They made their way to where the collection of doctors’ offices were kept. Arabella's mind whirled with possibilities and even a bit of hope, but she tried her best to contain it. She needed the facts first, and then she could sort out her feelings.
Arabella finally spotted Sid through the window of one of the doors and knocked.
The doctor let them in. "Finn told you what I found?"
"Yes. And I had a few questions, if you have a moment." Sid stood back and motioned them inside. Gregor was in a corner, talking on a phone, so Arabella kept her voice low. "Has Gregor been able to find out the finer details of each child and parent? We may all have something in common."
She loved that Sid didn't dismiss her statement as foolish. "He's in the middle of assessing that right now. So far, he's only collected information on one of the mothers. Everything is fairly routine, except for a minor incident she had as a teenager." Arabella raised her brows in question and Sid continued, "She became lost and broke her leg. Some humans found her unconscious and took her to a local hospital. They assumed she was human since she was too young for her tattoo, and they treated her as such. The female had a severe reaction to the anesthetic and sedatives they gave her. However, thanks to a nurse who had a cousin mated to a dragon-shifter, he grew suspicious, tested her, and found out that she wasn't human. Because of that nurse, the female managed to survive."
Arabella froze. She and the teenager had something in common. It could be nothing, but it could also be everything.
Her dragon spoke up. Then just tell her. Sid is always open to information.
Finn squeezed her hand, and Arabella took strength from the act to spit out, "I was also administered sedatives when I was a teenager."
Recognition flared in Sid's eyes. "When you were captured."
"Yes." Finn released her hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Finn's solid presence at her side gave Arabella the courage to talk about the event. "I woke up groggy the first time, confused and scared. Someone noticed and immediately injected something into my arm. I blacked out again. The second time, they kept me awake. And…and that was when everything else happened."
Since Arabella had known Sid her whole life, the doctor knew to get to the point rather than murmur reassurances. "Did you notice any aftereffects?"
She shook her head. "No. But I was in extreme pain, remember, and scared out of my wits. So they could've been there and I didn't notice. Even afterward, everyone concentrated on keeping me alive so it would've been easy to miss something so minor. Or I could be one of the lucky few who isn't sensitive to human sedatives." Leaning her head on Finn's shoulder, she thought of Freya and forced her voice to be strong. "If the mother of the third child also received human sedatives, then it's possible that's the link."
Which meant Arabella was the reason her daughter was having difficulties. For all she knew, the sedatives could've done something to her body that would affect some or even all of her children.
Her dragon huffed. Don't place blame on us. Even if it is the link, the drugs were forced upon us.
Finn squeezed her tighter against him and murmured, "I won't allow you to blame yourself, love. So stop it."
Frowning, Sid shook her head. "Of course this isn't your fault, Arabella. If anything, you may have just given us a way to correct or at least help the situation."
Since she knew neither Sid nor Finn would ever allow her to keep placing blame, she merely sighed. "If I am the link, then run any and all tests you need to on me, too. I'll do anything to save my daughter."
Sid bobbed her head. "I know. And this whole situation is another reason Gregor and I need to forge alliances with other dragon-shifter doctors. If we had access to this information or a place to speak freely with one another, this could've been discovered long ago and might even have been preventable."
Finn spoke up. "Aye, but since most clans keep to themselves, everyone thinks it's an odd occurrence."
"Yes," Sid answered. "But knowledge gives us power, as wel
l as provides more opportunities to try and treat Freya and the others. We don't have anything yet, but I hope Gregor, Trahern, and I can try to find something to ease or fix the issue. Once we have more confirmation, I'll probably draw some blood and return to Stonefire. All of our equipment is there, as well as Trahern and Dr. Davies."
Dr. Emily Davies was a Welsh human, who Arabella had only met a few times. She was temporarily working on Stonefire.
Finn grunted agreement. "And I'm sure Bram will allow you to return here if need be. Do whatever you need to do to help our Freya."
"As if I would do anything less." Sid motioned toward a chair. "I may as well draw some blood now, Ara. That way I won't have to take you away from your children again, at least for the time being."
Sitting in the chair, Arabella rolled up her sleeve and allowed Sid to do her work. While ensuring Freya had a safe and stable future was her top concern, she couldn't help but worry if her two sons might also be affected.
Only time would tell.
And she hated the uncertainty.
~~~
On the way back to where Melanie and Tristan were watching the triplets, Finn quickly pulled Arabella into a side room. After locking the door, he took her face in his hands. "How are you doing, love?"
For a few seconds, Arabella remained silent. Finn knew his mate occasionally still had bad dreams about her torture as a teenager. No doubt bringing up the memories had shaken her.