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Cats did it, too, for one. But Finn wasn't about to compare his dragon to a wee, scruffy beastie.
His dragon carefully swung them around and plodded toward the cottage. Because of their height, they easily deposited Freya into Arabella's outstretched arms, who still stood at the nursery window.
His mate instantly cuddled Freya close and murmured, "Don't do that again, love. Jumping out of windows isn't okay."
Freya grunted, and Finn would've laughed if he'd been in human form. He had a feeling Arabella would want bars on the windows within the week.
Not that he had time to dwell on that for long. Layla raced into the garden and poked Finn's side. "Take me up there."
His beast spoke up. I'm not a ladder or crane.
Just do it, dragon. For Freya's sake.
Fine, although I think Freya just wanted to play.
His dragon scooped up Layla with one forelimb and carefully deposited her on the window sill.
As soon as the doctor was inside, Finn imagined his wings shrinking, his snout returning to his nose and face, and his tail disappearing into his body. The second he was human again, he snatched his clothes, headed for the door, and raced up the stairs.
~~~
Arabella held Freya's little dragon form against her body and willed her heart to slow down.
She had her baby girl again, but the situation was far from stable.
Although as Layla crawled into the room, Arabella had to sit in the chair. Her little girl wasn't so little in her dragon form and probably weighed at least fifty pounds.
Layla crouched down to be eye level with Freya and said with a smile, "You may be the only female, but you've taken after your dad, haven't you? I can imagine him doing the same as a lad. We're almost the same age, after all. So I have lots of stories to tell you when you're older."
Arabella knew Layla was trying to charm Freya, but she could help but blurt, "Have you found out anything new?"
Layla switched her gaze to Arabella and continued to smile. "Maybe. Sid and Gregor think that the sedatives affected certain hormones in your body, which then created imbalances in your bairns. If they're right, then dispensing medication once a month or so until they're mature should keep the young dragons in their hiding spots inside the mind. At least, until they're mature enough to come out around the same time as everyone else, when they're five or six years old. We'll have to see how it goes after that, as maybe the imbalances will sort themselves out as they mature."
Arabella moved her gaze to her daughter and scratched behind one of her ears. Freya leaned into the touch and Arabella hesitated. Freya was so happy in her dragon form. What would happen if she took it away? She might resent her forever.
And yet, if she allowed Freya's dragon to come out as she pleased, it could end up turning her daughter rogue.
Her beast spoke up. Freya is clever. Maybe we can teach her dragon to shift back. If it fails, then use the medication to tame the dragon half.
It could be disastrous, and yet…
You want to talk with Finn and maybe try it, her dragon finished.
She looked back at Layla. "Once Sid has more information, let us know. I need to talk to Finn first."
Bobbing her head, Layla stood. "Of course, but I'm still going to check on the triplets daily for now. If it becomes dangerous, we might have to subdue their dragons, Ara. I know she seems happy, but if she turns rogue, then you could lose her forever."
Or, worse, the Department of Dragon Affairs could take her away and throw her in jail.
Some might cry or lash out at Layla's honesty, but Arabella took comfort in it. "You're becoming a fantastic doctor, Layla. I can't wait to see what you accomplish in the future."
Layla's pale cheeks flushed pink. "I'm just doing my job."
"You are, but remember to take time for you as well. Working yourself to death won't help anyone."
Layla somehow worked more than Finn ever had before the triplets had been born, and Arabella worried about her. Especially since she knew that Chase McFarland—the younger brother of Grant—found every opportunity to drop in on Layla at the surgery and invite her out. Arabella thought a bit of fun would do the doctor good. Too bad Layla seemed not to notice the male's attention.
However, before she could suggest anything, Layla moved to the doorway. "Make sure she shifts back before too much longer. Watching her dad do it might help. I just don't want to risk her liking her form too much and then never changing back."
