Aeromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 3)

She crossed her arms, mirroring his stance. “I don’t want you here.”

“Why?”

Despite how much seeing him hurt, the air she dragged into her lungs tasted sweeter. Breathing was easier, and it only made the pain in her heart worse. “It’ll be easier for me if you’re not present.”

His tone was uncompromising. “This concerns me too.”

“He’s right,” Eve said, touching her arm. She shot Lann a stern look. “He won’t upset you.”

Not being able to argue the fact that Lann was as implicated as she was, Kat removed her shoes and lay down on the bed while Eve moved between monitors and equipment to prepare the setup. Kat stiffened when Lann perched on the side of the bed. Resting his elbows on his knees, he clasped his hands together. His eyes shone a pale yellow from behind his glasses, and his jaw was tight.

“I first want to check your vitals,” Eve said, “and then we’ll take the samples.”

The doctor took Kat’s blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate. Lann considerately turned away for the vaginal sample, as if he’d never seen her naked.

While Eve was preparing a hypodermic needle for the blood sample, Lann said, “Can I get you anything, Katherine?”

“No, thanks.”

“Blanket? Drink? Something to eat?”

She shook her head, and offered her arm for Eve to insert the needle.

Eve filled three vials. “Your vitals are normal. I’ll send the samples to my lab for analysis. I don’t have the technology here to do it.”

“Any idea when you’ll have some answers?” Lann asked.

Kat assumed he was referring to the mysterious reversal of his infertility.

“It may take a while as I don’t really know what I’m looking for.” Eve gave Kat a bright smile. “Shall we do the ultrasound now?”

The smile was meant to mask the inevitable destiny that awaited the tiny being growing in her womb. Not trusting her voice to speak, Kat only nodded.

Eve asked her to unbutton her pants. The doctor spread gel over her abdomen and switched on the ultrasound monitor.

“Gifted babies develop faster than normal ones. We’ll be able to hear the heartbeat.”

She moved the transducer probe over Kat’s stomach, and paused when she found what she was looking for. There it was, the little person, their child, no bigger than a lentil. And just like that, she fell in love. Irrevocably and completely. An overwhelming feeling of dearness flooded her heart. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to love and protect it. Her unborn baby had stolen her heart in a second flat.

Kat crumpled the sheet in her fist. Joy, grief, and terror bled together, but not even those emotions were powerful enough to overshadow the love that had nestled in her heart. A strong, steady rhythm beeped from the monitor.

The heartbeat.

Her baby’s tiny, beating heart.

Tears of wonder and fear for the life she carried filled her eyes. Lann’s reaction was very different. He showed neither joy, nor concern. He sat frozen. Another few beats fell in the silence. Her own heart was hammering in her chest, out of sync with her baby’s much faster little heartbeat. Abruptly, he got to his feet, and turned away from the sight and sound of the new life he’d helped create. He walked to the window and pressed with his palms on the frame, looking down into the square.

Eve’s gaze followed him. She switched off the monitor and handed Kat a paper towel to wipe away the gel.

“Well,” she said, too cheerfully, “you’re doing great, Kat. Everything seems fine. Now we just have to weigh you.”

Lann faced them again, leaning against the windowsill. “We have to tell her, Eve.”

Trepidation pulled Kat’s stomach into a knot. Kat lifted herself up on her elbows. “Tell me what?”

“We have to terminate the pregnancy by next week,” he said, “or your body would’ve altered too much. It has to be done before seven weeks. Every day after that puts your life at risk.”

What? The shock was like a shard of glass in her heart. Laying back against the pillows, she placed a palm over her stomach, sheltering her child from the cold words.

Lann moved back to her side. “I’ll be here, every step of the way.” He took her hand that rested at her side. “You won’t have to go through this alone.”

She pulled free. Pain lashed at her from all sides. It was impossible to hide from the onslaught.

“I’m afraid it’s true,” Eve said. “We can’t gamble with your life.”

Kat fought the tears, but failed, and looked away.

Eve’s voice was gentle. “I know this is hard. I’ll recommend a good therapist to help you deal with the trauma.” She walked to Lann’s side and touched Kat’s shoulder. “There’ll be other babies.”

Lann’s back went rigid at Eve’s last words. The idea of children truly appalled him.

“I need you to sign an indemnity form,” Eve continued. “Do you need a moment?”