Page 41 of The Bonds of Indigo

If I’d listened to Butcher and left after the attack, maybe this could’ve been avoided.

“Because I couldn’t heal you,” he says, dragging my attention back to him with that gravel-deep voice. “Your arm will be useless to you for some time, but we can’t stay here for longer than a few more days.”

The words hit heavier than they should.

Not because of the injury.

But because he sounds worried.

Dropping my head back, I let out a long groan. “We can go once the doctor discharges me.”

Atlas laughs. “You’ve got tubes pumping pain relievers into your system. I promise you, you do not want to leave right now.”

My mouth’s opening to tell him he has no idea the kind of pain I can handle, when the door opens. I choose not to say anything, and just watch as a nurse walks into the room.

“Oh, you are awake.” She smiles sweetly at me, but then wearily looks at both men. Her hand goes into her pants pocket to pull out her phone, and after typing something, her gaze meets mine. “I would like to go over some test results now that you are conscious. May it be alright that I speak with you alone?”

“No—”

“Yes.” I shoot my gaze straight to Butcher. A silent, not so nice, conversation happens between us. He cannot dictate anything for me; how dare he answer her question obviously directed at me!

The nurse moves around the bed toward my hand and begins checking the tubes, then reads the machine that’s steadily beeping on my right.

“Well, this is fun. We will give you a few minutes. Come on, Butcher—where’s my damn coffee?” Atlas moves around my bed, grabs the Vampire by the arm, and starts dragging him toward the door. All the while, those crimson eyes never pull away from me. Not until they are both stepping through the door and it’s closing behind them.

What the shit is his problem?!

“Miss?”

I force a smile and look up at the brunette. I’m grateful she’s either ignorant of curses or simply so professional she doesn’t care, because she holds my gaze without fear. Still, there’s worry written in the flecks of green in her eyes.

“May I ask your name? We have you down as a Jane Doe.”

“You can call me Ivy.” It’s my mother’s name, and the one I usually give when I need to. Since she’s dead, she doesn’t need it anymore.

“Alright, Ivy. My name is Elaine. I’ve been your dedicated nurse, along with Dr. Alvarez. We’ve applied some Velarex—based on your bloodwork, you’re a Yldarwright, and it works on your kind if applied quickly enough after the affliction. It’ll heal, but you’ll still be in a lot of pain for a few days.” She smiles wearily at me, and I give her a nod. “How are you feeling?”

I tilt my head slightly to the side, feeling the pull on my left, which makes me wince. “Sore.”

“That’s to be expected. Your arm was damaged quite a bit from the dog attack. Lucky you didn’t lose it.”

Yes… so lucky.

“May I ask how you know the two gentlemen who were just in here?” The question takes me by surprise, and whatever crosses my face keeps her talking. “Usually only family are allowed with the patients in situations like this.”

“Oh. Right. I just met the blond one, and the other is… a friend. I don’t have any family.”

“A friend… How long have you known him?”

This line of questioning is going in a different direction. “Why?”

She rests one hand on my shoulder and places the other on my forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m here to advocate for you, Ivy. You can be honest with me, okay?” My heart plummets to my stomach. “Have those men hurt you?”

As I shake my head, something hits me. I look down at my chest and realize I’m not in the clothes I had on before I passed out. “O-Oh my Gods. Who undressed me?!” I jerk away from her, pain rocketing down my spine.

Fuck!

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from screaming the word instead of thinking it.