Page 353 of Born of Blood and Ash

“It is something to be aware of now,” he said carefully.“But again, it is more of a concern as the pregnancy progresses.”

Okay. That was…good news. Kind of. I moved on. “What aboutfeeding?”

“As long as you are receiving nourishment through your ownfeedings and eating well, it is okay until you enter the third trimester.” Helooked up at Ash. “At that point, I recommend finding a donor.”

Well, we already had one of those.

I wiggled a little, uncomfortable with that, but there wasstill a huge sense of relief. This meant I could still Ascend the gods I neededto.

“The stronger the better,” Kye continued. “Another Primal,if possible.”

Uh…

“Consider it done,” Ash stated, and I jerked my head back tolook at him. He ignored my look. “What about taking on the nota form?”he asked. “She’s done that twice since we’ve conceived, but before we knew shewas pregnant.”

“You shifted forms so soon? Remarkable,” Kye murmured,smiling at me. “I have found nothing regarding that. I hope that is informationI can find at Mount Lotho, but I would recommend notdoing it again if at all possible, and absolutely not after the thirdtrimester. That, logically, would present the largest risk of doing so.”

“Makes sense,” I murmured, imagining me attempting to shiftforms with a stomach three times the size it was now. I glanced back at Ash.“Is it possible for the essence to protect them—the babes?”

“I have seen it happen with gods,” he said. “Usually insevere cases. In a way, the eather seeks to protectand provide for the most vulnerable aspect of your being. It would be the samefor a Primal.”

I nodded and looked down to where Ash’s and my hands rested.Knowing the eather would seek to protect them firstbrought forth a rush of relief.

“There is something I want to touch on,” Kye said. “Sinceyou were born mortal, I believe it would be wise if you gave birth as those whowere once mortal do. Not all of them do this, but most choose to give birth inthe mortal realm. It’s a bit of a tradition.”

“Is there a reason for that?” Ash asked with a frown.

“That’s a complicated answer.” A faint smile appeared. “Itis believed that doing so pays respect to where they’ve come from by linkingthe next generation to the mortal realm. I have seen no…scientific evidenceexplaining why those born mortal have easier deliveries in the mortalrealm, but they do. There must be something to it.”

I glanced at Ash. “What do you think?”

“I think I want whatever is best for you and our babes,” heresponded. “If that means giving birth in the mortal realm, then so be it.”

Plans were then made for Kye to travel to Lotho with one of the guards.

“There’s just one last thing.” Kye rose, picking up the padof bound parchment. “If you are injured,” he said, halting as a low growl camefrom Ash. The Healer swallowed, shoving the pad into his satchel. “I want tocheck you over, no matter how minor the injury is.”

“She will not be injured,” Ash stated, and I tensed. “But,in the unlikely event that it happens, we will contact you.”

“Good.” Kye drew the strap of his satchel over his head.“Now, if anything happens that concerns you—either of you,” he said, glancingat Ash, “please summon me immediately.”

“Is there anything we should be keeping an eye on?” I asked,unfolding my legs and turning so they hung off the bed. “Because I’m prettysure everything will concern me.”

The Healer smiled knowingly. “It’s normal to be anxious whenexpecting, especially when it’s your first go at this, but one thing to keep awatch for is bleeding. Light spotting is normal, but anything more than that, Iwant to know. Severe stomach pain is another thing, or if the nausea worsens tothe point where you cannot keep food down. As the pregnancy progresses, therewill be other things to keep an eye on, but right now, those are the things Iwant to know about immediately if they occur.”

There were more things to potentially worry about? Great.

“If something like that occurs, does that mean the pregnancyis…?” Ash drew in a deep breath and shifted so he was sitting beside me. “Is injeopardy?”

“Not always,” Kye said. “It doesn’t mean the babes will belost, but it can be a cause for concern.”

My heart dropped. “Could anything be done, or could I…?” Itrailed off, instinct telling me that even as the true Primal of Life, therewouldn’t be anything I could do.

The Primal Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Fertility wasanother story. However, the vadentia alsowarned me that a Primal intervention could incite the Fates’ ire.

“Depending on the issue, there are things. Treatments.Certain action plans.” His smile was kind and patient. “But do not stressyourselves over something that has yet to come and likely will not occur. Youboth have enough on your plates. You don’t need unnecessary stress.”

Ash slid me a sideways glance, and we both knew thatunnecessary worry and me were like two peas in a pod.

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