancies?"
"Not particularly. They know about dragon pregnancies, and there are records of mixed ancestry, but your circumstances are unusual."
Dginnie looked down at her stomach.
It was still difficult to reconcile the ordinary appearance of her body with the knowledge that an egg was developing inside her.
An egg.
A dragon egg.
She had never imagined herself becoming pregnant in the first place, let alone carrying something that belonged to an entirely different species.
"Does it actually grow inside me for a whole year?" she asked.
Halven set his reading device aside.
"That is the expected development period, although the precise timing can vary."
"And then?"
"The egg will be ready to be delivered."
Dginnie blinked.
"Delivered."
"Yes."
"From me."
"Yes."
She looked at him.
"How?"
Halven paused.
"That is one of the matters I am still researching."
Kael's ears tilted forward.
"Perhaps we should ask the doctor to explain it again."
"They did explain the general process," Dginnie said. "I just don't think I properly understood it."
"Then we can ask again."
She nodded, though her expression remained thoughtful.
"And after that, the baby hatches?"
"Eventually," Halven replied. "The egg will require suitable conditions after delivery. There are several possibilities, depending on the development of the hatchling."
Dginnie looked between them.
"So I carry an egg for a year, then I have to look after an egg until it hatches?"
Kael grinned.
"That sounds about right."
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
"You're not the one carrying it."
His grin softened.
"No. I'm not."
He reached over and took her hand.
"We'll learn together."
Dginnie squeezed his fingers.
Halven watched them, then returned to his research. There was another matter he had been considering.
He had asked his parents about it indirectly, but had not yet received a satisfactory answer.
"By the way," he said, "there is another thing I wanted to ask you."
Dginnie looked up.
"Yes?"
"What do you know how to grow the plant you mentioned wanting on your bedroom balcony in your wing?"
She frowned slightly.
"Which plant?"
"The one you wanted. Lavender."
Dginnie's expression brightened.
"Oh! Not much, actually. I just like the look and smell of it. Can you get any for me?"
Halven exchanged a brief glance with Kael.
They had been searching for it.
The difficulty was that lavender was not a recognised plant in their society. It appeared in a handful of old stories and mythical botanical references, but none of the records provided a reliable description that would allow them to identify or cultivate it.
They had considered asking Dginnie for more information, but had hesitated.
She had spoken about it as though it were an ordinary plant. Perhaps she did not realise that it was not something they could simply purchase from a garden supplier.
"Not yet," Halven replied.
"That's a shame."
"We may be able to find something with similar properties."
"Something that smells like it?"
"Possibly. Which lavender smell are you seeking?"
He didn't know anything about lavender, but if it was like many other plants out there, there was sure to be more than one cultivar.
Dginnie thought about it and sent him the mental memory of how lavender looked and smelled via the matebond.
"Well, something similar would be nice. It doesn't have to be exactly the same."
Halven nodded, rubbing his chin as he observed and smelled the memory of the plant that she had sent him.
He had already considered finding something similar instead. A substitute might be available, although finding one with the right scent and properties could prove difficult. If it was a rare botanical product, it might also be expensive.
He did not want to make a fuss over something that might turn out to be a passing preference.
Nor did he want to ask Dginnie for too many details and discover that she had no idea how unusual her request was, although it made him wonder where she had come from to consider lavender a common plant.
For now, he would continue searching.
The housekeeping robot arrived with their lunch. Dginnie immediately looked more interested in the food than in the conversation.
Kael leaned over to inspect the dishes.
"That looks good."
"It is good," Dginnie agreed.
Halven watched as she began eating. He was pleased that her appetite was improving, although he would have preferred a little more consistency in what she wanted.
He made a note to ask the medical team whether there were any particular foods they should keep readily available.
After lunch, Dginnie settled down with her study materials. Halven returned to his research, and Kael found something to occupy himself nearby.
It was a quiet afternoon.
But Halven's mind kept returning to the same thought.
The pregnancy was still in its early stages, and already there was so much they did not know.
He had expected to become a father one day. He had not expected that the first child would arrive under such unusual circumstances, nor that the mother would be someone whose species had almost no recorded experience of carrying a dragon egg.
He looked across the room at Dginnie.
She was concentrating on her work, occasionally pausing to take a drink or eat a little of the food that had been left nearby.
He would have to make sure she had everything she needed.
Not simply for the egg.
For herself.
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