Page 352 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Not happening,” Ash growled.

“Then stop snarling and making it feel ice-cold in here,” Isnapped back.

Crossing his arms, Ash said nothing. He would not make thatpromise.

I sighed, refocusing on the Healer. “I’m sorry. You weresaying?”

A small grin appeared. “Have you experienced any breasttenderness?” he asked.

“A little bit today and on and off,” I said. “Nothing toobad.”

“Good,” he replied, sitting down on the chair that had beenmoved close to the bed. “It’s common, as well as seeing an increase in theirsize as the pregnancy continues.”

Ash’s brows rose slightly, and a half-grin appeared.

I shook my head. “What about the nausea?”

“Mortals tend to see a lessening in that toward the end ofthe first trimester. Gods aren’t much different, though it tends to last a fewweeks to a month longer.” He glanced at the bound pad of paper he’d pulled fromthe satchel earlier and laid on the bed. “From what I have read, it is roughlythe same for Primals.”

“That is good news, then,” I said.

Kye nodded. “You can sit up now if you’d like.”

I sat up, crossing my legs at the ankles. Ash immediatelysat behind me, looping an arm around my waist. I was irritated with how he wasbehaving, but I still leaned into him.

“From what I can tell, everything seems fine,” he said.“Your heart rate is normal for a Primal, as is your blood pressure.”

I still had no idea how he was able to figure out thepressure by pushing on my pulse and watching me closely, but I would have totake his word for that.

“Now, in terms of what to expect. I want to be upfront withboth of you,” he began. “It has been over two centuries since a Primal has beenwith child, and unfortunately, any who may have cared for your mother, Nyktos, are no longer with us. What I know is from notesfound while serving in Kithreia and from what I foundin the city athenaeum. I believe there is more to be found at Mount Lotho. I would like to go there as soon as possible.”

“I…I’m not sure if that is wise right now,” I said and feltAsh gearing up to argue.

“I’m aware of what is going on and understand the risks,”Kye said. “Discovering what I can is worth it.”

“You may leave whenever you wish to do so,” Ash said, and mylips pursed. “We will make sure you are well guarded.”

I relaxed a little upon hearing that.

“Thank you.” Kye bowed his head at Ash.

“What can you tell us now?” he asked.

“From what I know, the first and second trimester ofpregnancy for a Primal is not that much different than that of a god. It isdifferent for a mortal, but that is neither here nor there,” he said, restinghis elbows on his bent knees. “It is the third trimester when things tend toget…tricky.”

“What do you mean?” Ash stiffened behind me.

“As the babe—or in your case, babes—grow in size, they takemore nutrition and blood from the mother, as well as eather.In fact, the essence will serve the needs of the babe first before the mother.That starts at conception but will become more so as the pregnancy progresses.”

Ash’s arm tightened around my waist. “Is that why herbruises still haven’t healed completely?”

The Healer nodded. “With you having two to care for, it willtake much more from you, leaving you weakened and unable to recover as quicklyas you normally would. That is the biggest threat as you enter the thirdtrimester, and I cannot stress more the dangers involved in that time. You willbecome, in a way, as close to a mortal as you will ever be again. I recommendnot using the essence for anything unless absolutely necessary. You will needevery bit of it to ensure the babes are growing and healthy and to keepyourself well enough to bring them into this realm.”

I could feel Ash’s heart pounding faster against my back asI pressed my lips together.

“Injuries you would normally heal from could put you intostasis, where your body would not be getting enough of what it needs.” Kye tooka deep breath. “You would lose the babes if that happened.”

A dark, ominous sound rumbled from Ash, and my heartlurched. I reached down and placed my hand on his where it was flattenedagainst my lower stomach. “But this is not something to really worry aboutuntil the third trimester, right?”

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