Ria:
I just sat there for several minutes, looking at that fucking manila folder. Amazingly, something so small can hold so much devastation.
All I could do was sit there bleeding out, trying to remember how to breathe. Something so basic we don't even consciously tell ourselves to do it, our body just does.
Until suddenly it stops working right. Then we have to sit there, reminding our lungs to breathe in, breathe out, counting the seconds in between, feeling the burn if we wait too long. Trying to convince our body as well as ourselves that, yes, we still want to breathe.
I was aware of conversations going on around me, but I couldn't tell you what they said. The only things I knew were every printed word on those pages, the way the light hit the car in the photo, and the looks on every single member of my family.
It's funny, I ran away from the foster homes because of how awful everything was. I lived on the street, thinking someday I would get to make up for all the shit. I would have a real home with love and light. I thought I had achieved that with Beth. I thought life gave me a break for all of the god damn pain and suffering. I never could have imagined that life would deliver this blow.
I registered chairs scraping across the floor. Oh, they must be leaving. I got up and carried that folder with me to the room they assigned me.
I wonder if someone was coming to lock me in, or if they figured, after that, they didn't need to. My life had become a locked room.
I sat on the edge of the bed. I took out that last piece of paper from the folder. Then, meticulously, I folded it just right, so I had a picture of my family.
I had absolutely nothing else. Everything I had accumulated since living in Beth's house. Every picture, momentou, and keepsake is gone.
For the very first time, I was actually glad about my Hyperthymesia. It meant I could recall each conversation, each precious moment, with the people I loved most in this world. I no longer had physical things like pictures, cards, the stupid floppy hat Cin bought me because it was hilarious. Those things were gone forever, ripped away to make someone else happy. But I could close my eyes and remember everything, so that was, at least, something.
So I took that precious folded piece of paper and held it tight against my heart. I would need to find a safe place for it.
I heard footsteps behind me, but I didn't even bother turning around. I knew who it was, I knew the sounds of their steps.
I saw him through the corner of my eye. He was standing at the end of the bed I sat on. If he expected me to speak, he would be disappointed.
"This was never how I wanted all this to go. We were supposed to have time to do everything the right way. For us to date you, to build relationships, and then ease you into all of this. I'm sorry that's not how it went. I know, right now, it means absolutely nothing to you, but I hope, in time, you come to love my people as we do. Then maybe you will understand why we had to save them."
He sat down on the bed next to me, but not touching. I was stiff and leery of his proximity. I saw through the corner of my eye that his head suddenly snapped in my direction. Then he leaned in close to me. I leaned away and was about to get up and remove myself when he threw his arms around me and hugged me to him. Then he buried his nose in my neck and inhaled deeply. Then just as quickly as he'd grabbed me, he let me go, got up, and left the room.
I just sat there for a minute. Then I got up and opened the balcony curtains. I couldn't go outside as it was still locked, but I could see outside.
I sat back on the bed and watched the moonlight flicker over the clouds and the snow-topped mountains.
Drago:
I rushed from her room, frantic with this new information. My dragon was roaring in my head, and my heart was trying to pound out of my chest.
My family was in the cozy, non-formal family room. They were all pretty subdued. The look on her face as Senator Keeting told her about her new reality. It was gut-wrenching.
They all looked toward me as I entered the room.
"Cole, can I talk to you, please?" He was our medical professional, so if we ever had a question along those lines, he was the one we asked.
He looked slightly puzzled but walked to where I was standing. I lead him just a little further away. Right now, I don't want to broadcast this.
"What's wrong?" Cole looked at my face, trying to read me.
"For just this moment, this has to remain between just us." I watched him nod, concern showing on his face.
"Would it be too early to smell a change in Ria if she were pregnant?"
He utterly froze for a split second. I could see him counting in his head. Then he looked at me and said softly, "No. It would be enough time for implantation. This immediately triggers a cascade of hormones. With our super sensitive smell, we would pick up on the slightest change."
I nodded, "I need you to make up some reason to go in there with her. Get closer to her and tell me if you smell it. I need to know I'm not crazy."
He looked at me for just a moment, turned, and walked out of the room. I watched his back till he disappeared. Then I returned to my family.
They all looked at me quizzically, but knew better than to ask. They all wore different levels of sadness on their faces.
Natalia had told me about her conversation with Ria this afternoon. She was extremely sad, and I just encouraged her to give it time.
The three of them continued their discussion before I came in, but I was thinking about other things and not paying attention.
It was several minutes before I heard footsteps coming toward the room. I turned to watch Coal enter the room. When he looked at me, and I saw the awe written all over his face, and tears in his eyes, I knew.
I rushed forward and embraced him; he hugged me back. Then we pulled away, laughing with glee. The others were watching us, open-mouthed.
We walked over to them, "Ria's pregnant."
They were all speechless. "Are you sure? How do you know?" Cinder stumbled all over himself.
"Earlier, when I went to speak with her, I sat on the bed next to her. I could smell a change in her, so I hugged her and buried my nose in her neck. That sweet smell was unmistakable."
"Drago wanted me to double-check he wasn't crazy. So I went to check her feet. The moment I lifted her foot towards my face, it hit me."
Ash just looked at both of us, "Holy fucking shit. When was the last time a female got pregnant during mating?"
Cole chimed in, "I don't know, I'd honestly have to look it up, it's been so long ago."
"Everyone is going to lose their minds. Can you imagine what everyone will feel when they smell her?" Cinder was smiling hugely.
"Well, the problem might be telling Ria. I'm not sure she can handle any more thrown at her right now. I was wondering why I hadn't felt her dragon ready to shift. She's there, but she was not venturing close." I looked at Cole in question, wondering what he thought.
"Well, we know she won't be able to shift while pregnant. Also, her dragon will be incredibly protective of the baby, so that could be why she's staying deep, keeping close to the little one. Not to mention, she is probably being affected a lot by Ria's emotions."
"Do you think that when her dragon gets closer to her, it will help with this whole situation? I mean, our dragons are instinctive, so she would naturally accept the mating with our dragons."
I looked at Ash as I answered, "Maybe. It will definitely help. It might help even out some of Ria's emotions to have the dragon's no emotion, just instinctual outlook."
"Well, let's hope so. I want my damn friend back." Natalia sounded sad about that. Cinder reached over and hugged her.
"Natalia, I am going to assign two guards to you because I need you to take her shopping. She has nothing besides the few items we bought her. We can get her back into the closet tomorrow and show her that stuff. We also need to discuss whether she can redo her room. Maybe giving her a project will help her."
They agreed to discuss it with us at breakfast in the morning.