Almost self-consciously, Charlotte laid a hand on an old leather-bound journal on the counter. While she’d rejected the magic books, Lizzie had loaned Charlotte her ancestor’s diaries for her travels. Granny Una had dealt with all sorts of supernatural pregnancies when she moved to the New World. Like had a way of recognizing like back then, and all magique mothers knew Una Popescu’s kitchen was a safe haven for all pregnant females, no matter what the species. Una kept careful records of her patients, the strange quirks and perils of their pregnancies and how she’d handled them. It had provided an invaluable guide to the women in Charlotte’s family.

“So, I’ll be honest, I’ve delivered dragon babies and I’ve delivered phoenix babies, but I’ve never delivered a hybrid of the two,” she told them. “And I have never delivered a giant metal egg for a non-dragon before. But no one else has, either, to my knowledge. I’m approaching this in the same way I imagine you approached your wedding. We’ll take a mix of cues from both of your biologies to make you as comfortable as possible. Anything you don’t want, as long as it doesn’t create an unsafe situation, we’ll do away with it. So, to start, I’m assuming you want the birth to take place in your cave in phoenix form?”

“Well, I definitely don’t want to try to push a giant metal egg out of my human parts,” Jillian retorted, making both Zed and Bael cross their legs in their seats.

“Agreed. Now, in terms of safety,” Charlotte said. “The last phoenix shifter I attended laid her egg in a nest of smoldering coals. And she burst into flames during contractions. So, I will be wearing fireproof gear for my own protection.”

“Smart,” Zed said. “I think we have firefighter gear in the parish hall. You could borrow it.”

“Thanks. That’s very helpful. Now, let’s take a look at the baby!” Charlotte said, wheeling the ultrasound cart towards the exam table.

“Do I get to stay for the ultrasound?” Zed whispered, his eyes going wide. “Is that all right, bebelle?”

“Well, someone has to catch Bael if he passes out. He got a little misty last time.” Jillian laughed and squeezed Zed’s hand as Charlotte drizzled warmed gel on her stomach. Charlotte turned toward the wall to hide her grin. Zed was going to be downright adorable with his own partner’s pregnancy.

“I didn’t cry,” Bael sniffed. “I had something in my eye.”

“Tears, probably,” Zed said, smirking.

“You want to talk about Herr Scalesenstuff and Dr. Squeakenstein?” Bael asked.

“No,” Zed muttered quietly as Charlotte switched on the ultrasound machine.