The King (Black Dagger Brotherhood #12)(163)

“I’m sorry?” Fritz said. “Sire?”

“Not you,” Wrath muttered. “And either she comes here or—”

“Fine, fine, I’ll go down to the clinic,” Beth murmured. “Just let me get dressed.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“I had a feeling you were.”

Exhaling a curse, he wondered how in the hell he was going to make it through this—either she was pregnant, in which case he was going to be scared shitless for how long? Eighteen months? Or she wasn’t, in which case he was going to have to help her through her disappointment.

Or … shit, she could lose the young, too.

That was the third option—oh, God, now he felt like throwing up.

“Thanks, Fritz,” he said, “I’ll be down—”

“Sire, I just wanted you to know that there will be workmen in the house this evening.”

“Workmen?”

“For the billiards room? The damage … was rather extensive. The floor needs to be entirely replaced, although the good news is that the original craftsmen are available. I hired them to come, and coordinated with Tohr. He was going to discuss this with you?”

“There’s been a lot going on.”

“But do not worry, sire. We have proper security measures in place. The workers have been background-checked by Vishous, and the Brothers will be on hand to supervise. I’m afraid there was no other option, assuming we wish to use the space again.”

“That’s cool. Don’t worry about it.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

As Wrath hung up, he refocused on the issue of his female. Marching over to the closet, he yanked on his leathers and a muscle shirt.

“Let’s go,” he announced as he put George’s halter on.

“Wrath, I’m going to be just fine…” There was a pause. “Oh, shit.”

Her footfalls hurried by him, and headed back for the toilet.

Calmly, Wrath returned to the phone—and got the butler to connect him to Doc Jane.

It was a little difficult to argue with the hubs about a doctor’s visit when Beth couldn’t get her head out of the bowl. Every time she thought the nausea was over, she’d get to her feet, go back out into the bedroom—and two minutes later, she’d be on her knees again on the marble floor, heaving up absolutely nothing.

“I don’t need to lie down,” she groused as she stared at the ceiling over their bed.

When Wrath didn’t reply, she turned her head on the pillow and shot a glare in his direction. He was sitting at the foot of the mattress, shoulders set, jaw locked, huge body still as stone.

“I’m fine,” she tacked on.

“Uh-huh.”

“This is going to be a really long couple of months if we worry about every little twinge.”

“You just tried to throw up your liver.”

“I did not.”

“So you were working on your pancreas?”

She crossed her arms over her chest.

“I can feel you glaring at me,” Wrath said.

“Well, I am. This is ridiculous.”

The knock on the door was quiet. So was the “Hello?”

“Come in,” Wrath said as he got up. Sticking his hand straight out, he waited for Doc Jane to come to him.

“Hey, you two,” the female said as she entered … and slowed down to look around at the suite. “Dear God, check out this place.”

“Over the top, right?” Beth said.

“Is it real?” Jane breathed as she shook Wrath’s hand. “I mean, like … the rubies and the emeralds. On the walls?”

“Yeah, they’re real.” Wrath shrugged as if it were no big deal. “They were part of the treasury from back in the Old Country. Darius had them installed here.”

“Pretty fancy wallpaper.” Doc Jane focused on Beth and smiled as she came over, all business. “So I understand you’ve been sick.”

“I’m fine.”

“No, she isn’t,” Wrath cut in.

“Yes. I am.”

Doc Jane put her old-fashioned bag down on the bedside table and cleared her throat. “Well, maybe we can just see how you’re doing anyway. Can you tell me what happened?”

Beth shrugged. “I threw up—”

“Like two dozen times,” Wrath interjected.

“It was not two dozen times!”

“Fine, three dozen—”

Doc Jane put up both of her palms and looked back and forth. “Um … you know what I’d like to do if it’s okay with you, Wrath? How about I talk to your mate one-on-one—I’m not kicking you out. I just think maybe things will go a little better if she and I had a second alone?”

Wrath plugged his hands on his hips. “She threw up. At least a dozen times. If she wants to sugarcoat it, fine. But those are the facts.”

“All right, thank you for that. I really appreciate it.” The doctor smiled. “Hey, you know what would be helpful? If you went down and got her some ginger ale and saltines from the kitchen.”

Wrath positively glowered. “You’re giving me a job to get rid of me.”

“As a bonded male, I know that you’re going to want to take care of her. And I think, if she’s nauseous, having those things in her belly might make her feel better.”