He expected Gregor to prod again, but the Scottish dragonman nodded. “Right, then I’ll let you carry on with your work. Although I’d suggest a shower to wake you up before visiting any more patients. Cassidy has one off her office you can use.”
Trahern nodded. When the silence stretched, Gregor raised a hand in farewell and left the laboratory.
Sighing at the peace and quiet of his sanctuary, Trahern opened another window on his computer screen and started researching the different species of moss in the Celtic rainforest. He might be able to find something even without Clyde, although he hadn’t mentioned it to Gregor since he didn’t want the other doctor to get his hopes up. Trahern didn’t give false promises to anyone.
However, the possibility of finding something new to use with his patients was too good of an opportunity to pass up. If he found anything, he’d share the information. If not, then no one would be the wiser.
Trahern went to work.
~~~
Sid was awake but kept her eyes closed. Her dragon dozed at the back of her mind, and Sid was gathering strength to confront her beast. Just because her dragon wouldn’t take complete control until after the child was born didn’t mean she would make things easy.
Breathing in and out, Sid calmed her body. As ready as she’d ever be for her dragon, Sid took the remaining quiet moments to think of her baby.
Or, more importantly, the fact she carried one and would be a mother in about nine months’ time.
She only hoped she wouldn’t screw up her child’s life.
No. Sid had worked hard to survive as long as she had while maintaining her sanity. Not only that, she’d gone through her own tragedy as a child and never wanted her baby to go through the same. Sid would protect him or her at any cost.
Her dragon stirred. Only I can protect the child.
She debated pushing her beast for more information and decided she wouldn’t be a coward. Gregor and I will do fine.
Her dragon huffed. I don’t care. I will do as I please and you can’t stop me.
Why do you hate me?
Snarling, her dragon spat out, You didn’t help me when I needed it. I won’t ever forget that.
I didn’t know how.
Liar. You’re a doctor and should’ve taken risks. Instead, you kept pushing me aside to help everyone else.
Before Sid could reply, her beast roared and thrashed inside her head.
Sid curled on her side. Stop it!
No.
She attempted to construct a prison, but her dragon moved around her head and kept escaping. As the minutes ticked by, Sid’s strength waned. Rather than risk her baby, she finally said, Stop or you risk hurting the child.
After a few more seconds, her dragon quieted. This isn’t over.
As her beast moved to the rear of her mind and turned her back, Sid relaxed into the bed. Fighting her beast had sapped her energy. If this kept up, Sid would be spending the next nine months bedridden.
She could call out for the nurse downstairs or even ring Gregor, but reaching out would feel like defeat. Yes, if she truly needed help, she would ask for it. However, all she needed was a nap. Recouping energy would give her another chance to try reasoning with her dragon. There had to be a way to reconcile, even if it was to the minutest d
egree.
One sentence from her dragon kept repeating inside her head: Instead, you kept pushing me aside to help everyone else.
To a degree, her dragon was right. But only after Sid had exhausted all of her options. Did she not realize that?
Her beast may have been watching for twenty-four years, but she hadn’t matured at a normal rate. Maybe Sid needed to approach the situation by assuming her dragon was still an unruly teenager.
Yes, maybe that would work. She could mention it to Gregor later. But first, she needed to rest.