“This is a fetal heart-rate monitor. It’s perfectly safe to use as it works with sonar and not radiation,” Meghan explained as she stuck the Velcro in place. “These discs,” she pointed at the two situated on either side of Candy’s tummy ‒ there was barely a bump there ‒ you wouldn’t say she was even pregnant if you didn’t know, “will pick up on the baby’s heart-rate. They’re attached to this machine and …” Meghan turned the dial, instantly, the sound of a galloping heart could be heard.

Candy grinned. “That’s him. That’s our son?”

Torrent clutched his mate’s hand tighter, his eyes were wide and shone with excitement. “My boy.” He smiled broadly.

“Yes, and as you can hear, he sounds perfectly healthy.” She pointed to the monitor. “A normal fetal heart-rate is between 120 and 160 beats per minute. Your son is right within that range at around 145 beats per minute. We will keep the heart-rate monitor on throughout immunotherapy. If at any time his heart-rate goes up, particularly above the range I just mentioned, we would need to assume that he is in fetal stress and we would discontinue therapy immediately.”

“But we’re going to take things really slowly to ensure that it doesn’t get to that, right?” There was a deep growl in Torrent’s voice and he was frowning heavily. Even his eyes were narrowed.

He looked angry and pretty darned scary. Meghan knew there was nothing to be afraid of. He was just highly protective of Candy and his unborn child. It was really sweet actually. She only hoped that someone cared for her as deeply one day.

Meghan smiled at Torrent. “Yes, that’s right. I’ve upped the schedule from the recommended two sessions a week to three, however.”

Torrent growled so loudly that she flinched. His lip curled back and his eyes were narrowed on her. Even his teeth seemed longer than normal.

Tide stepped forward. “You need to calm down.” It was weird to see him step out of position. Although he was always there and she was continually aware of him, he never actually said or did anything.

Torrent’s eyes flashed to Tide. “We are talking about my mate and our unborn child.” He sighed, looking back at Meghan. “You must please forgive my reactions. I am … nervous.”

“Of course, it is completely understandable.”

Torrent pulled in a deep breath. “Let’s try that again. Why are you increasing the recommended sessions, is that not dangerous?”

“As previously mentioned,” she needed to tread carefully, “it is not completely without risk and it would be wrong of me to advise you otherwise, but I will do everything to minimize the risk as much as possible. One of the reasons we have stepped up the sessions to three is so that I can lower the contact with silver significantly. We’ll meet more often and take a safer route rather than upping the contact time or dose. I hope that makes sense.”

Candy nodded. "Yes, it does. We would like nothing more than for our son not to have to suffer from this potentially life-threatening allergy and to see a cure come about for the rest of the dragon shifters. At the same time, the lower the risk, the better."

“It’s a balancing act. I will monitor you and the baby every step of the way. With you, it’s more important because you don’t suffer from the allergy, but chances are almost a hundred percent certain that your baby does. Sky just left about half an hour ago. It is helpful that she can tell me if she’s not feeling well. We can look for symptoms of discomfort and illness because if she’s feeling it, then the baby certainly is as well. With you, that’s not the case, so we’ll need to take it much slower, just to be sure.” She paused. “On the other hand, you are not as far along, so we have a little more time.”

Candy nodded. Torrent clutched his mate’s hand, holding on for dear life. His focus was on her belly.

“Shall we begin?” Meghan asked.

“Yes, I’m ready.” Candy smiled, but she could see that the other woman was tense.

Meghan glanced at Torrent but he still wasn’t looking up. She could see deep frown lines on his forehead.

“It’s okay, honey.” Candy squeezed his hand and Torrent grunted once, not sounding convinced.

Meghan opened the pack of needles, removing one. "This contains the lowest dose of silver. It didn't seem to have any effect on the babies, even the newborn. For this first session, I will touch the silver needle to your skin. I don't expect it to have any effect, but it is a good place to start."

“So the needle won’t actually penetrate my skin?” Candy asked.

“No. We’ll keep it at five minutes of contact time only. We can progress to …”

“But you said that the babies had no reaction whatsoever?” Candy frowned. “Surely just touching me with that needle won’t help anything?”

“We said we’d rather keep the risk to a minimum.”

“But within reason right?” Candy asked. “I know I said I wanted to keep the risk down, but at the same time I’m hoping for results.”

“Listen to the doctor, my love. She knows what she is doing.”

“It just seems silly. I remember you saying that the more sessions we can fit in the more chance of him not having the allergy.” Candy cleared her throat. “I don’t want to take unnecessary risks but I also don’t want to waste any time. We have a real chance of this working.”

“It is possible but I don’t want you to get your hopes up either.” Meghan shook her head. “Maybe if we used you as a test subject, Torrent.” She had heard of this working in the past when parents were nervous about procedures, or when children were worried. Let the parent experience it first.

“What would it entail?” Torrent asked.

“A few minutes of contact time with the needle to begin with,” she said.

“Hun, please hold that needle,” Candy spoke to Torrent. It was quite comical because he did exactly what she asked without question, picking it up.

Torrent did frown however. “You really should listen to the doctor …”

“And?” Candy raised her brows, looking pointedly at the needle.

“And nothing ‒ but I’m a grown male in my prime. I’m the king. You can’t compare me to an unborn whelp.”

“Even though you sometimes act like a big baby,” Tide said and from right next to her. “Did I give you a fright, doc … Doctor Roberts?”

Her heart raced. She swallowed hard. “Yes, I didn’t hear you move.”

“I’m really light on my feet for a big SOB.”

She turned her head and there he was, grinning down at her. So close she could smell him. You’re working, Meghan. Stop your shit!

“Go back to being a guard. You’re not invited to this therapy session,” Torrent said, between clenched teeth.

“You’re being prickly and downright aggressive.” It wasn’t lost on her how Tide put himself between her and Torrent.

“I’m not going to hurt the female,” Torrent snarled.

Candy gasped. “Stop it you two, please.” She tried to sit up.

“No, stay where you are,” Meghan said. “Stay calm. The baby’s heart-rate has gone up a little.”

“What?” Torrent snarled.

“Calm the fuck down,” Tide cautioned, voice low.

Torrent bashed chests with Tide. “I am calm!” he roared.

“Like hell you are,” Tide’s voice was even. “Get yourself under control or get out.”

“I’m not leaving Candy or the baby.” He sounded less aggressive.

“Then calm down.”

“I told you, I won’t hurt her.”

“Not on purpose but …” Tide sighed. “I wouldn’t let you hurt the doctor. You would have to go through me. Do you hear?”

“No-one’s hurting anyone.” Meghan stepped forward. “How is your hand feeling?”

Torrent looked down, she could see that he had completely forgotten that he was even still holding the needle. “I’m fine.” He frowned, looking shocked. “It feels absolutely fine.”

“Let me take a look.” She took the needle from him and sure enough, his skin was unblemished.

“That’s a good thing, right?” Torrent asked.

Meghan nodded. “Yeah, it would be great if we could prick you with the needle. Then we’ll wait a minute or two to test for a reaction. If that’s clear, we can insert the needle and leave it in for a little bit longer. Then maybe, if you’re both okay with it, we can try the same with you, Candy?”

Candy nodded.

“Okay. Let’s test it on me first. I like that idea.” Torrent held out his arm and she pricked the soft tissue of his inner arm, removing the needle immediately.

“How was that?” Candy asked.

Torrent shrugged. “I didn’t feel anything. It feels fine. It was not bad.” He breathed out in one big exhale, looking relaxed for the first time since coming.

“I think I’ll leave you to it.” Tide had this little half-smile. When she looked his way, he winked. “I think you have things under control, doc.”

“Thank you,” she mouthed to him. Even though Tide had been doing his job ‒ it hadn’t been anything more than that ‒ she was still grateful he had stepped in. It wasn’t always easy to stand up against your superior, even if the person was family. The shifters seemed to take hierarchy even more seriously, so it would have been difficult for him.

Tide winked at her a second time. This time there was a definite flirtatious edge to it. It made her feel … something. She wasn’t sure exactly what. More lust. Must be. He looked so damned sexy when he winked. It was a good thing he wouldn’t be around for much longer. Better that way.