Between Shadow & Ruin (Fangs & Fae Saga Book 2)

forty-eight.

Another week went by with little sign of the darkness escaping and we were starting to wonder if Odie was going to have to do anything at all. Every time we'd gone down to check on it, it was moving wildly, but never did anything. Zane and I were also the only ones affected by it – hearing it antagonize us and making us feel like garbage. Chris and Val felt uneasy around it, but never to the extent that Zane and I did. We decided he and I couldn't go down there anymore for fear that it may really get into our heads.

Celia had come through a portal and found me on the porch, reading a book. She put her hand on my shoulder, and I sat up, bearing my fangs, wondering who was there.

"Celia! What the hell? I almost killed you..." I said, retracting my fangs, and standing up to greet her properly.

"I'm sorry," she said, laughing. "I thought Zane or Val would've told you I was coming."

"No. They must've forgotten. They went to the store with the kids – Chris is still at work. I didn't hear you either – I get really into my books. What's up?"

"I just wanted to check on you. See the baby's progress and how you were dealing with everything."

"I'm... I'm dealing with it. I'm not trying to kill my family anymore, so I guess that's good." I put the book on the table as we headed inside. We started to walk upstairs to the room. "Also, I told the kids, so I feel a lot better about not hiding this from them."

"How did they take it?"

"The twins were excited. Odie... was Odie. He's really stressed about this fight that just never seems to get here. I don't want to break that darkness out and force him to fight it, but we're not sure what's happening right now."

"I don't think you should worry about it, Liz... I know, it's your son, but for the sake of the child you're carrying, you should try to lower your stress."

"Celia, I understand that. But I'm also a Magister. While the Imperator knows of my situation, I still have a certain amount of responsibilities and an image to uphold. I'm keeping as 'low stress' as possible." We reached my room, and she laid out a white sheet across the bed again as I took my clothes off.

"I know. It's just... my medical opinion. I understand. How is everything else?"

"Everything else is pretty good, why?"

"Have you had sex at all?"

"Excuse me?" I asked, taken aback by her question.

"Have you?"

"Val and I tried the night we found out about me losing one of the babies, and then Chris and I did during my rehabilitation. Why?"

"And it was enjoyable?" Is she asking if I had an orgasm? Because I had plenty but why the hell does she want to know?

"Yeah, I would say so... Celia, why are you asking me about my sex life?" I was feeling a bit awkward as I was now completely naked from the waist down and lying down on the bed with my legs bent.

"I just wanted to make sure that you were being taken care of. I've had five kids and having sex while pregnant feels amazing as well as making the birthing process easier when you get to that point. My inquiry is purely medical, I promise," she said, smiling at me. I didn't feel like she was entirely truthful. Her hands were warm as I felt them on my skin as she checked on the baby's progress. We were silent as she did so.

"...Everything okay?" I asked, finally.

"It looks like the baby is developing well. You're six weeks now, yeah?"

"Yeah," I said, sitting up. "And you're sure everything's okay?"

"Positive, Liz. The baby looks great. They've taken to your body very well. I'm sorry what you had to go through, but this one is doing well." I let out a deep breath. "Would you like me to wait with you until everyone else comes back from the store?"