Magnus met her eyes, and he rolled his slowly. "Yes, of course you are both welcome to dinner." He wav
ed and walked out behind Rex.
The door closed, and Kari looked over at her mate. "So?"
"Yeah," he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well, this couldn't get anymore painfully awkward," the doctor said, standing.
Kari and Declan smirked at each other.
"Well, if my services are no longer needed..." The doctor stood.
"Just a moment, Doctor, if you have a moment. I was wondering if there is a treatment for homesickness?" she asked.
He blinked. "You mean actual homesickness?"
She nodded. "Meryn, the Unit Commander's mate had something of a meltdown earlier, and I am concerned for her, as she is with child."
The doctor's eyebrows snapped together, a frown overtaking his face. "Any kind of heightened emotion can raise blood sugar and blood pressure; neither are good for a woman when she carries. We must do everything possible to make sure that she stays healthy for the baby." He chewed on his lower lip for moment. "I'll swing by and make sure she's okay. At the very least, I could possibly give her low dose sedative. I have a feeling that she is being affected in the same way that the shifter children are."
"Shifter children?" both Kari and Declan asked at the same time.
The doctor nodded. "Like Elder Lionhart, I'll be staying here few days as well. As Declan was recovering, I had a few concerned wolf-shifter parents find their way down here to me to ask if I could look in on their children. Some of the shifter children are lethargic, despondent, and weepy. I have a feeling that they, like your Meryn, are just missing home."
"It could be from being underground for the shifter children," Declan volunteered.
The doctor snapped his fingers "Of course. I had forgotten all about that."
Kari looked from one to the other. "What am I missing?" she asked.
Declan winced as he adjusted his pillow before answering. "Most shifters and fae have a hard time at Noctem Falls. The lack of daylight, plants, sun, and wind affects them greatly."
The doctor tucked his clipboard under one arm. "The fae and shifters are very much creatures of the earth. I'll make recommendations to the parents to find a way to get the children to the surface for an hour so."
Declan nodded at the idea. "Find the unit leader Adriel Aristaios; he can make arrangements with the other fae and shifter unit warriors for topside time with the children." He turned to Kari. "Even we unit warriors need to take turns doing topside patrol. Being underground for so long can take a toll on us, I can't imagine what it's doing to the babies."
"I had no idea," she said.
"Thank you for your suggestion, Declan. I'll check in on you tomorrow." He grinned. "I know you're a new mating, but no funny business until I clear you for extracurricular activity. There are no food restrictions, so enjoy yourself at dinner." He wagged a finger at her. "And no feeding from him until I give the okay."
She looked down at her hands, blushing. Declan chuckled. When she heard the door close, she peeked up at him. "I meet the man of my dreams, cannot feed, cannot have sex, and our first date will be a horribly awkward, politically charged dinner with your brother and my new boss." She closed her eyes and tilted her head back. "Lovely."
"Man of your dreams, huh?" her mate said, sounding smug. There was a brief silence. "Wait...boss?"
CHAPTER FIVE
Kari kept her hands in her lap. "When I was freaking out about your injury, Avery suggested I help organize Magnus' office to center myself."
"Who's Avery?"
"My younger brother."
Declan scratched his head. "The little guy with blond hair and blue eyes? Kinda adorable?"
Kari laughed. "That is him, and please, do not let him hear you say that; he would be devastated."
Declan grinned. "You were upset?"