20. Drew

“How bad is it, Dr. King?”

“Your baby is doing fine, if that’s what you’re asking about. But if you were to have fallen and hit your head or your stomach on something sharp, it could have been very bad.”

I sighed. It was always something, wasn’t it. Why did I have to be the one to have the terrible pregnancy? I wanted children desperately. And of course, that meant I was going to have to fight every step of the way to get them.

“So what’s the plan?”

“You will get fluids,” Dr. King said as he held up an IV line that was attached to a needle. I sighed and held out my arm.

“And after the fluids? Will this be an always thing?”

“No. Right now, because you passed out and your blood pressure is low, we will give you fluids and then monitor you more closely going forward. You will need to be watched closely because a fall could be dangerous for not only you but your baby as well.” Dr. King expertly slid the needle into my vein, and after a moment, he removed the needle and left the catheter in. He placed a piece of tape on it and then opened the IV. I felt a coolness in my arm and closed my eyes. It was a very new feeling and one I wasn’t sure I wanted to repeat.

I’d already been taking things easy, and now that this had happened, I knew Sebastian was going to worry more. I couldn’t seem to catch a break.

“How do I make sure my blood pressure doesn’t fall like this again?”

“You can’t completely.” Dr. King sat back in his chair, which magically always seemed to appear when needed. It would be concerning if he wasn’t a warlock. “I know you already eat smaller meals more frequently. You need to increase your fruits and vegetables. I want you to drink the non-sleepy-time tea at least twice a day in addition to the sleepy-time tea. Add fruit juice to your breakfast meal if you already aren’t drinking it. And of course water. Fluids, rest, and plenty of fruits and vegetables should help with it.”

I moaned. “I’m already running to the bathroom multiple times a day. What’s a few more?”

Dr. King chuckled. “Unfortunately, that tends to be a symptom of pregnancy all across the board.”

I nodded and closed my eyes. “Did you put something in the IV, Doc?”

Dr. King chuckled. “Just saline fluids. Your body is tired because it’s growing a whole other person. Low blood pressure will also make you tired. Take a little nap, and when you wake up, you will most likely feel better.”

I nodded again, at least I thought I did. I couldn’t tell, actually. I felt a blanket covering me and then nothing. When I woke, it was to someone running their fingers through my hair. My nose told me it was Sebastian, and I could feel his body heat beside me. I turned my head toward him and moaned.

“There you are, my heart.”

I grinned. I liked it when he called me that.

“I love you, Drew. So much.”

I opened my eyes and blinked. I found myself staring at Sebastian’s neck and shoulders, which wasn’t uncommon since he was so much taller. I’d somehow slid down the bed and was no longer lying on the pillow. I looked up at my mate and smiled. “I love you too. How long was I out?”

“Only about an hour. Dr. King left once the fluids were finished. Everyone else is downstairs. Caspian and Lorenzo are keeping our fathers occupied.”

I tried to sit up, but Sebastian pulled me back down. “I need to pee, Seb. Fluids. Lots of fluids.”

Sebastian immediately was up and had me in his arms. I would have complained about him carrying me to the bathroom if not for the fact that I’d just fainted not long ago, and I knew that was why he was doing it. He needed to ensure both me and our baby were safe.

Sebastian set me down in front of the toilet, and I wasn’t even fazed when he helped me pull down my sleep pants and my underwear. I sat down and sighed in relief almost immediately. Sebastian’s eyes widened when he realized just how badly I needed the bathroom. When I was finished, we got me situated, my hands washed, and then Sebastian helped me out of the bathroom.

“Did you want to rest more, or are you up for going downstairs?”

“I need to go see your family. I realize they traveled by magic and it took them a second, but they did rearrange their schedules to come all the way over here and see us. I need to at least say hello again. And apologize in person.”

Sebastian stopped, halting my progress toward the door since I was holding on to his arm for support. “You do not need to apologize,” he told me when I met his eyes. “You have done nothing wrong. My parents are both not only sorry for how they’ve reacted to our mating but also worried about you and the baby. They realize just how serious your condition is now.”

I sighed. “I wish I hadn’t fainted. The room just got so spinny, and then it felt like my body was really heavy, and then my hearing was as if I was underwater or something. Then it just became dark.” I never wanted to experience that again.

“Yes, and if you would have had that all open to me, I could have caught you sooner—before you fainted.”

He wasn’t wrong. “I have most things open to you.”

“I want all, Drew. I need to know what you’re feeling, what you’re experiencing, so I can be here to help you. You are my One, my forever, and I am here to take care of you. That’s how it is.”

I sighed but nodded. He was right. I needed to make sure I let him do what he needed. “All right. I’ll open everything up. But don’t be mad, okay?”

Sebastian gave me a look, and I shook my head. I wasn’t going to open anything until after he agreed. Was that fair? No. But I didn’t need him to know just how dizzy I’d been. I’d been able to take care of it myself by staying on the couch. I only got up when absolutely necessary if someone wasn’t here with me.

Sebastian finally sighed. “Fine. I won’t be upset. I have a feeling I’ll regret saying that, but I just need to know you are all right, Drew. That’s it. And I can’t do that if you keep things from me.”

I felt bad. I’d had the best intentions, but I had hidden things from him simply because I didn’t want him to worry more. I opened everything up to him, keeping my eyes on Sebastian the entire time. I watched a myriad of emotions on his face, and when he finally looked at me again, he looked sad.

“Why would you hide that from me?”

“Because you worry so much. I know you are supposed to, but I feel bad about it because I’ve been nothing but a pain since we’ve mated. I was sick, and then sick again, and now this. You’ve not had anything positive about our mating since the beginning, and that’s unfair. I want you to be happy and enjoy being with me, not see me as a burden that you always have to take care of.”

“Oh, cutie. You are my heart. My everything. It is a pleasure to take care of you. Sick, healthy, upset, happy. It doesn’t matter. That’s all I want to do, is to give you the world. If that means I am taking care of you while you’re pregnant because pregnancy is difficult for you, then I’ll drop everything and do whatever I can to make you as comfortable as possible. That’s part of being mated. Especially for someone in my position in the relationship. Any alpha would do the same, well, one worthy of the space he’s occupying.”

I smiled at that. I wrapped my arms around Sebastian and held him tightly. “I love you,” I mumbled into his chest. I felt Sebastian’s fingers in my hair again.

“I love you too. Please let me take care of you. It’s what I’m wired to do.”

I sighed as I nodded. “I’m sorry, Sebastian. I didn’t mean to keep things from you. I just don’t want to make you feel like I’m not worth it.”

Sebastian let go of my shoulder and reached for my face. When he tilted it upward, I met worried eyes. “You will always be worth everything. I know you’ve had a very difficult life up until recently, and I realize I can’t change it. But I want nothing more than to make it amazing going forward. Sure, we will have some bumps along the way, and pregnancy seems to be one of them. But I’m more than ready to take care of you as well as spoil you. Let me?”

I loved this man so much. I didn’t know that was even possible, but it was. I nodded because I had suddenly become too emotional to answer. I closed my eyes, a tear running down one side, but Sebastian’s thumb wiped it away before it could get far. His lips touching my forehead had me opening my eyes as he stood up. “I love you too, and I’ll be better about keeping everything open to you. It didn’t mean anything against you when I did.”

“I know, which is why I’m not upset. I just want to give you everything I can, and I can’t do that if you keep things from me.” Sebastian wrapped his arms around my shoulders and held me. “Now, let’s start fresh and put that all behind us. We’ll go forward with you letting me take care of you while spoiling you to the absolute best of my abilities, and I will accept all of your love. Sound good?”

I still felt he was getting the shorter end of the bargain, but I wasn’t going to disagree. I nodded, and when Sebastian leaned down and kissed me, I moaned into it. I would never tire of his attentions, and he was the absolute best kisser, in my opinion. He kept it soft, not pressing for more than just a simple touching of our lips. I didn’t mind, though, and understood why. He had family downstairs, and we needed to get to them.

“Are you ready to go back down to your family?” I asked when Sebastian stood up.

“They’re your family now too. But yes, I guess I am. Do you want me to carry you down the stairs? Or perhaps pop us down there?”

“Can you just pop us down to the bottom of the stairs? I’m feeling a lot better, but I know you’re worried. I can walk from the bottom of the stairs to the back room.”

Sebastian didn’t give me warning, just tightened his arms around me, and then we were downstairs. I heard the others quietly talking about their plans for later this fall. I didn’t quite understand that those plans revolved completely around Sebastian, me, and our child, but as we got closer, they were discussing finding a house in the area as an additional place to spend part of the year.

Arturo was the first to spot us and was immediately on his feet and moving toward us. When he was standing in front of me, he tentatively held out his arms. “Is a hug acceptable? I do not wish to overstep.”

I grinned as I walked into Arturo’s embrace. He held me tightly, and although he was talking to Sebastian, I couldn’t understand him. I really needed to be awake long enough to learn Spanish.

“You are feeling better?”

I nodded. “I am. I didn’t mean to frighten everyone. I’ve not fainted before, and I don’t really want to do it again.”

Arturo smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“He’s fine, Papa,” Sebastian said. “He’s not just saying that so you won’t worry. I’m sure he realizes you’re going to worry no matter what.”

Arturo nodded. “I will.” He shrugged. “It is part of being an omega, especially to one with three sons.” Arturo took my hand. “Come. We’ll sit while Sebastian gets you a snack. You can tell me all about how my son has been treating you. I’ve raised all of them to be gentlemen, and I succeeded with two, I believe.”

I chuckled at that as we walked past Lorenzo, and Arturo gave his middle son a look. I’d heard about Lorenzo’s playboy ways. I honestly thought it was funny, and really, what harm was it doing? It was my understanding that he didn’t commit, and everyone knew that going in. I grinned at the alpha, hoping he knew I didn’t think less of him simply because he liked to have fun. I found that I very much enjoyed sex once I’d experienced it with Sebastian.

“Tell me a little about you,” Arturo said as we sat down.

“Papa,” Sebastian said in a warning tone.

“?Qué?”

“Asking Drew about himself is not him telling you how I’ve been treating him. Don’t pry into personal business.”

Arturo waved his hand but then looked back to me with a hopeful look on his face. I really liked him and grinned back.

“There isn’t much to tell, actually. I don’t know who my parents are,” I said. I shrugged. Arturo’s hand tightened on mine. I looked up at him, and he now looked horrified.

“How? Did they pass away?”

I shrugged again. “I’m not sure. I grew up in the foster care system. It wasn’t nice. I made it through though, and then I kinda wandered a bit before I ended up here.” I left it at that. I didn’t want to go into too many details because I really didn’t want Sebastian’s family to look down on me. As it was, I couldn’t look at his father. I could feel his stare, but I wouldn’t look his way. I didn’t need to see the judgment I was sure was there in his gaze.

“Papa,” Sebastian said again, this time a bit more sternly. “Accept that and leave it be.” Sebastian held out my favorite snack. I loved yogurt with fruit and granola. I didn’t know where he got all of it, but I didn’t care. It was my absolute favorite, and I would eat it with every meal and snack. I looked up at Sebastian when he simply stood in front of me. “Eat all of it if at all possible,” he said with a gentle smile on his face.

“I will.” I took the bowl with a smile.

“You like fruits?”

I glanced at Arturo and nodded. “I do. I hate to admit it, but I have a serious sweet tooth. Sebastian has been good for me, though, because he always offers some sort of fruit when I crave chocolate. I still get chocolate, but only every so often.”

Arturo gasped beside me. I looked up at my father-in-law, confused. “Why do you treat him so?”

I looked back at Sebastian, who had sat on my other side. He was rolling his eyes. “I’m not mistreating him at all.”

“You forbid chocolate?”

I snorted, then chuckled. I realized both Sebastian and Arturo were both looking at me. I took another bite of my snack and made a production of chewing. I looked across the way to Caspian for help. He gave me a wink before he leaned forward.

“Papa, Drew didn’t say that Sebastian forbids him from eating chocolate. He helps him limit it, which is probably better for the baby right now.”

I took another bite of yogurt, hoping to stay out of things. I heard Arturo say something under his breath but couldn’t understand him again, so I didn’t even try.

“Very well. Favorite fruit, then?”

That I could answer. I finished the bite of food I was chewing and nodded. “I like so many, but I’m especially fond of grapes and strawberries. Blueberries are good as well.”

“All good.” Arturo looked toward his mate, and although Benedict didn’t say anything, I could tell they were conversing through their bond.

I finished my snack, and held the bowl out to Sebastian. He didn’t even move, the bowl simply disappeared. In its place was now a mug, and my mood plummeted when I realized what it was.

“But I don’t want a tea. I already napped, and you know it makes me sleepy,” I said as I looked toward him.

“This is the other tea. Dr. King said you need to have it twice a day now as well. Now is a good time to start. Then we’ll see about moving your after-dinner tea to right before bedtime to help you sleep better.”

I sighed and grabbed the tea tighter. I hated sleeping so much. All I ever did was sleep, it seemed.

“Sebastian said you worked at the council’s store,” Benedict said.

I glanced his way and nodded quickly before looking back down into my mug. “I did, yes. I’m not able to at the moment, but I might go back after the baby is born.”

Sebastian placed his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. I took a sip of tea before I closed my eyes and leaned into his side. He was so safe, so absolutely perfect for me. He always made sure I had what I needed, despite what else was going on.

“Do you not wish to be home with the baby?” Arturo asked.

I looked over at him and tried to smile. “I do. But I—”

“No but,” Arturo interrupted. “You stay home. You see these men? They take care of us. We take care of the babies.” Arturo patted my thigh. “I teach you.” I felt Sebastian’s chest shaking and rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Do you want more babies? Sebastian says this may be your only one.”

The chest immediately stopped shaking. I leaned forward, placed the mug on the table, then turned to glare at my mate. “Only one? We agreed on several.”

Sebastian held up his hands. “That was before you became so sick. Do you honestly want to have more children after everything you’ve gone through?”

“Of course. We agreed. Now you’re saying only one?” I was hurt.

“My heart, I’ll have as many with you that you want. I made that comment when you had just fainted, and I was terrified. We can of course talk about this more later, but I’m open either way.”

Sebastian gave his papa another glare. Now definitely wasn’t the time to discuss more children, that was for sure. I sat back, not completely comfortable in the room at the moment.

“Arturo is right, Drew,” Benedict said. I forced myself to look at Sebastian’s sire but couldn’t hold his gaze. Instead, I stared at his shoulder. “He should take care of you, especially since you are the one doing all of the hard work. It would appear he’s been doing a good job of that so far though, which is a good thing. His papa there would chew him out if he didn’t.”

I nodded. “He has. He is.” I glanced up at Benedict, holding his gaze for a moment before dropping my eyes yet again. It was so different with Sebastian or even Caspian. I wasn’t sure what it was about Benedict that made me uncomfortable. I was sure that my mate and his brother were just as powerful, but yet I was comfortable around them and not Benedict. I knew he’d picked up on it, and it made absolutely no sense since my first meeting with him was of me chewing him out for how he’d treated my mate.

“Relax,”Sebastian told me through our bond. “Why are you uncomfortable?”

“I’m not sure. I feel like I’ve been judged and found lacking. I want them to like me, and already I’ve chewed your sire out for how he treated you. That’s not a good way to make a good first impression.”

“It’s an excellent way to make a good first impression. He likes you, and he was worried about you just as much as Papa and my brothers. Father is just a bit more reserved. He’s had a lot of responsibilities in his life, and that can make him a bit serious at times.”

I nodded. That made sense.

“You are a cheetah. Do you like to run? They’re built for running,” Arturo asked, breaking into my conversation with Sebastian.

“I do. I can’t right now,” I said, rubbing my rounded stomach. When I did, the baby moved, and I placed my hand there to press against where the baby was now kicking. When my hand didn’t move, Sebastian’s joined, and he leaned in and kissed the top of my head while feeling the baby kick.

“The baby is moving?”

I grinned over at Arturo. “Yes. You want to feel?” I asked. You would have thought I’d just gifted him the most precious thing in the world. Arturo’s face lit up, and he held out a hand. I took it, placing it where Sebastian’s was just at, and when the baby kicked again, Arturo gasped.

“Oh, sweet baby.” I helped move Arturo’s hand around as the baby moved as well. “The baby is active.”

I smiled at my father-in-law. “Yes. Especially after I have a snack. I was expecting the kicking. Sebastian and I like to guess where the baby will kick next.”

“The kicking is good. Thank you for that gift.”

I grinned at him. “You’re welcome.”

I happened to meet Benedict’s gaze when I was turning my head to look up at Sebastian. He smiled at me, and I felt something inside me shift toward the older warlock. Maybe I’d eventually be comfortable around him. Time would tell.