Page 55 of Carnal Urges

At least the nurse has the good manners to look apologetic when she answers.

“The doctor didn’t tell you? You’re pregnant.”

SEVENTEEN

DECLAN

It’s so silent in the room for a moment, I can hear someone’s heart monitor beeping in another room down the hall. Then Sloane says flatly, “That’s impossible. I’ve been on the pill for ten years. You’ve got the wrong person.”

By this time, Nancy is looking extremely uncomfortable. She takes a single step backward toward the door. “Sorry. Maybe I’m mistaken. I’ll just send the doctor back in—”

“Stop.”

Though my tone is deadly soft, it does the trick. Nancy freezes in her tracks, swallowing.

Like the idiot doctor, she also knows who I am. Word gets around fast when a new king ascends the throne. “You ran a pregnancy test with the blood samples taken when she checked in?”

The nurse looks back and forth between me and Sloane, obviously wondering what kind of mess she just stepped into. “Yes. The doctor thought it was prudent considering—”

“No,” interrupts Sloane, her voice loud. “I had my period lastmonth. I’ve taken the pill every day since then. No missed days. I’m very careful. I’m not pregnant.”

“The pill doesn’t have a perfect success rate. And you can get pregnant during your period.”

Sloane says, “And you can get the hell out of my room with that bullshit before I give you two black eyes, Nancy.”

I stand. Nancy skitters back a few steps. I tell her to stop again, and she looks like she’s going to faint.

“Listen, I’m just the messenger. The doctor can give you more information than I can.”

I demand, “What’s the accuracy on those blood tests?”

“Ninety-nine percent.”

Fuck.“And how soon can it detect pregnancy after a missed period?”

“Within days.”

I look at Sloane, red-faced and infuriated on the bed. “Have you missed a period?”

Her lips thin.

“Answer the goddamn question.”

She admits grudgingly, “I was supposed to get it a few days ago. Or right now. My days are all mixed up.”

When I pass a hand over my face, groaning, she insists, “I’m not pregnant! I know my body! Nothing has changed!”

“Typically, you won’t start to feel symptoms until about week five or six.”

Sloane’s look could melt the skin right off poor Nancy’s face. “That’s a lot longer than it will take you to feel the symptoms of the kick I’m about to knock your teeth out with.”

I snap, “Sloane, shut it. Nancy, get out.”

Nancy spins around and runs out. When she’s gone, Sloane turns to me, insistent. “I’m not. I’mnot,Declan.”

“Aye. Except it sounds like you are.” Agitated, I start to pace.

“Well then, I’ll just have to deal with it.”