Page 65 of To Quench Her Thirst

“Well, the three of you certainly have a unique relationship! I think it should be safe for you to fly up until the fourth quadmester.”

“The fourth quadmester…right.” Addison wrinkled her nose. She had almost forgotten that a Kindred pregnancy took an entire year—not just nine months. “By that time I probably won’t even feel likewalking—let alone flying.”

“You’ll be fine,” Drago told her. “If you feel like it, we can still go someplace so the two of you can spend time together. Even if you can’t go flying on his back, I know my Drake will enjoy being with you.” He grinned “Especially if you give him ‘skritches.’”

Addie laughed. “Yes, he loves his skritches! All right, we should be okay then.”

Commander Sylvan shook his head, but he was smiling as he did so.

"Well, if you don't have any more questions, I'm going to prescribe you some prenatal vitamins and let you go. I know you probably have some shopping to do for the new baby."

“Oh, I can’t wait to set up a nursery!” Addison exclaimed. “But actually, there isonemore thing. I wanted to know if you’ve heard anything else from Crimson Moon?”

Commander Sylvan looked somber.

“As I understand it, they went through a period of deep civil and social unrest after the two of you left.”

“Not fucking surprising,” Drago growled. “I mean, I’m sure we probably destabilized their society when my Drake killed their Goddess.”

"Yes, you did but actually, from the reports I've had, many of the Vargans weregladwhen Sheelash was killed," Sylvan said. "Apparently the 'Low Born,' who had no 'Sheelash White' in their hair, were being treated as second-class citizens. Now that there is no possibility of anyone having another 'Choosing Child' with that particular color hair, they are becoming a more equal and equitable society."

"Well that's good," Addison said thoughtfully. "It makes me wish I could visit and do a follow-up to the paper I wrote on them."

“Oh, no!” Drago gave her a dark look. “I don’t think so, baby—we arenevergoing back there! Especially not now that you’re pregnant.”

Addie gave him a frown, but she wasn’t really upset.

“Well, I can see you’re going to be evenmoreprotective now that I’ve got a bun in the oven.”

“Not just me—my Drake is going crazy at the idea of you going back to ‘Spider Planet’ as he calls it. Here—listen.”

He opened the mental door between herself and the Drake and Addie heard a worried sounding roaring. Then the deep, rough voice of Drago’s Drake came through loud and clear.

“No more visiting the bad place! No more Spider Planet!”

“All right—all right,”Addie sent him along with some soothing emotions.“I promise, we won’t go back there.”

She felt the Drake subside but his deep devotion and protectiveness came through loud and clear, even after he stopped speaking.

"Well, I guess that puts an end to that," she said with a sigh after Drago closed the mental door.

"If you like I can let you read the reports I get from the scouts we have in that sector," Commander Sylvan offered. "You might not be able to give a first-hand account, but you could still write your follow-up paper."

“Oh, would you do that? Thank you so much!” Addie said, nodding eagerly.

“It’s my pleasure. We want you to continue your research,” Commander Sylvan said. “I’ll send you the reports as I get them. But for now, I’m going to let the two of you go. I enjoy being a doctor, but now I have to get back to tending to the Mother Ship. I have a meeting with the High Council in half an hour.”

“Of course, we wouldn’t want to keep you,” Drago said. He straightened up and helped Addie off the exam table. “Thank you again, Commander.”

“You’re welcome.” Commander Sylvan nodded and smiled. “If you have any problems, just call me. For now, go enjoy yourselves. Oh, and get plenty of rest! In about a year, once the baby gets here, you’ll be wishing you could get more sleep! I still remember how exhausted my wife, Sophia, and I were after we had our twins. ”

He nodded at them and left the exam room, leaving Addie alone with her Mate.

“Just think, baby—in a year we’ll see our precious little one,” Drago rumbled, smiling down at her. He placed a big, warm hand on her belly and leaned down. “We can’t wait to meet you, sweetheart!” he murmured.

“I can see it now,” Addie said, laughing. “She’s going to have you wrapped around her little finger!”

“Of course she will—she’s going to be my little princess,” Drago said seriously—he obviously had absolutely no shame about it. He was going to be a great dad—and Addie couldn’twaitto be a mom.

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