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She nodded and headed to the elevator with her clipboard. She went up to advertising, signed the contract, and then headed back down to the lab level.

If the semen belonged to the person she thought it did, it was not going to be handled on the med level.

There was a different tech with Kritz and Arcady. The older woman stepped forward, swabbed Cadence s arm, and injected the relaxant into her. Cadence exhaled slowly as her constant vibration ceased.

Kritz grinned. That s amazing. Thanks, Dr. Amber.

The woman nodded. You are welcome, Dr. Kritz. Miss, it should remain effective for about an hour.

Cadence nodded. Then we had better get this underway.

Kritz extended his hand. I am your brother-in-law.

Cadence chuckled. I know. I am please to meet you.

Amber came with them, and Arcady hugged her and held on the whole way through all the security doors and to the lab.

Kritz was grinning. She s very happy to see you.

She s seen me a lot, she just didn t recognize me. I got all the height in my sisters.

I forget she used to have hair and eyes that colour.

She smiled and looked down at the white hair. You searched out a combination that didn t exist in the capitol, right?

He grinned. You are very smart.

My intuition unravels things.

Amber had an ultrasound external unit ready. Cadence scraped her sister off and handed her to Kritz, got into a medical gown, and hopped onto the table for the standard recordings of different levels, pulse, blood samples, blood pressure, as well as temperature.

The temperature set off an alarm.

Amber went, got a warming canister, and slid a narrow tube into it.

Cadence blinked. So, like now?

Amber nodded. Now.

Kritz blinked. Record it all.

Arcady used her tablet and set off a number of cameras.

Cadence snorted. I would have shaved if I knew someone was going to be looking.

The warmer started humming.

Cadence muttered, Geez, they sound angry or hungry. I can t tell.

Arcady blinked. Are you sure?

I am sure. This is why previous attempts failed, by the way; your egg has to move with the little angry tadpoles. It has to be a match.

Kritz smiled but was watching the process as Amber got the instruments ready.

Amber said, We are doing IUI. So, I am going to get this tube through your cervix and let the sample have at you. Are you good with that?

I am fine. It s the least invasive option.

Amber talked her through the process, Arcady kept the external scanner over the uterus, Cadence gasped, and the tube showed up on the scanner.

Okay, here they go.

The flood of semen shot out of the tube, and they moved at an astonishing pace through the uterus, moving to the left en masse.

Cadence muttered, Holy shit, they are organized. I didn t think they could move that fast.

The ultrasound showed them the waiting ovum and the crowd rushing it. They surrounded it, and there was a flare that Cadence felt in every joint of her body.

Holy smokes. They were hunting. Arcady chuckled.

The group of sperm now escorted the egg down into the uterus and coached it to the wall.

Cadence blinked. I feel like I need popcorn. Those little guys are smart. Wow. They built a little castle to keep her in.

Kritz was scanning like mad, and his eyes were huge. That was unexpected.

Dr. Amber set the syringe and tube aside, and Kritz started laughing. He picked the tube up and put it against her thigh. She felt heat and vibration moving along her skin.

Cadence muttered, It s crawling into me, isn t it?

Arcady nodded. Off to defend my niece or nephew.

Cadence blinked. Or forming a cork. Who the hell is this guy?

Dr. Amber chuckled. He is a matter of national security. That is all you need to know.

Cadence looked at the woman. If side effects of his activation emerge, I will eventually need to know, but until they start singing show tunes, I am fine.

Dr. Amber chuckled. If that happens, contact Dr. Kritz, and he will let me know.

Cadence paused. Dr. Amber... are you related to the donor?

Need to know, Cadence. See you in a week for the check to see if it took.

Cadence watched her leave and speak quietly with Kritz. Cadence must have been mistaken, but it looked like Dr. Amber smiled and brushed a tear from her eye.

Arcady was still watching the goings on in Cadence s uterus. I think they are building a fort.

If they light a campfire, I am calling an end to the project. Cadence chuckled. She closed her legs and scooted back with Arcady watching the whole time.

If you think this is a show you are going to get to continue watching, my shot is going to wear off in about ten minutes.

Okay. Hugs!

Ack! Cadence laughed and caught her sister. Get them in while you can.

Kritz smiled. Why is it a time-limited offer?

My frequency will move her implants at a different rate than her flesh. It will hurt to touch me.

Kritz frowned. I did not include that in my calculations.

There was no reason to. She s happy the way she is, and she can hug me, but we have to prepare for it.

She smells so good, like lemon and honey and a hint of shortbread.

Kritz sniffed, and his eyes widened. She does.

My vibrations knock the scent out. Cadence chuckled. Okay, hug bug. I need to get dressed.

Kritz said, May I get a final look at what is going on?

She sighed and lay back. It isn t every day I let my brother-in-law lube me up.

He appeared startled, and Arcady laughed.

He got the gel under her navel and looked to find that the semen had locked into a protective circle.

That is very unusual.

She smirked. Right. Okay. Peep show is over. I think they are doing weirder stuff when we aren t looking.

He raised a brow, his horns gleaming. Weirder?

I have a high bar.

He smiled and wiped her belly and the wand, setting it aside. She pulled her gown down and removed the white drape from her thighs. She pressed her thighs together and looked at her sister.

What are you doing?

Baby registry.

Arcady. I am going to say this once. I don t get to keep anything that comes out of me.

Arcady frowned. But I see you holding a baby.

They will probably let me hold it when it comes out.

Oh. Arcady looked sad and reached for Cadence.

Cadence felt the vibrations start and looked to Kritz. Grab her.

Kritz followed directions and held Arcady back.

Cadence got dressed quickly and looked at Arcady. I have to get going. Mortimer will be upset enough as it is.

Arcady cleared her throat. You aren t going home. You are going to your new apartment.

You are kidding.

I am not. All your stuff is being moved right now, and there was a room in the building that met all the criteria. So, come on. I will take you to your new digs, or we can go for dinner while the moving is happening.

I don t really feel like sprinting around.

It s in the same building. And I am in the same building. She giggled.

What?

Kritz owns the building, only rents out to actives, and they have a floor that just had renovations and has huge suites, so you are being assigned one of them.

Oh. Well, thank you.

Kritz chuckled. I am billing the BDC accordingly.

Right. Well, can I get a long med coat or something?

Kritz nodded. Sure. Why?

Because only a force field will make Arcady stop hugging and sniffing me. I don t want her getting zapped.

Kritz nodded and left the exam room to get one of his coats. He brought her a blazer. This will confuse your scent a little and make her relax.

She slid it on and laughed as her hands flapped trying to leave the blazer. Thank you.

I am guessing you aren t scent sensitive.

Nope. If you aren t a taco, I am not interested.

Arcady gave her a side hug with both arms and giggled. This works.

Cadence checked her bank balance and smiled. I guess I can get dinner.

Arcady chuckled. Your food is on the BDC.

Oh. Great. Where are we going?

To Klauz s. It s in the same building, and you will be able to go up there and have a meal for lunch and dinner.

She sighed. This is going to be one expensive pregnancy.

Arcady squeezed her. I know.