Page 28 of Red King
Steel and I start walking. He chokes out a laugh. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?”
“I did tell you, but you didn’t listen.”
Is that true? It might be. Since when did I become so bullheaded?
“You should have told me not to go through with the demonstration,” I tell him.
“Actually, I thought it was a good idea.” Steel shrugs.
“Even though some humans can be timid?”
He nods. “We were not to know that this was going to happen. It was unfortunate that the human happened to fall on a rock. Most of the females enjoyed the demonstration. It’s safe to say that you were winning them over when the incident occurred. It was unlucky.”
Paisley knew it could happen. At least, she was worried that it might happen. She warned me and I didn’t listen. Maybe I should have.
“We might need to make a few changes,” I say, my mind working a mile a minute.
9
Paisley
I knock on the door.
“Come in,” someone with a firm voice shouts. I know it’s not Lauren. She must have visitors.
I stick my head around the jamb. Lauren is propped up on the sofa. Her head is bandaged. She looks a little pale but so much better than last night.
“I thought I would check in on you.” I smile.
“Come in,” Jacki says.
Carmen smiles at me. “Thank you for all you did for Lauren.”
“My lifesaver,” Lauren gushes. She looks tired but I know it’s the painkillers making her a little drowsy.
“Hardly.” I laugh softly. “I was just doing my job.”
“You woke me up every three hours last night,” Lauren says. “You must be exhausted.”
I hold back a yawn. “I’m fine. How’s the head?”
“Let’s just say thank goodness for painkillers. When they start to wear off, it starts to throb, but otherwise, I’m good.”
“You’ll be right as rain in a few days. Those stitches can come out next week.”
“I’m so glad you didn’t let Dr. du Pont shave my hair,” Lauren says.
“Dr. du Pont is by the book and a little old school,” I say. “He wasn’t wrong. The infection risk is greatly decreased by shaving the area, but in most cases, it’s unnecessary, especially since you’re on an antibiotic. You have such beautiful hair. It would have been a shame to shave a section off.”
“You’re telling me,” Lauren says, looking grateful. She even smiles.
There is a click and a hiss from the kitchenette. The scent of freshly brewed coffee fills my nose.
“Do you want to stay for a coffee? They have these fancy cappuccino machines in every apartment.” Carmen lifts her brows. “You probably have one, too.”
“I do.”
