Page 16 of Orange Spell
Curran wanted to laugh, but he didn’t.Palmer was human.He was training to help dragons as well as humans, but he hadn’t been here long.Besides, it was clear that he wasn’t mocking Curran.He was very professional.
“Well, I had unprotected sex the day of the party.I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was fertile.It was pointed out to me the next morning.”
Palmer glanced at Curran’s stomach.“I see.You think you might be pregnant?”
“I’ve been feeling sick, so I’m pretty sure I am.”
“All right.We can do the test.”
“Thank you.”
Curran pretty much checked out after that.He allowed Palmer to do whatever he felt was necessary without saying anything.It was almost as if his body wasn’t his.In a way, he wished it wasn’t.He didn’t want to deal with the consequences of what had happened.He didn’t want to deal withanyof this.
He’d thought about having children.Everyone in the clan had because before Killian had become king, they’d known they would be forced to have children.The old king wanted the clan to be strong, and he’d thought he could obtain that by forcing its members to have children with someone he chose for them.No one had wanted it, but it had been a given.
Curran had been relieved when Killian had taken his father’s place on the throne.He’d realized that he wouldn’t have to have kids yet.He’d stopped thinking about it then, but clearly, he shouldn’t have.Maybe he wouldn’t have found himself in this mess if he had.
Palmer eventually sat down next to him again.“I can confirm that you’re pregnant,” he said gently.
Curran closed his eyes.Of course he was.It was why he was here.“All right.Thank you.”
He started getting up, but Palmer stopped him.“Before you go, I want you to know that if you need anything, you can always find me here.”
“Thank you.”
Palmer hesitated.“Do I need to call someone who knows more about your anatomy than I do?If you didn’t want this, you need to be checked out.”
It took Curran a moment to understand what Palmer was saying.“You don’t have to worry about that.I wanted this to happen.”
“You didn’t want to get pregnant.”
“No, but it doesn’t mean someone forced me.I was just stupid and drunk, and I didn’t realize that I was fertile until it was too late.”
Thankfully, Palmer didn’t push.Curran was pretty sure he would’ve started screaming if the man had.He understood why Palmer had to ask the questions, but he still wanted the ground to swallow him.
“All right.Well, if you want to continue with the pregnancy, you’ll need to have regular checkups.I can make an appointment for you.”
“That would be great.”Curran didn’t know what he wanted.He’d forced himself not to think about it before he knew for sure, but now, he did, and he had a decision to make.
* * * *
MARLIN COULDN’T STOPthinking about Curran.It had been a few weeks now, and usually, he was over his hookups in a few days, but Curran wasn’t just a hookup.He was the guy Marlin had had a crush on for years.He was Birch’s little brother—which was why Marlin had stayed away from him.He’d never wanted to ruin things with Curran and Birch, and since he’d thought that Curran didn’t want him that way, it had been easy to keep his distance.Now, he wondered.
Curran had readily accepted when Marlin had offered himself up for a one-night stand.Maybe it had been the alcohol, or maybe it had been something else.Marlin wouldn’t know unless he asked Curran, which would be hard since Curran was very obviously avoiding him.
They didn’t usually spend a lot of time together.They saw each other over meals, but the entire clan saw each other there.Marlin had tried talking to Curran several times, but Curran always turned and left the dining hall.Marlin hadn’t wanted to push, but eventually, he would have to, right?
It was the only way he’d get answers.The last thing he wanted was to bother Curran, but could they really ignore what happened?Did theywantto ignore it?If it hadn’t been the alcohol, Curran had to feel something for Marlin, right?But if he did, why wasn’t he talking to him?Why was he avoiding him?
Marlin wished he could talk about it with his best friend, but he couldn’t.Birch was protective of Curran, and while Marlin didn’t think he would be opposed to a relationship between Marlin and Curran, his first instinct would be to protect his brother.Since Marlin didn’t know what was going on, he didn’t want to burden Birch that way.He also didn’t want to risk losing him for something he wasn’t sure he could have.
Something landed on his cheek.He blinked and came back to the present, which he never should have left since he was working.“What is it?”
Killian arched a brow.“Aren’t you supposed to be protecting me?”
“I am.”
“I called your name several times, and you didn’t react.I can’t help but wonder what you would’ve done if someone had barged in.”
