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“I’ve managed to dull the mating heat for the time being,” Ely spoke. “But it’s only going to work if you two try to keep a handle on yourselves here. ”
It was then that Scheme noticed the machines she was tied to. She recognized most of them, but the one her right index finger was attached to had her brows drawing into a frown.
“Hormonal indicator,” Ely explained. “I had to readjust the hormones and trick your body into thinking Tanner had been doing the nasty with you. ” She waggled her brows suggestively.
Scheme stared back at her suspiciously before turning back to Tanner.
“This isn’t the doctor who checked me earlier. Someone should look for the real one. ”
Ely’s smile was self-deprecating. “I was wrong about you,” she said simply.
Scheme snorted. “I’m really not willing to go through this every time someone here gets in a snit. And put a leash on that kid; he’s dangerous. ” Her eyes drifted closed. “You guys need to learn how to avoid conflict,” she muttered. “Go to school. ”
“Do what?” Tanner chuckled.
“Go to school. Teaches you all kinds of neat stuff. Public school, hell of an invention. ”
She drifted, aided no doubt by the drugs dripping into that IV in her arm. She liked drugs, she decided. She really liked them.
“I’m gonna sleep,” she mumbled, frowning. She had done something really bad; she knew it. “Tell David mum. ”
“Mum?” Tanner’s voice sounded far away.
“Mums thaword,” she slurred. “Tell David mum. ”
And the curtain swept over her. It wasn’t dark, frightening or smothering. Just a gentle silken veil that covered her and eased her from the pain and the worry.
She would deal with David later.
“Ely?” Tanner whispered as he smoothed Scheme’s long hair back from her forehead and watched her worriedly.
“A week, she’ll be good as new. ” Ely shrugged. “The hormones will rush to heal her body first. It will delay the symptoms of the mating heat to allow the body enough time to strengthen for it. Ain’t Mother Nature great?”
Tanner sighed in relief. He couldn’t bear to have to take her in the shape she was in. It would have destroyed him.
“She’s strong,” Ely said. “I was listening to Jonas debrief David as the nurse checked him out. He said she fought to get him out of there, to get him away from Tamber. Then she traded herself for him, claiming she had information no one else had. ”
Tanner narrowed his eyes on her. “And Tamber believed her?”
Ely shrugged, but Tanner could detect the scent of her concern. She was bothered by this, more than she should have been.
“And David didn’t know what it was about?” Tanner asked her.
She shook her head. “He said he didn’t. ” The scent of nervous fear was a subtle fragrance now. She didn’t believe him, and neither did Tanner.
If Scheme was still holding secrets, then she would never be safe from Cyrus Tallant. Not that she was anyway.
“How long will she be out like this?” he asked, staring at her face, his chest aching with the bruises that marred her creamy flesh.
“She’ll be in and out for a few days,” Ely told him. “She’s hurt, Tanner, not dying. ”
“I want her in her own bed. ” He smoothed her hair back, feeling the silkiness of it even as he pulled free several more twigs. “I want her comfortable. ”
“I’ll take care of it,” Ely said softly. “She’s going to be okay, Tanner. I promise. ”
“This time,” he whispered. “This time. ”
He wiped his hands over his face, breathing out wearily. Tallant wouldn’t stop. He would never let Scheme go. Not until she was dead.
