Page 104 of Bred by the Alien Prince

"Ah... okay. I hate touchy-feely aliens." She wiped her hands, and I wanted to slap her, but then again, considering how I must have looked and maybe even smelled, I guess I couldn't blame her.

She directed us to the back of the store, informing us about the type of clothing that would be expected out of us from the morning up until the evening ball. Apparently, I needed at least four different outfits, one for tonight and three for tomorrow. I stood on the podium while she scanned my body with some sort of device, which she explained was to take my measurements, and she headed to the front of the store to 'throw something together for tonight' with the promise she would deliver my other clothing in the morning.

This was already stressful. Lorvian and the others were picking out their own outfits, and the child Duero poked and prodded at the dresses until one worker shooed him away. It was perhaps the only childlike action I've seen out of him since I first saw him, but then again, what else could the kid do onboard a ship? Maybe I should stop being so creeped out by him and give him more of a chance. Maybe we can pick up some Valisian games or whatever these kids here like to play.

The woman returned with a black and gold tunic and pants cut and let out to fit my frame. "It's perfect," I said, feeling comfortable and less like someone who escaped an insane asylum. They then told me to sit while another brushed my hair and braided it up into a style while they trimmed my nails. It was embarrassing how much dirt I let get under them, although I washed my hands.

Lorvian entered my little area dressed in a sharp black suit, his long hair draped over his cape. Zai was behind him, his black hair neatly combed but dressed in a black leather cloak and simple pants. And they dressed the boy in a small suit like Lorvian's but without the cape attached.

"Wow," I breathed. "You look good!"

"And you look beautiful." Lorvian leaned in to kiss me, but a woman pushed him off.

"Don't ruin the gentleman's luster." Heime cackled at the rebuff by her workers.

Lorvian stood back and sighed. "Now I know why I never return home," he said, but with no malice.

"I'm sure you've dirtied him up plenty of times," Heime laughed. "Enough for two of those suckers to be growing in there." She pointed towards my belly.

"What?!" I exclaimed. "Two?"

"Oh yeah. I had them myself," she said proudly. "Your belly is already dropping." She came over and felt my lower stomach. "You should get yourself examined by one of our doctors." She stepped away, and her reddish brow furrowed.

"I'll make arrangements for a doctor to see you tonight," Lorvian said before growing silent. The air seized and took on a cool chill.

"Lorvian, what's wrong?" I asked, wanting to know—no more secrets for my so-called safety. I wanted to know now.

"I can only hear one heartbeat."

CHAPTER 42

Whothehellwantsto hear that news? Told in just a few seconds that you have twins, but one could be...? I didn't want to think about it! I sat up in bed naked and used the sheets to cover my cock. They said they wanted a full examination... for the baby's sake. They cleared out a private room, and then the scent of something like disinfectant wafted inside. Seems like that crap smells the same everywhere.

The comms system sprung to life. "Your Highness, we need you to clear the room so we can properly bubble the subject and disinfect the area."

"God, not another bubble," I groaned.

"Bubble your damn selves." He waved off the voice as if swatting away a pest. "I'm not leaving my mate alone."

The woman sputtered on the line for a moment before it went dead, and I sat back, proud to have him by my side. I felt less afraid for my own life, and I focused all my energy on finding out what was wrong with my babies. I felt my stomach, which was forming a bulge, and I wondered if it was too soon for them to be babies, but then again, I wasn't entirely human anymore, and these children certainly weren't human. Fuck, what have I gotten myself into? And how many times am I going to say that?

In other words, I was freaking out, which almost seemed to be my default state.

"What's wrong? Just tell us what's happening," I asked the doc when he or she entered the room. I couldn't tell with the full suit and headgear covering their body. It wasn't until she spoke that I realized it was a woman. I don't think I'll get over how tall Valisians are.

"Let her work." Lorvian stroked my cheek, wiping away my tears.

"Put your legs up through the hoops here." She coaxed me to place my legs inside of some cushioned tube... okay. I don't think I need to explain all of this. She needed samples from my ass she examined my swelling chest which were already producing milk, and then she pulled out a giant needle and took blood from my neck. Jesus Christ, I don't think I even want to see another Valisian doctor again!

She pulled out a tablet-looking thing and scanned my belly. Lorvian smiled and pointed upward, and I followed to see something on the screen. Watery and fleshy pink, there they were, the two tiny figures wrapped in each other's small arms.

"Oh, God." It was one thing to know you were pregnant but to see it was another altogether. "There they are."

"I can even see their pointy little ears." Lorvian chuckled, just as much in awe as I was. It occurred to me that this was a first for both of us. We were really having a family, but I couldn't tell which one was injured as they hugged each other tight, almost blending into one being.

"One did sustain an injury. It used much of its energy in repairing its flesh, which greatly weakened it," the doctor explained.

"Will he be okay?" Lorvian folded his arms and leaned back in his chair; he tapped his foot on the floor.

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