Chapter 61: Getting Back to Normal
Dginnie was looking forward to returning to her classes.
She had spent enough time recovering, and although she was comfortable at Halven's residence, she was beginning to miss the routine of the academy.
There was something reassuring about having lectures to attend, assignments to complete and familiar places to visit. Her studies gave her something to concentrate on beyond the many unfamiliar changes taking place in her life.
She was also conscious that she did not want to fall behind.
The doctor had given her permission to resume her usual activities gradually, provided she did not overexert herself. Halven had been rather more cautious.
"Are you sure you're ready?" he asked.
Dginnie looked up from her bag.
"Yes."
"You have been recovering for only a short time."
"I've been feeling well for several days."
"Your body is still adjusting."
"I know."
Halven considered her.
"I would prefer you not to push yourself."
"I'm not planning to run around the academy."
"Good."
"Or climb any mountains."
"Also good."
"Or participate in a sporting competition."
"Excellent."
She smiled.
"Then I think we'll manage."
Halven gave a small sigh.
He had already arranged to take her to and from the academy every day. The residence was a considerable distance away, and he did not want her relying on public transport or travelling alone while her condition was still being assessed.
Dginnie had initially suggested that she could manage the journey herself.
Halven had politely disagreed.
After some discussion, she had accepted his offer.
It was not an unreasonable arrangement, particularly when he was already travelling to and from his own commitments. She did, however, intend to make sure that it did not become an excuse for him to rearrange his entire life around her.
Kael was less pleased about the return to normality.
Not because he wanted to stop Dginnie studying, but because he would not be accompanying her.
He was remaining in his academy dormitory room for the time being.
His rut had ended, and the medical team had not found any reason to believe it would return immediately. Nevertheless, he was uneasy about being too close to Dginnie while his body was still recovering.
He did not want to risk another episode.
Dginnie had tried to reassure him.
"We could just settle it again if it happens."
Kael had looked horrified.
"You say that as though it's nothing."
"It wasn't particularly pleasant, but we managed."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
"I don't want to put you through it again."
Dginnie had reached for his hand.
"I know. But you don't have to avoid me completely."
"I'm not avoiding you."
"You're staying in your dormitory."
"Temporarily."
"Which is still avoiding me."
Kael's ears had lowered.
"I'd rather be careful."
She understood that. She was not going to insist that he take a risk he was uncomfortable with, particularly after the difficulties they had experienced.
Still, she wanted him to know that he was not being sent away.
They arranged to spend time together whenever possible, with the medical team's advice in mind.
On the morning of her return, Kael accompanied them to the entrance of the residence.
He gave Dginnie a hug and kissed her forehead.
"Have a good day."
"I will."
"Don't forget to eat."
She smiled.
"Halven has already arranged for food to be available."
"Good."
"And I can look after myself."
"I know."
His tail curled around her for a moment before he let go.
Halven waited beside the vehicle.
"Ready?"
Dginnie nodded.
She glanced back at Kael.
"I'll see you later."
"I'll be waiting."
The journey to the academy was comfortable. Halven had arranged the vehicle so that Dginnie could sit back and relax, and he checked on her occasionally without making a fuss.
When they arrived, he accompanied her as far as the entrance.
"Would you like me to collect you at the same time this afternoon?" he asked.
"That would be lovely."
"Very well. Contact me if you need anything."
"I will."
He gave her a brief kiss before she went inside.
Dginnie watched him leave, then turned towards the academy.
It felt good to be back.
Her first class passed without incident. She found that she had missed the familiar rhythm of taking notes and following a lecture. She was a little slower than usual at first, but soon settled into the work.
A few students noticed her return and asked whether she was feeling better.
She gave them a simple explanation about having been unwell and needing some time to recover.
She did not particularly want to discuss her pregnancy.
There were still too many things she was trying to understand herself, and she preferred to keep the matter private until she knew more about what it meant for her.
By lunchtime, she was ready for something to eat.
Halven had arranged for a meal to be available, and she found it waiting where she had been told to collect it. There was enough food for a proper lunch, along with a drink and a small selection of snacks.
She smiled.
He really had thought of everything.
She settled down to eat, then sent him a message to let him know she had received the food.
His reply arrived a few moments later.
He was pleased she was eating and reminded her to take her time.
Dginnie shook her head, smiling.
She suspected that she would be receiving quite a few messages like that.
The afternoon passed more quickly than she expected. By the time her classes finished, she was tired but satisfied.
Halven was waiting for her.
"How was your day?"
"Good. I enjoyed being back."
"Did you manage your classes comfortably?"
"Yes. I was a little tired by the afternoon, but nothing too difficult."
"We can adjust your schedule if necessary."
"I'd rather see how I manage over the next few days first."
"That is reasonable."
They returned home together.
Kael was waiting when they arrived.
He had spent the day in his dormitory room, though he had not been idle. He had caught up on some of his own work and spoken with a few acquaintances.
His expression brightened when Dginnie entered.
"How was it?"
"Good!"
He looked pleased.
"Did you miss it?"
"Yes. I didn't realise how much until I was there again. I thought you were staying in the dormitory?"
Kael took her bag and placed it aside.
"I couldn't stay away from you. I'll go back there later. Are you tired?"
"A little."
"Then sit down. I'll get you something."
Dginnie laughed.
"I've only just arrived."
"Exactly. You need to rest."
Halven looked at him.
"She has been sitting in a vehicle for most of the journey."
"And attending classes."
"Which is not particularly strenuous."
Kael's ears tilted.
"Are you saying she doesn't need to rest?"
"I'm saying she can decide for herself."
Dginnie smiled.
"Thank you, Halven."
She looked at Kael.
"But I would like something to eat."
His expression brightened.
"Of course."
That evening, they spent some time together in the sitting room. Dginnie told Kael about her classes, including a question that had come up during a lecture. He listened with interest, though he admitted that some of the accounting concepts were not particularly exciting to him.
"You're only saying that because you don't understand them," she teased.
"I understand plenty."
"Such as?"
"How to catch fish."
"Very useful."
"And how to catch fish in icy streams."
Halven looked up from his reading device.
"Are we returning to the courtship song?"
Kael's ears perked up.
"It is a traditional song."
"An unfortunate one."
Dginnie laughed.
Kael looked mildly offended.
"You're both making fun of me."
"Only a little," Dginnie replied.
He moved closer, resting his head against her shoulder.
"At least you like it."
"I do."
"Even the singing?"
She hesitated.
Kael lifted his head.
"Even the singing?"
Dginnie smiled.
"I like that you sang it for me."
He seemed satisfied with that answer.
Later, when Kael returned to his dormitory room, Dginnie spent some quiet time with Halven.
He had work to complete, but he was willing to put it aside for a little while.
She sat beside him, looking over some of the material he had been researching.
"Have you found anything more?"
"A little. My parents have sent several references, and one of my relatives has been looking through the older clan records."
"Are they excited?"
Halven smiled.
"Very."
"About the egg?"
"Very much so."
Dginnie looked down at the documents.
"I suppose I still find it strange."
"What do you find strange?"
"That I'm carrying a dragon egg. I know we've talked about it, and the doctors have explained what they can, but it still feels rather unreal."
Halven put his reading device aside.
"That is understandable."
"And I'm going to be a mother."
He took her hand.
"Yes."
She looked at him.
"Have you thought about that?"
"Frequently."
"What do you imagine?"
He considered the question.
"I imagine meeting our child. I imagine teaching them, watching them grow, and discovering what sort of person they become."
Dginnie smiled faintly.
"You make it sound very simple."
"It won't be simple."
"No."
"But it is something I look forward to."
She leaned against him.
"I think I'm still trying to catch up with everything."
"You don't need to decide how you feel about every part of it immediately."
"There's the pregnancy, the egg, becoming a mother, and having two mates. Sometimes I think about one thing and then remember there are three more things I haven't properly considered."
Halven gently brushed a hand over her hair.
"You may take your time."
"Even if I ask silly questions?"
"Especially then."
She gave him a small smile.
"Good."
They sat together for a while longer.
Dginnie eventually returned to her studies, while Halven resumed his work. It was a comfortable arrangement, and she was grateful that he did not expect every evening to revolve around the pregnancy.
She was still a student.
She was still learning.
And, for the moment, she was beginning to find her way back into the ordinary rhythm of her life.
It was a welcome feeling.
-------------------------------------
Chapter 62: The Long Way to Class
Dginnie was beginning to appreciate just how far Halven's residence was from the academy.
She had known it was a considerable distance when she first moved in, but the journey had seemed rather pleasant when she was being shown around. There was something enjoyable about travelling through the city in a comfortable vehicle, watching the streets and buildings change as they approached the academy.
Doing it every day was a different matter.
Fortunately, Halven seemed perfectly happy to drive her.
Unfortunately, Kael had discovered that the journey provided an excellent opportunity to see his mate, although he had supposedly been staying in the dormitory.
He was waiting near the entrance of the academy when they came out from the parking lot one afternoon.
Halven slowed the vehicle.
Dginnie looked through the window and smiled. "Kael!"
Kael raised a hand in greeting and approached.
Halven did not look particularly pleased.
"Good afternoon," Kael said as he opened the passenger door.
"Good afternoon," Halven replied. "Have you decided to return to the residence?"
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
"To see Dginnie."
"You saw her yesterday."
"And?"
Halven looked at him for a moment before turning his attention to the road ahead. "Nothing. Get in."
Kael climbed into the back.
Dginnie turned around to look at him. "Are you sure you don't want to come home?"
"I've got things to do at the academy."
"Then why are you getting in?"
"Because I can."
Halven started driving.
Dginnie settled back into her seat, trying not to smile. She suspected this was going to become a regular occurrence.
It did.
By the end of the week, Kael had managed to catch a ride with them on several occasions. Sometimes he had a perfectly reasonable explanation. Sometimes he claimed to have forgotten something at the residence. Once, he had apparently needed to ask Halven a question that could easily have been sent in a message.
Halven was beginning to suspect that Kael simply enjoyed making himself inconvenient.
On the way back from the academy one afternoon, he finally said so.
"Do you intend to continue doing this?"
Kael, who was sitting beside Dginnie in the back, looked up. "Doing what?"
"Appearing in the academy whenever I am collecting Dginnie and coincidentally needing to go home or fetch something or do something in the area."
"I have classes here. It isn't particularly surprising that I might be nearby."
"You have a dormitory room."
"And?"
"And you are supposed to be staying in it."
"I'm not abandoning my studies."
"I didn't suggest you were. I merely wondered whether you had any intention of making up your mind about where you wish to spend your time."
Kael's tail shifted behind Dginnie.
"I'm perfectly capable of deciding that for myself."
"Then I look forward to seeing the result."
Dginnie glanced between them.
Kael folded his arms. "You seem to have forgotten that I'm also Dginnie's mate."
"I am well aware of that."
"Then perhaps you should remember that I don't get nearly enough time alone with her either."
Halven's expression remained composed.
"How unfortunate. I was under the impression that you were the one repeatedly inserting yourself into the time I have arranged to spend with her."
"You're the one who gets to take her to and from the academy every day."
"Because the residence is too far away for her to make the journey conveniently."
"And you get to spend all that time with her."
"Driving is not quite the same as having uninterrupted time together."
Kael gave a short laugh. "You sound as though you're being terribly inconvenienced by having to share your mate."
"I am being inconvenienced by having to share my mate with someone who has apparently forgotten that his own dormitory exists."
Dginnie covered her mouth.
They both looked at her.
"What?" Kael asked.
"Nothing."
"You're laughing."
"I'm not."
"You are."
She lowered her hand. "Would you two like me to arrange a schedule?"
There was silence.
Halven looked at her in the rear-view mirror.
Kael stared.
"A schedule?" Dginnie repeated. "Perhaps one day for each of you? Or half-days? We could work out who gets to spend time with me and when."
"No," they both said.
Dginnie blinked.
"Absolutely not," Halven added.
Kael nodded firmly. "We don't need a schedule."
"Then perhaps you could stop arguing about it."
"We aren't arguing," Kael said.
Halven glanced at him in the mirror.
Kael looked away.
Dginnie turned back towards the window, smiling.
She was beginning to think that having two mates was going to require rather more negotiation than she had anticipated.
---
The academy was busy when they arrived the next morning.
Dginnie had been looking forward to returning to her studies. She had missed the familiar routine of attending lectures, taking notes, working through exercises and having something to concentrate on that wasn't related to her health or her household arrangements. And so coming back the past few days was almost like coming back home.
She was still taking things gradually, as the doctor had advised, but she was feeling much better.
Her first lecture of the day was one she particularly enjoyed.
The lecturer had a habit of illustrating financial concepts through stories. Not short, tidy examples involving imaginary companies with perfectly balanced accounts, but elaborate accounts of real or plausible disasters.
He had once spent almost an entire lecture describing a trading enterprise that had expanded too quickly because its directors mistook the value of its assets for the amount of money it could actually spend.
Another time, he had described a family business that had become so tangled in informal loans between relatives that nobody could tell which branch of the business was supporting the others. When the most profitable division encountered trouble, the entire operation collapsed.
His favourite stories involved people who had made perfectly avoidable mistakes and then spent considerable sums trying to conceal them.
He told these stories with such enthusiasm that Dginnie sometimes wondered whether he enjoyed the disasters more than the solutions.
That morning, he described a company that had been profitable on paper for several years but had repeatedly borrowed money to cover its operating expenses.
"Now," he said, tapping the board, "what was the first warning sign?"
A student suggested that the company had borrowed too much.
"Eventually, yes. But that is the consequence. What was the warning sign?"
Another student mentioned its declining cash reserves.
"Better. What else?"
Dginnie raised her hand.
"The company was reporting profits, but it wasn't generating enough cash from its ordinary operations to support itself. It was relying on borrowing to maintain its day-to-day activities."
The lecturer pointed at her.
"Exactly. Profitability and liquidity are not interchangeable. A business can look successful in its accounts while quietly running out of money."
He turned back to the board and began drawing a diagram.
"If the directors had examined their cash flow properly, they might have recognised the problem years earlier. Instead, they kept borrowing, and eventually the lenders became more interested in recovering their money than in supporting the business."
A few students laughed.
The lecturer looked pleased.
"Never underestimate the ability of people to ignore a problem simply because the figures look attractive."
Dginnie wrote that down.
She liked these lectures. They made the subject feel alive. Accounting was not merely a collection of rules and calculations. It was a way of understanding what people were doing, what they believed they were doing, and what the numbers revealed that they might have preferred to hide.
After the lecture, she packed her notes and joined the other students leaving the room.
It was nice to feel entirely absorbed in something ordinary after so many events had happened to her.
It was a welcome feeling.
-----------------------------------------
Chapter 63: An Open Secret
Dginnie had thought she was being reasonably discreet.
She had not made any announcements. She had not discussed her matebonds with her classmates, and she had chosen clothing that was comfortable without drawing attention to her changing figure.
She had also avoided mentioning her pregnancy whenever possible.
It seemed a sensible approach.
Unfortunately, she was beginning to discover that beastmen did not share her understanding of discretion.
The first indication came when a student moved aside to let her pass through a crowded corridor.
The gesture was considerate enough. The problem was that the student also gave her a rather pointed look and said, "You should be careful. There are too many people rushing around here."
"Thank you," Dginnie replied.
A second student offered to carry her books.
A third asked whether she had been eating properly.
Dginnie was beginning to feel conspicuous. Why were they doing things like this? Had they noticed something? If they did, how?
She was standing outside her next lecture room when two students nearby began speaking.
"Why doesn't she just announce it?"
"Perhaps she's embarrassed."
"Embarrassed? Why?"
"I don't know. Maybe she thinks people will judge her."
Dginnie pretended not to hear although she knew they were talking about her. She just wasn't quite sure what they were expecting her to announce. Her matebond? Her pregnancy? That she was a pure blooded human? Something else she couldn't think of at the moment?
A moment later, one of them glanced in her direction.
"Some people just like to make things unnecessarily difficult for everyone."
Dginnie lowered her eyes to her notes.
She wanted to explain that she wasn't trying to deceive anyone. She simply didn't want to discuss her private life with every person who happened to notice something about her.
But how was she supposed to explain that without drawing even more attention to herself?
A beastwoman lecturer approached her before the lecture began. She must have been the guest lecturer the course coordinator had said would be speaking today.
"Are you waiting for someone?"
"No, I'm just waiting for the room to open."
"Well, don't stand so close to the doorway. People might bump into you."
"Oh. Thank you."
The woman hesitated.
"Are you going to make an announcement?"
Dginnie looked up. "About what?"
The woman stared at her.
"Your pregnancy."
Dginnie's face warmed.
"I'd rather not discuss it."
The woman's expression changed.
"Why not?"
"It's personal."
"But everyone can smell it."
Dginnie wished the floor would open.
The woman seemed genuinely puzzled by her response.
"If you're pregnant, you should declare it. There's nothing shameful about carrying a child."
"I know."
"Then why hide it?"
Dginnie struggled to find an answer that wouldn't sound rude.
"I don't particularly want everyone knowing my business."
"But they already know. The smell is kind of obvious. There's no way you can hide it."
That was precisely the problem.
The woman continued, apparently trying to be helpful.
"People need to know so they can be careful around you. If you're pregnant, they should give you room. They shouldn't jostle you or put you in situations that could cause an accident. It's for everyone's safety."
Dginnie nodded, although she wasn't sure what to say.
The woman seemed to interpret her silence as embarrassment.
"There's no need to be ashamed. Unless something improper happened, I suppose."
Dginnie looked at her sharply.
"Nothing improper happened."
"There you are then."
The woman smiled, satisfied with her explanation, unlocked the door and went into the lecture room.
Dginnie remained where she was.
She was beginning to understand that her silence was not being interpreted as privacy like it would have been back on Earth. Here in this beastman world it was being interpreted as concealment and possibly something shameful.
---
The situation became more confusing when she met Frinya and Pell, her fellow students after class.
She had spoken to both of them a few times before. They were in several of the same lectures, and they had occasionally worked through exercises together.
Frinya was a lively young rodent beastwoman who seemed to have an endless supply of questions. Pell was a rabbit beastman who was quieter and had a dry sense of humour that Dginnie appreciated.
Frinya spotted her first.
"Dginnie! Are you coming to lunch?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"Come with us. Pell knows somewhere that does decent food without charging a fortune."
Pell looked mildly offended.
"I know several places that do decent food."
"Yes, but most of them are too far away."
"That's because you refuse to walk."
"I have short legs."
"You have perfectly ordinary legs."
Frinya ignored him.
Dginnie smiled. "All right. I'll come."
Frinya looked pleased.
As they walked towards the dining area, she glanced at Dginnie's stomach.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Good. I heard you'd been unwell."
Dginnie nodded.
Frinya seemed about to ask something else, then stopped herself.
Pell noticed.
"If you're going to ask whether she's pregnant, you might as well do it properly."
Frinya looked at him.
"I wasn't going to."
"You were thinking about it."
"That doesn't mean I was going to ask."
Dginnie laughed despite herself.
Frinya looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I don't want to pry."
"It's all right."
Pell shrugged. "Most people already know."
Frinya elbowed him.
"What? They do."
Dginnie sighed.
"I think I'm the last person to find out."
Pell considered that.
"Possibly."
Frinya gave him another elbow.
But the conversation left Dginnie with a question she couldn't quite put aside.
If everyone could smell that she was pregnant, and if they expected her to announce it, what did they think she was hiding?
And if they had already noticed that she had formed matebonds, what did they think of her refusal to discuss those too?
She was beginning to suspect that the silence she had intended as privacy was creating an impression she had never meant to give.
--------------------------------------------
Chapter 64: New Friends
Merrow requested a meeting with the Dginnie, Halven and Kael.
Dginnie was a little surprised when she arrived at the appointed room and found both Halven and Kael already there. Merrow looked unusually serious.
"Thank you for coming," she said, gesturing for them to sit. "I'm afraid I have something unpleasant to discuss."
Halven settled beside Dginnie, while Kael took the seat on her other side.
Merrow glanced at Dginnie before continuing.
"You are aware that your compatibility sessions have been cancelled?"
Dginnie nodded. "Because I've fulfilled the scholarship requirements by forming matebonds."
"Correct. That was the understanding, and I considered the matter concluded. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees."
"What do you mean?"
"Someone has been making enquiries about having the sessions reinstated after you give birth. The argument is that, given your particular status, it would be in your best interests to obtain additional mates who can help provide for you and your future cubs."
Dginnie stared at her.
"But I already have two mates."
"Yes. I have pointed that out."
Merrow sighed.
"They seem to believe that you would benefit from having as many suitable mates as possible. They are also suggesting that the academy has a responsibility to facilitate this."
Kael's ears shifted backwards.
"Who is making these demands?"
"I don't have the full picture yet. I have been approached through my supervisors, and I have already sought their support."
Merrow paused.
"Unfortunately, they disagree with each other. One believes the proposal is reasonable and should be pursued. The other thinks it is inappropriate, but neither is willing to intervene. They have effectively left the decision to me."
"And if you refuse?" Halven asked.
Merrow looked down briefly.
"I have been advised that the academy may need to reconsider the position and appoint someone more willing to fulfil its responsibilities."
The room fell quiet.
Dginnie felt a knot forming in her stomach.
"Are they threatening to take your job?"
"They haven't said so directly."
"But that's what they mean," Kael said.
Merrow gave a small, tired nod.
"I have worked here for a long time. I would rather not lose my position over this, but I also don't believe it is appropriate to pressure Dginnie into further compatibility sessions when she has already fulfilled the requirements of her scholarship."
Halven regarded her thoughtfully.
"I will arrange for someone to handle this matter."
Merrow looked up.
"Professor?"
"I will have the appropriate people investigate who is making these requests and what authority they believe they possess. In the meantime, I would prefer you not to feel obliged to comply with anything outside your proper responsibilities."
"But if they decide to replace me..."
"Then I will help you keep your position."
Merrow looked uncertain.
"And if that isn't possible?"
"Then I will ensure that you are properly compensated and helped into a better position elsewhere."
She stared at him.
Halven's expression remained calm.
"I know the kind of person you are, Merrow. I know how hard you work, and I know that you have been looking after Dginnie and ensuring that her scholarship arrangements are properly managed. I would not consider it acceptable for you to suffer professionally because you refused to participate in something you believed was wrong."
Merrow blinked.
For a moment, she seemed unable to find an answer.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Dginnie reached across the table and touched her hand.
"I'm sorry they're putting you through this."
Merrow gave her a small smile.
"Don't be. You haven't done anything wrong."
Halven nodded.
"Nor should either of you be made to feel otherwise."
He leaned back slightly.
"I will take care of the matter. Merrow, please continue with your usual duties, and let me know if anyone approaches you with further demands. Do not put your position at risk by attempting to handle this alone."
Merrow nodded.
The tension in her shoulders seemed to ease a little.
After the meeting, Dginnie remained quiet as they walked back towards Halven's office.
She had thought that fulfilling the scholarship requirements would settle the matter. She hadn't imagined that someone would continue trying to arrange additional mates for her after she had already formed two bonds.
And now Merrow was being put under pressure because she had refused to help them.
Dginnie looked at Halven.
"Are you really going to help her if she loses her job?"
"Yes."
"Even if it becomes expensive?"
Halven glanced at her.
"Dginnie, I am not going to allow someone who has worked hard and treated you fairly to be punished for doing her job properly."
She considered that, then nodded.
She was glad Merrow had someone willing to stand beside her.
And she was beginning to understand that the people trying to influence her future might not stop simply because she had already chosen her mates.
--
Dginnie was beginning to look forward to seeing Frinya and Pell.
They had different approaches to studying, which made working together surprisingly useful.
Frinya liked to talk through problems. She often arrived at a conclusion by explaining several possibilities aloud, discarding each one as she went.
Pell preferred to read the question quietly, consider it, and then offer a short answer that made Frinya accuse him of having done the work in his head without sharing any of the interesting parts.
Dginnie was somewhere between them.
She liked discussing a problem, but she also enjoyed working through the details herself.
They had started sitting together during some lectures, and occasionally met in the library to compare notes.
It was pleasant.
It was also the first time since returning to the academy that Dginnie felt she might be making friends.
Not everyone was so welcoming.
She had begun to notice the way some students looked at her. Before her relationship with Halven became widely known, a few had treated her as someone who was unlikely to have much influence or money.
Now that she had a dragon mate, their attitudes had changed.
Some were suddenly much more interested in speaking to her.
Others seemed to resent the change.
One student who had previously ignored her now smiled whenever they passed. Another made a pointed remark about how quickly some people could improve their circumstances.
Dginnie wasn't sure whether the remark was intended as a compliment.
She was beginning to understand that her association with Halven brought its own baggage.
---
The first invitation came from a small group of students who had been friendly in class.
They suggested lunch after a lecture and invited Dginnie to join them.
She accepted.
The conversation was pleasant enough until one of the women began talking about household arrangements.
"Of course, it becomes much more complicated when you have cubs," she said. "You need enough people around to help."
Another student nodded.
"Especially if both parents work."
"Exactly. You need additional income, or someone who can stay home. And if you have several cubs, you need enough hands to look after them."
The woman turned towards Dginnie.
"You're fortunate. You won't have to worry about that."
Dginnie looked up from her meal.
"Why?"
"Your dragon mate is wealthy, isn't he?"
Dginnie hesitated.
"He has sufficient funds to keep me comfortable."
The woman laughed.
"Comfortable? I think that's putting it mildly."
Another student joined in.
"With a dragon, you could probably afford to have a whole household staff."
Dginnie didn't know what to say.
The first woman continued.
"Not everyone is so fortunate. Some of us need to think carefully about who we choose. It's not enough to find someone attractive. You need to consider whether they'll be able to support a family."
"That's understandable," Dginnie said.
"Of course. And it's why having more than one mate can be useful. More people to contribute, more people to help raise the cubs. It isn't always about romance."
Dginnie looked down at her plate.
She understood the practical argument. She had spent enough of her life worrying about money to know that a household needed resources.
But she was beginning to wonder why the conversation had been directed at her.
The woman smiled.
"You're in a very good position. You should make the most of it. Let us know if you're looking for any more mates. We can help recommend some beastmen to you."
"I also have a cousin who would make Avery good mate if you're willing to meet with him."
Dginnie gave a polite smile and declined.
She was no longer certain that the invitation had been made because the woman wanted her company.
A few times over the next few days, Dginnie joined classmates for breaks and lunches only for them to turn out to be unexpected set ups for people to introduce potential mates to her. It made her amused at first, then annoyed, and then furious.
Thankfully Frinya and Pell often were there to help her turn down some of the more persistent suitors.
At the end of the week, she received another invitation.
This time, the group was larger. One of the students mentioned that a few other people would be joining them, and that they had arranged a pleasant place to eat.
Dginnie considered declining.
Then she thought of how easily she could become isolated if she refused every invitation that made her uncomfortable.
She wanted friends.
She wanted to be able to enjoy lunch with other students without having to examine every word for hidden motives.
So she accepted.
Frinya and Pell were not attending this particular gathering, but Dginnie had spoken to several of the others before and thought she knew them well enough.
The outing was pleasant at first.
There was conversation about classes, an upcoming assessment, and a lecturer whose habit of giving students impossible hypothetical scenarios had become something of a running joke.
Dginnie found herself laughing.
For a little while, she forgot to be cautious.
Then one of the students announced that another person would be joining them.
Dginnie looked up.
The newcomer was not someone she recognised.
He was a six-armed insect beastman.
Serevin.
She had seen him before, although she had not expected to encounter him here.
He smiled when he noticed her.
"Dginnie."
Her stomach tightened.
She had not told him where she would be.
One of the students shifted in their seat.
"You know each other?"
Serevin's attention remained on Dginnie.
"We've met."
Dginnie set down her cup.
She was beginning to understand that this gathering might not have been as spontaneous as she had believed.
------------------------------------------
Chapter 65: An Unwelcome Guest
Serevin pulled a chair towards the group.
Dginnie did not like the way he looked at her.
She tried to remain polite.
"Hello."
"You're looking well," he said.
"Thank you."
He settled into the chair, his attention fixed on her.
One of the students cleared their throat.
"We were just discussing the upcoming assessments."
"How interesting."
Serevin did not sound interested.
Dginnie turned towards the others and tried to continue the conversation, but he kept directing questions at her.
How was she feeling? Was she enjoying her studies? Had she been spending much time with her mates?
The questions were personal enough to make her uncomfortable, but not quite direct enough to give her an easy reason to object.
When she gave short answers, he seemed amused.
Eventually, he moved his chair closer.
Dginnie shifted away.
"You're very cautious," he remarked.
"I don't know you very well and I've already rejected you before. Several times."
"That can be remedied. You can always change your mind."
One of the students intervened.
"She isn't interested in meeting anyone."
Serevin glanced at him.
"I wasn't aware you spoke for her."
"I don't. I'm telling you what she said."
Dginnie was grateful, but the situation was becoming increasingly unpleasant.
Serevin smiled again.
"I only wish to make her acquaintance. There is no need to be so defensive."
Another student looked uncomfortable.
"Perhaps you should leave her alone."
"Why? Has she told you something?"
Dginnie stood.
"I think I'm going to go."
Serevin rose too.
"Allow me to accompany you."
"No, thank you."
He reached towards her.
One of the students moved between them.
"She said no."
For a moment, the gathering became awkwardly silent.
Serevin's expression hardened, trying to push past.
The other students were now visibly unhappy with him and stood up to block the way. They argued with him, insisting that he had been invited to join them socially, not to harass someone.
Dginnie didn't stay to hear the rest.
She moved away with two of the classmates, both of whom seemed genuinely concerned.
They did not leave the premises immediately. Instead, they took her towards the academy's administrative wing, where Halven's office was located.
Dginnie was relieved to see the familiar corridor.
One of the students hurried ahead to alert the staff.
Halven's office door opened a moment later.
He was on his feet before Dginnie reached him.
"Dginnie?"
"I'm all right."
He looked at her face, then at the two students accompanying her.
"What happened?"
One of them explained.
Halven listened without interrupting. His expression became increasingly still.
When the explanation was finished, he thanked the students for bringing her to him.
Dginnie stepped inside.
Halven closed the door.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"Did he touch you?"
"He tried to."
Halven's eyes narrowed slightly.
Dginnie reached for his hand.
"I'm all right."
He looked down at her hand, then back at her.
"I am glad you are safe."
---
The students who had brought Dginnie to the office remained nearby for a while.
One of them seemed reluctant to leave.
"There is something you should know," she said to Dginnie and Halven.
Dginnie looked at her.
"About Serevin?"
The student nodded.
"His species is not particularly selective about reproductive hosts."
Dginnie frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The woman glanced at Halven, then back at Dginnie.
"Insect beastmen have reproductive methods that aren't restricted by the same conditions as most other beastmen. A woman being pregnant doesn't necessarily prevent them from implanting an egg."
Dginnie went very still.
"An egg?"
"Yes. They can implant one in a host who is already carrying a child. The existing pregnancy doesn't always survive."
The words took a moment to settle.
Dginnie looked down at her stomach.
"Even if she's already pregnant?"
"Yes."
Halven's expression had become cold.
The student continued, more carefully.
"I thought you should know. You may need to be careful around him. His species isn't always particular about whether a woman is willing, either."
Dginnie felt suddenly chilled.
She had known that Serevin was persistent. She had not understood that his interest could pose a danger to her pregnancy.
"Thank you for telling me."
The student nodded.
"We should have been more careful about inviting him."
The other classmate looked uncomfortable.
"We didn't expect him to behave like that."
Dginnie believed that they were sorry. She was less certain that they had understood the seriousness of the situation before it happened.
After they left, she remained quiet for a while.
Halven sat beside her.
"Are you frightened?"
"A little."
"Understandable."
She looked at him.
"Is that why you were so concerned about me going out?"
"Partly. I did not want you to feel that you had to stop socialising, but I have been concerned about the possibility of someone approaching you for reasons other than friendship."
Dginnie lowered her eyes.
"I thought I was being careful."
"You were. You had no reason to expect someone would deliberately arrange for him to join you."
She sighed.
"I don't think I want to go out with that group again."
"Then you needn't."
He paused.
"There is something else I would like to discuss."
"What?"
"I would prefer you to spend your breaks here for the time being."
Dginnie looked at him.
"At your office?"
"Yes. It is safer, and I can arrange for you to have lunch here. If you wish to see Frinya or Pell, they can join you."
"I don't want to stop making friends."
"Nor do I want you to. I would simply prefer that you not be placed in situations where someone can arrange an introduction without your knowledge."
Dginnie considered it.
"All right."
Halven gently squeezed her hand.
"I don't want you isolated, Dginnie. I want you safe."
She leaned against him.
There was something else troubling her, though.
"Halven?"
"Yes?"
"Do people know about us?"
He looked at her.
"Your matebonds?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
Dginnie covered her face.
"Oh, no."
Halven's mouth curved faintly.
"I'm afraid it isn't a secret."
"Everyone knows?"
"Quite possibly."
She groaned.
"And the pregnancy?"
"That is even less likely to have escaped notice."
"How does everyone know and why did no one tell me?"
"Your scent has changed. When beastmen form a matebond, it changes their scent. And then a beastwoman is pregnant, well, pregnancy has a very distinctive scent, even early on. It's very hard to cover up or hide. And no one told you, because everyone assumed that you knew."
Dginnie sank further into her seat.
"There's no need to be afraid to talk about your mates or matebondings or your pregnancy. You have done nothing to be ashamed of. And it's not like you don't like Kael or me, do you? You aren't ashamed to have us as your mates are you? "
Dginnie shook her head, feeling mortified.
"And we aren't ashamed of you either."
She had thought she was being discreet.
Apparently, she had been the only one who hadn't realised how much everyone else already knew.
----------------------------------------------
Chapter 66: Behind Closed Doors
Dginnie began spending her breaks in Halven's office.
It was not quite the same as going out with classmates, but it was better than sitting alone in the library while wondering whether someone might be arranging another surprise encounter.
Halven made room for her at a small table near the window. He arranged for meals to be brought in, and she was free to study, read, or simply rest.
He also made it clear that she could invite people she trusted.
Frinya and Pell were among the first to visit.
Frinya seemed delighted by the arrangement.
"You have a lovely office."
"Thank you," Halven replied.
Pell looked around.
"It is rather large."
"I find it useful."
"For what?"
"Working. Meeting with students and staff. Making space for my mate and her friends."
Pell considered this.
"Fair enough."
Dginnie laughed.
The two students settled in for lunch, and Halven returned to his desk. He occasionally joined their conversation, but mostly allowed them to talk among themselves.
It was pleasant.
Perhaps she could maintain some friendships after all.
---
The next few days passed quietly.
She attended lectures, completed her assignments, and continued to enjoy the accounting and finance classes.
Her lecturer had begun a series of examples about business failures caused by poor internal controls. Dginnie was particularly interested in one case involving a company whose purchasing manager had been able to approve orders, receive goods, and authorise payments without any independent checks.
The lecturer described how the manager had gradually created fictitious suppliers and diverted money over several years.
"Now," he said, "what would have prevented this?"
Dginnie and several other students raised their hands.
The lecturer pointed to someone else first, then returned to Dginnie.
"Separation of duties," she said. "The person authorising purchases shouldn't also be responsible for confirming receipt and approving payment."
"Precisely. And why?"
"Because a single person shouldn't have control over every stage of a transaction. Independent checks make it harder to conceal fraud."
The lecturer smiled.
"Very good. A business does not necessarily fail because it lacks intelligent people. Sometimes it fails because it gives one person too much unchecked authority."
Dginnie wrote the sentence down.
She liked that lesson.
It seemed applicable to more than accounting.
---
The relative calm did not last.
One afternoon, she received a summons requesting her attendance at a meeting with academic representatives.
The notice was brief. It gave a time, a room number, and the names of several senior staff members.
Dginnie assumed it concerned her scholarship or perhaps the arrangements for her continued studies during pregnancy.
She mentioned it to Halven.
"Would you like me to accompany you?"
"I don't think it's necessary. It's an academic meeting."
"Very well. Let me know how it goes."
She nodded.
He did not press the matter.
Dginnie went to the meeting at the appointed time.
The room was occupied by several people she recognised from the academy's administration. There was also an unfamiliar individual seated at the far end of the table.
He introduced himself as a representative of an official department that Dginnie didn't recognise.
Dginnie took her seat.
The meeting began politely enough.
They asked about her health, her studies, and whether she was receiving adequate support from her household.
Then the conversation changed and the air seems to grow more still and stuffy.
The official spoke about her unusual biological status.
He explained that pure-blooded humans were exceptionally rare and that their reproductive compatibility was of considerable importance to the wider beastman population.
Dginnie listened, increasingly uncomfortable.
The man spoke about declining bloodlines, dwindling populations, and the responsibilities of individuals who possessed unusual biological advantages.
He did not use the word obligation.
He did not need to.
"We understand that you have already formed two matebonds," he said. "That is a positive development. However, there are still many clans whose circumstances require attention."
Dginnie looked at him.
"What does that have to do with me?"
"Your situation is rather unusual. It would be sensible to ensure that you have sufficient support and that your future arrangements are made with appropriate consideration."
"I already have a household."
"Of course. But there may be additional opportunities for you in the future."
Dginnie felt her stomach tighten.
"What opportunities?"
The official smiled.
"Introductions. There are several suitable individuals who may be of interest to you once your present circumstances have settled. You are encouraged to choose new mates from among them to help support your household."
"I don't want any more introductions."
"That is something we can discuss at a later date when the time comes."
"No. I don't want them."
The smile faded slightly.
"We would naturally prefer to see you complete your education. It would be unfortunate if difficulties arose with the continuation of your scholarship."
Dginnie stared at him.
"I was under the assumption that the rest of my scholarship is being funded by my mates."
He brushed that aside with the wave of a languid hand and continued in the same mild tone.
"The academy has responsibilities, and scholarship arrangements are subject to certain considerations. We would hate for you to find that your current circumstances made it difficult to continue."
She understood.
If she refused to cooperate, they could make her lose her scholarship.
Her degree.
Everything she had worked for.
She felt furious, but the anger was tangled with fear.
She had no idea what authority this person actually possessed, or how much influence he had over the academy.
She was still trying to find a response when the door opened.
--------------------------------------
Chapter 67: A Matter of Public Interest
Halven entered the room.
He looked composed.
His clothing was neat, his expression controlled, and his voice perfectly even.
Only Dginnie noticed that he seemed slightly out of breath.
He had come quickly.
Very quickly.
"Good afternoon," he said.
The senior staff members looked surprised.
The official stood.
"Professor Halven. We weren't expecting you."
"Clearly."
Halven approached the table and took the empty seat beside Dginnie.
He glanced at her.
"Are you well?"
She nodded.
He turned towards the official.
"I understand that you are discussing matters concerning my mate."
The official smiled.
"We were simply discussing her future and the responsibilities associated with her particular status."
"Indeed? Then perhaps you could explain why this discussion has not gone through the appropriate channels."
The man paused.
"I don't believe that is necessary."
"I disagree."
Halven rested one hand on the table.
"Why has no formal request been submitted? Why has the registered household not been consulted? Why was I not informed that someone intended to discuss Dginnie's reproductive arrangements?"
The official's expression tightened.
"This is a matter of broader social importance."
"That does not answer my questions."
"We are attempting to protect the future of several declining bloodlines."
"By threatening a student's education?"
"We have made no threats."
Halven looked at him.
"Then I suggest you review the wording of your remarks. I heard you from outside the door."
Dginnie sat quietly beside him.
She had never seen Halven behave quite like this.
He wasn't raising his voice. He wasn't making dramatic gestures. He simply appeared to have become very difficult to move.
The official tried again.
"Your mate has an unusual biological status. There are responsibilities attached to that."
"She is aware of her status. She is also aware of her rights."
"Surely you understand that this is bigger than one household."
"I understand that you are attempting to make it bigger than one household because you would prefer not to acknowledge the rights of the individual involved."
The official's expression hardened.
Halven continued.
"Dginnie is currently carrying a dragon egg. Its development will take approximately a year. After the egg is born, there will be an additional period of incubation and care. Her health and recovery will be the priority."
He paused.
"She may eventually wish to have children with Kael. That is a matter for the two of them to discuss when the time comes. She is still young. There is no urgency that justifies imposing additional arrangements upon her."
The official gave a thin smile.
"You seem to have made considerable assumptions about her future."
"I have made no decisions on her behalf. I am explaining the practical circumstances you have apparently neglected to consider."
Halven turned slightly towards Dginnie.
"Her education is also important. She has worked hard for her place here, and she intends to complete her studies."
Dginnie looked at him.
He had remembered.
The official leaned back.
"Professor, you should be reasonable. The needs of society cannot always be subordinated to individual preferences."
Halven's expression changed very slightly.
"Be reasonable?"
He repeated the words quietly.
"Let us discuss reason, then."
He folded his hands.
"You are attempting to arrange additional mates for a woman who is already bonded to two individuals. You are doing so without her consent, without consultation with her household, and without any proper legal process. You are also suggesting that her education may be placed at risk if she refuses."
He looked directly at the official.
"Explain which part of that you consider reasonable."
The man said nothing.
Halven continued.
"Furthermore, I would like to know which organisation has authorised this approach."
"That information is not relevant."
"Then I will assume that you have no intention of providing it."
The official's patience was beginning to fray.
"You may find that your position does not give you as much authority as you believe."
Halven regarded him for a moment.
Then he reached into his jacket and placed a small identification device on the table.
The dragon clan insignia appeared on its surface.
The room became very quiet.
The official knew who Halven was. There was no need to explain his family or lineage.
But the insignia made something else clear.
Halven was not speaking only as a professor, a wealthy individual, or a mate.
He was speaking with the authority and interests of the dragon clan behind him.
"You may not wish to divulge it here, but I am already aware of your background. The organisation you represent," Halven said, "has dealings with several enterprises in which my clan has a substantial interest. I would advise you to consider carefully whether those relationships are worth jeopardising."
The official's face changed.
"That is an unreasonable threat."
"Is it?"
Halven's voice remained calm.
"You asked me to be reasonable. I am explaining the consequences of your actions."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Dginnie is a person with legal rights. Her status does not remove those rights. As her chief mate, I have legal responsibilities towards her, and those responsibilities include protecting her life, health and safety. Given her unusual biological status, those obligations are not diminished. They are more significant."
He let the words settle.
"Any attempt to compel her into additional mating arrangements, or to interfere with her education as a means of obtaining her compliance, will be treated as a serious violation. Dginnie is considered a part of the dragon clan now. I advise you and those of the people behind you make your moves wisely."
The official looked around the table.
The academy representatives were no longer watching, but looking down as if the floor or table were significantly more interesting than the discussion.
Halven stood.
"I expect this meeting to end here. Any further communication concerning Dginnie's status or future arrangements must be made through the proper channels and with her informed participation."
He offered no further explanation.
He simply turned to Dginnie.
"Shall we go?"
She stood.
"Yes."
Halven placed a hand lightly at her back and escorted her from the room.
---
Outside, Dginnie let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding.
"Halven?"
"Yes?"
"How did you know?"
"Merrow was informed by a member of staff. She attempted to reach you, but someone purposely delayed her. She managed to get word to me."
"Is she all right?"
"I believe so. I will speak with her."
Dginnie looked up at him.
"You came very quickly."
Halven glanced down at her.
"I did."
She noticed again that his breathing was not quite as even as usual.
"Did you run?"
"No."
She looked at him.
He looked ahead.
"Not the entire way."
Dginnie almost smiled.
Then her expression fell.
"Halven, they really were going to take away my scholarship."
"I know."
"I don't want to lose my degree."
"You won't."
"You can't promise that."
"I can promise that I will do everything within my power to prevent it. And if anyone attempts to make you pay for refusing an improper demand, they will have to answer to me."
She looked down.
"I was scared."
Halven stopped walking.
He turned towards her and gently took her hands.
"I know."
"I didn't know what to say."
"You were not expected to handle that alone."
Dginnie swallowed.
He brushed his thumb over her fingers.
"We will deal with this together."
She nodded, feeling like she could finally breathe freely again.