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Some might think her crazy given how long she'd know the dragonman, but she hadn't given up yet and wouldn't do so now.
Still, she needed as much information as she could gather. "My main question is whether me being pregnant will be enough to satisfy his dragon's need to claim? Because that seems to be where the problem lies, in that Alistair will hurt me if awake, with his dragon present, to complete the frenzy."
Layla placed her hands into the pockets of her lab coat. "If I were a betting person, I think it should be enough. After all, you'll carry Alistair's scent, and that should appease his inner beast." Layla reached out a hand and gently squeezed Kiyana's bicep. "I know it's not ideal, and probably not how you pictured being Alistair's true mate would turn out, but it's the best I can do."
She wanted to laugh nervously, but bit her lip instead. Kiyana's rosy dreams of Alistair carrying her off to bed, her being able to see his dragon in the frenzy, and better getting to know the dragonman before getting pregnant, were gone.
And yet, after spending nearly two weeks on Lochguard, it was fast becoming her home. Some might say she was rash when it came to her feelings concerning Alistair, but she'd never felt the same connection with any other man than she'd had with Alistair.
Even if they had
n't fallen in love with each other, she believed they could someday.
And Layla's proposition could be the only way she ever had a child with the dragonman she wanted a future with.
Uncrossing her arms, she stood tall. "I'm fine with the artificial insemination. But Alistair should have a say as well. This is too important a decision to make without him."
"Aye, I know. And I plan on asking him. However, I wanted to talk to you first. Not only will this change your life forever, but it also sets you on a path you can't change, Kiyana. Once you bear a dragon-shifter's child, there will always be a stigma attached to you in the human world, meaning that if things don't work out with Alistair, you might not get a second happy ending."
She put up a hand. "Don't say that. True mates are supposed to be a dragon-shifter's best chance at happiness, right? Besides, Alistair is kind, caring, and more honest than many people I've known in the past. Add him wanting to protect me—no matter how much I wished he'd have asked for my help with his problem—it all points to a man I want."
"Aye, well, then I'll talk with him. We'll also have to put you on hormones, to hopefully help the pregnancy take. It won't be easy, though, so prepare yourself."
She ignored the flicker of worry in her belly. "I can handle it."
"Then I'll be off to get things ready. As soon as Alistair's awake, I'll talk to him about it."
Layla moved toward the door, but Kiyana asked, "Can I see him at least once? You know, before I try to conceive his child?"
"I won't lie to you—I don't know. I can't risk his dragon waking up and taking control."
Her heart sunk a little. "I understand."
"Sorry, Kiyana. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. But know this—I will fight for whatever support you need, and will even convince Finn to expand your list of safe places so that you can see some of the other humans on Lochguard until Alistair is whole and sane again. Especially since talking with Gina and Holly will help you, I think, as they've both survived the pregnancies and births of their half-dragon-shifter children."
Human mortality was more common than anyone liked when it came to a human bearing a dragon-shifter's child. However, Kiyana knew Lochguard had much fewer complications in the last year or so than the other clans. She suspected there was a reason, but one she would ask about later, once Alistair was past the danger zone.
She motioned toward the door. "Then go and get everything set up. I'll be here if you need me."
After giving her a sympathetic look, Layla exited the office.
Kiyana immediately sat into the chair and took a deep breath. Without ever doing more than kiss Alistair, Kiyana might soon be carrying his baby.
It shouldn't make tears prickle her eyes, but it did. Not because she'd soon be pregnant. No, because she could still lose Alistair—or part of him, if his dragon went eternally silent.
She'd been strong for nearly two weeks, but right then and there, she wanted her mother to come up from the South and comfort her.
However, she didn't think that would be possible. So she'd merely have to take Layla up on her offer to speak with the other humans mated to dragon-shifters on Lochguard.
Chapter Fourteen
Several days later Alistair lay in his bed still inside the surgery, staring at Finn's face, and tried to think of how to reply to what he'd just heard.
A human blood transfusion was most likely his best chance at recovery, but by doing so, he'd probably end up sterile.
And the doctors weren't completely sure the solution would work.
Alistair asked, "Why would Kiyana agree to this?"
