Page 91 of Storm

“How can you tell something’s wrong?” I ask. The idea that someone can touch my body and tell me what’s going on inside is wild. Magic. Melek has a sixth sense about my body, but only mine. Which makes sense now, being mates.

“Your body speaks to me. That’s just how my skills work. It did take many years to narrow down the voices going on inside each individual to pinpoint the areas I need to focus on. That came with time and practice, and now, it’s easy.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal to be able to heal people with your own body. Her magic brought me back from the brink of death. “What wasn’t easy was that Diviner magic of Melek’s. If he’d—” Closing her fluttering, long golden eyelashes, she shakes her whole body on the spot, a tinkling sound coming from the earrings gracing her lobes. “New wounds are easy. Old wounds are hard. Let’s see what I can do with you.” Her comment about the Diviner magic intrigues me. I still haven’t told Melek about his magic, or that he used it on me. My mate doesn’t remember any of his time from when he went feral, and I’m still deciding if that’s for the best. I’ll break the magic stuff to him when he’s more settled and less prone to fits of rage.

So, basically, I’m telling him never. Excellent plan, Storm. I groan inwardly.

“How long will it take?”

Pondering ‌that for a few moments, she answers. “No more than five minutes.”

“Where’s Melek?”

“He’s exploring the grounds with Sunny, Nix, and Ren.” She planned her moment well. I’ve got to admire her for that. I really don’t need Melek here for this. Not after how I saw him trying to keep himself together when she kissed me this morning.

“Okay. Let’s do this.” I shuffle further up to a seated position, and she reaches for something on the table.

“I love doing pregnancy check-ups. They are my favourite. Babies’ voices are so thrillingly enchanting.” Lips spread wide, she scoots closer towards me on the bed.

“Has anyone told you that you’re a bit strange?”

Purplish tonic potion in hand, Sera glowers unconvincingly. “If you heard the way they speak… They hold so much wisdom. The womb holds generations of stories, passed down from woman to woman. It’s like sifting through a history book. They are all so different and beautiful.” She sighs wistfully.

When the fae goddesses picked Seraphina, they really chose the right woman for the job.

She passes me the small vial, and I gulp it down without hesitation, surprised at its taste. “I did not expect this to taste like—” I lick my lips. “Is that licorice?”

“Yes, you got it. I always pride myself on ensuring that my healing tonics are not only practical but also taste palatable. My father, goddess bless him, created the most vile-tasting stuff.” Her tongue snakes out of her mouth in memory.

Before I sit back, Seraphina fluffs the pillows behind me. “Rest your head, please.”

I do as she says, lying back slightly as instructed, her voice changing in tone—the doctor and patient.

Sera scoots closer to my bump. “Are you okay for me to start now?”

“Go ahead. It’s not like I haven’t had random Halo doctors touching me before. May as well have a fae who at least knows what she’s doing.” Sera’s grimace at my words shows her disgust at my statement.

“A healer and a doctor are worlds apart.”

“I trust you.” She kept Sunny safe when I couldn’t. I owe this fae my life.

Helping me pull up my dress to expose my stomach, I notice how the stretch marks have diminished in thickness down my sides. This bump is bigger than my pregnancy with Sunny, with far fewer complications, which I’m going to put down to Melek’s blood and Sera’s healings.

The popping of a cap opening catches my attention. Sera’s eyes glaze over—a pearlescent opal, much like the colour of solence collected from the fae. Her lubricated fingers run delicately over the lower half of my stomach, an unknown scent to me, and rosemary, purifying the air.

“Do you want me to tell you what’s happening, or are you happy for me to do this without commentary?” That’s an option? Her fingers begin to knead the taut skin. My legs jolt at the touch.

“Commentary, please.” Her illuminated eyes blink, but they never shift into focus as her hands trail around the underside of my belly.

“I’m getting a picture of your inner shape in my head, where nerves end and start, what is connected to deeper areas of your body. Oh, and don’t mind the eye thing. I always forget to say that. I’m looking at your body with my third eye.”

Third eye? I’ll save that conversation for another time.

She glides her fingers around slowly, pressing on some particularly tender spots as she goes, making me squirm under her touch, a kick pushing back at her from the baby inside. “How am I meant to relax when that happens?”

Stilling her hands, the glaze from her eyes drops so she can shoot daggers at me.

“What’s that for?” I cross my arms.

“You’re as bad as a man, fidgeting. Stop complaining. Be still and close your eyes. Imagine her face, her little fingers and toes, the colour of her hair…” Sera trails off as I do what she says, closing my eyelids, trying to dissolve my fears about what she might find.