Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Let me just get Sylvan to double check this,” Liv said. “Oh, Sylvan?” She poked her head out of the exam room. “Would you mind coming in here for a moment?”
“Of course. Karn, it’s good to see you again.” Sylvan offered Karn a warrior’s clasp. “And this must be your lovely mate, Lilli.”
“Mate in every sense of the word,” Karn informed him proudly. “We’re bonded now, though I always thought it would be impossible.”
Sylvan’s eyebrows raised almost to his hairline.
“Truly, you are blessed by the Goddess!”
“Possibly doubly blessed,” Liv told him. “That’s what I want you to check—do you see two heartbeats in there, Sylvan?”
Sylvan took the wand and waved it over Lilli’s belly as he studied the monitor for himself. After a moment, he nodded.
“Yes, definitely. Though one baby seems less developed than the other. He appears to be about…oh, about a month younger than his brother.”
“But there was only one baby yesterday—I’m sure of it!” Liv protested. “How could this happen?”
“Well…” Sylvan put down the wand and rubbed his chin. “Didn’t you tell me that Lilli, here, had been injected with extreme fertility hormones?”
“Quick-grow hormones—yes.” Lilli nodded.
“There’re all the rage on Yonnie Six right now,” Karn said dryly.
“I see. So that’s probably how you got pregnant in the first place,” Sylvan told Lilli. “Because of the extreme hormones. But do you think they might still be in your system?”
Lilli thought of the persistent tingling and sexual need she’d begged Karn to help her with the night before and blushed.
“Maybe,” she admitted, feeling her cheeks get hot.
“Mmm, I see.” Sylvan nodded. “So these hormones make it much easier to get pregnant and they make the fetus grow extremely fast.”
“That’s right,” Karn said.
“And when exactly did you get bonded?” Sylvan raised an eyebrow questioningly.
“Last night,” Lilli said, her cheeks getting hotter.
“All night long,” Karn added, with his lopsided grin.
“Well, I think that solves the mystery of your first baby’s little brother,” Sylvan said dryly. “Apparently these hormones you were given are so potent that you continue to release eggs that can be fertilized even after you’re already pregnant.”
“Oh my!” Lilli put a hand to her mouth. “Does that mean we shouldn’t, uh…do what we did to get bonded anymore for a while?”
“Let me run some blood tests,” Sylvan told her. “It should be safe again as soon as the hormones are out of your system. But until then, unless you want triplets, I’d lay off the, er, bonding activities.”
“Understood,” Karn told him. “Two is enough for us.”
“It’s more than enough.” Lilli looked at Liv. “How in the world am I going to manage two at once?”
“You’ll have your hubby to help you,” Liv said firmly. “Kindred make excellent fathers. And don’t forget I’m going to introduce you to my friends. My own sister, Sophie—who’s married to Sylvan, by the way—had twins.”
“A boy and a girl.” Sylvan smiled proudly.
“And my best friend, Kat, had triplets,” Liv went on. “Of course, she’s got two husbands to help her raise them, but still—they’re a handful.”
“I bet!” Lilli murmured. She promised herself she was going to try and control the extreme sexual desire she felt—she had to unless she wanted to wind up with a whole bunch of babies inside!
“But will the second baby be all right?” Karn asked anxiously. “I mean, will he be born on his older brother’s due date and won’t that be too early for him?”
“Please don’t worry.” Sylvan shook his head. “We can give your mate compounds to help delay her labor until both of your sons are ready to be born.” He patted Lilli’s hands. “We’re going to take good care of her and your babies.”
“Thank you,” Karn said gratefully. “I really appreciate it, Commander Sylvan.”
“It’s the least I can do after you risked your life on such a difficult and dangerous mission,” Sylvan said gravely. “Why, without you, the Nightwalker Kindred you discovered in the Yonnite System would have been put to death by now.”
“Oh—is he going to be all right?” Lilli asked anxiously. When he was telling her about being a spy and not a bodyslave at all, Karn had also admitted his role in trying to save the other warrior. She was glad she’d been involved in helping him find the evidence that would hopefully set the Nightwalker Kindred free.
“He’s going to be, if the Goddess wills it,” Sylvan said grimly. “I’ve spoken to the Councilor who’s helping him in the Yonnite Court System. She’s up against some big challenges but she’s a very determined young woman—I know she’ll prevail.”
“Imani, right?” Liv asked, raising an eyebrow. “The one who took Councilor Allisandra’s place?”
Sylvan nodded. “Exactly. She’s on Yonnie Six right now, fighting for the Nightwalker’s freedom. Though I think there have been a few complications in the case…”
“Whatever it is, the Goddess will lead her through it,” Liv said confidently and Lilli nodded her head in agreement.