Dreams of the Forgotten by Lexi Ander Read Free Book Online Page B

Stoiler. In the beginning, they had sat on the porch and stared in the windows. Very peculiar behavior for the common bird but after extensive search, I didn't believe they were so common. I ordered a book online, an ancient tome that recorded Sumerian creatures and stories. I paid a hefty amount for it but I had a hunch, if Shirdals were walking around Middle America, then why not other mythical creatures?
I peered at the roof of the porch. The sun glinted off the copper feathers and made them appear to be a construct of metal. The birds were unnaturally still and trilled a sweet harmony that made me smile.
Yeah, if I was correct and I looked upon the great Simurgh, then the assassins might not be the only problem we had. What was I to think of the only creature that survived the destruction of the world, three times over, taking up residence in my backyard? I couldn't get lucky enough that some mischievous teenagers spray painted a bunch of birds. Well, fuck it all. If my hunch was accurate, I hoped the Simurgh didn't expect me to save the world.
C
HAPTER
F
OUR
    I lay on Nathan's exam table with my stomach gelled up. My brother was preparing to begin the sonogram when a scuffing sound in the front office drew him away. Ushna stood between the door and me, giving me a nice view of his delectable ass. Nathan popped his head in the door and I reluctantly pulled my gaze away from my visual treat.
    "Jory and Stan are here and want to watch, if you'll allow them?"
It'd been a couple of hours since I'd removed the enchantment from them. I was nervous but I didn't think they'd confront me here. Ushna would hand them their asses if they did and I might let him.
"Okay."
Ushna moved to my side and had given me the are you sure look. Ah, no, not so much, but I wouldn't tell him that, instead I smiled in reassurance.
They came in, hands in pockets and sheepish looks on their faces. It was their genuine smiles that put me at ease. Nathan sat down in his chair and took up the wand. This wasn't our first sonogram but Nathan started a verbal dialog.
"Tristan's gestation is sixteen weeks or four months. His body's internal structure not only has to rearrange itself so he can form and sustain a uterus, of a sort, to carry the babies, but because male hips are too narrow for birthing, his also has to develop a birthing channel. See this darkening line of skin? His body will release a chemical twelve hours before birth that will open this seam, allowing the babies to be born. After birth, the seam will mend together." Stan and Jory had stepped closer as Nathan spoke.
"He's huge! Is he going to pop out those puppies soon?" Jory quickly glanced away from me and blushed. Any other time, neither of us would've thought anything about his outburst. Jory always said what came to mind, filter be damned. Today had already been a day of harsh words and I refused to admit I was sensitive to his harsh criticism from earlier.
"You mean give birth?" Nathan scowled at Jory. "Tristan is nine weeks into his pregnancy. He's larger than normal because he'll have twins. He's a little over halfway through gestation. He'll gain the bulk of his weight the last half of his pregnancy. Since he's giving birth through a channel, the babies will be larger, around six to seven pounds each. I expect him to gain at least fifty, but up to eighty, pounds."
"Holy shit!" Stan exclaimed, staring at my stomach.
"Women have a higher average body fat ratio than men do. Tristan is all muscle and his body has to develop a cushion for his and the children's comfort."
The rest of the sonogram went by with Nathan pointing out the babies to Stan and Jory, who crowded around the screen, staring raptly as Nathan identified tiny hands and feet. The little black and white images enthralled everyone.
Nathan frowned and quieted for a moment.
"What is it?" Ushna immediately asked.
"Ah… nothing. I thought I saw…" Nathan repeatedly ran the wand over a location, moving and pushing. "It's