My gaze drifted down to my belly. It was flat. Of course it was. I couldn't be pregnant.
I let out a shaky, humorless laugh. "Seriously, Nautilus. This isn't funny."
Leveret turned to me. "Why do you think he's joking? He sounds serious to me."
"I'm a spirit. You're a mortal. We're not physiologically compatible," I said weakly.
"Then how do you explain my uncle Nero? My uncle Nishiki? My cousins Zak, Cloud and River?" Leveret shot back.
That was right. Spirit blood ran through all of their veins. But their situation was different somehow.
I couldn't possibly be...
"Th-that's because Nautilus is the spirit equivalent of an alpha, and Dr. Pine is a human woman," I snapped. "It's easier for them to conceive."
Leveret stared blankly at me, like he waited for me to realize how stupid my argument was.
My heart pounded. I glanced in a panic from Leveret to Nautilus. Both of them watched me in silence. It felt like a big, disgusting joke... but they weren't laughing.
I backed up in the sand. My knees shook. My whole frame trembled. The world suddenly seemed so much grander. Everything felt clear, like a hazy film had been removed from my vision.
The weight of this knowledge uplifted my soul, yet I fell to my knees in the sand with a laugh.
"Animus," Leveret said gently. He kneeled beside me, his eyes full of love. "Are you okay?"
I was speechless. There were so many things I wanted to say, but I couldn't speak. I simply nodded.
Leveret put his arm around me. I was glad for his support, both physical and emotional. I still couldn't believe this was happening. I clenched my eyes shut.
Was this a dream?
Could I be wrenched from my trance and find out this was all a fantasy?
"Animus," Leveret murmured in my ear. "It's okay. Everything's okay."
I opened my eyes. Everything was the same. Leveret was still here, his strong arm embracing me.
"Am I... really pregnant?" I whispered.
"That's what Nautilus said."
A dark doubt nagged me. "He could be lying."
"I don't think so," Leveret said. "Nautilus has met multiple pregnant omegas in my family. And every time he told somebody they were pregnant, it was true."
Nautilus let out an arrogant huff. "Are you still convinced I'm lying? The nerve..."
"Can you please be nice to him?" Leveret said sternly. "Animus didn't think he could conceive, so I'm sure this is a big shock."
I nodded slowly. He hit the nail right on the head, as usual. Sometimes we were so in tune that it felt like he could read my mind.
"It's okay to be overwhelmed," Leveret said. His sweet, gentle voice was like a blanket wrapped around me. "It's a big change."
I leaned into him. "I'm pregnant."
"You're pregnant."
"I'mpregnant."