The entire lagoon held its breath.
Every Lunareen eye glowed.
Every serpent-tail hovered.
Every scale shimmered with dangerous expectation.
Isabella, meanwhile, was experiencing a full spiritual crisis.
Her mouth opened. Closed.
Opened again.
Closed again.
Her brain was a broken drum.
Father of the child.
Child must survive.
Human mother.
Does your baby require the father?
Her eyes twitched.
Glimora patted her chest again, as if saying: mother, please don't die on us.
Isabella took one long, trembling inhale.
"No," she said.
All the Lunareen leaned forward.
"…No?" the Macho Sister repeated, tail swishing.
"I mean—NO—listen—YES—I MEAN—NO—WAIT—HOLD ON."
She waved her hands wildly like she was trying to land an airplane with body language.
The High Seraph's eyes narrowed. "Is the man the father of your child?"
"No!" Isabella shouted.
Every serpent hissed.
She immediately backpedaled. "YES—I MEAN—NO—NOT EXACTLY—UM—LISTEN—LET ME EXPLAIN—"
