Dragoncrest Cliffs & Lord, ye gave me a rare woman, (mtr.)

Does it--does it hurt? He'd never paid much attention to pregnant women; he'd never stuck around a lady of his long enough to see her stomach swell. This was a novel experience, and it was both interesting and terrifying. What was it like to have something within you?

He grew noticeably uncomfortable as Aure admitted she needed to see him, and grimaced a little, though for his own sake, not hers. Aure. . . Verx trailed off, a small sigh escaping his nostrils. For a long moment, he grappled for the right words. Hell, at this point, were there any right words? Nothing he could say or do could erase what had happened.

Then his eyes met hers, and the instant connection was shocking in intensity. I'm sorry for acting out like I did, he finally admitted. I don't handle grief well at all, and I turn into an asshole when I feel trapped in a corner. Part of what I said was true, but not all of it, and I sure as hell didn't mean to say it like that. You don't deserve that.