Page 2 of For the Ghastly and Beautiful

“You can’t leave,” she calmly replies.

Something is off about her voice. She means her words, though her tone rings false in my ears. It’s a lie.

I jerk the IV out of my arm with a wince. Blood drips down my left elbow as I run my right hand through my dirty hair. I stand on shaking legs and shove her out of my way, but the force causes me to lose my balance. She presses the call button on the bed as she roughly pushes me back.

A woman’s voice comes over the speaker. “Dr. Heart is on his way in.”

The nurse grunts as I struggle. “Send in a few more bodies. Ms. Storm isn’t having a good day.”

I grind my teeth as she puts her hands on my shoulders to hold me down. “Calm yourself, or I’ll have to strap you to the bed.”

Like fuck.

I kick my legs as another nurse scurries in. She hastily grabs my feet, slamming them onto the bed and laying her chest across my shins. I make an aggressive, frustrated noise in the back of my throat.

Two more nurses come in, and a third woman pushes a medicine cart in front of her. I strengthen my efforts, refusing to be sedated.

“Stop fighting!”

“Let go of me,” I shriek.

“Ready,” the nurse with the cart calls, syringe in hand as she walks closer to me.

The door opens behind her, and the footsteps I hear seem to echo around the room, overshadowing all the racket we’re making.

“That won’t be necessary,” a soothing voice commands.

The weight on my chest lessens as recognition sweeps through me.

“Dr. Heart, this is protocol. Until she can calm down on her own—”

“She will; give her a moment. She’s in shock.”

Imryll.

He sits on the edge of the hospital bed, and tears roll down my cheeks as his grass-green eyes lock onto mine. He grins, winking slyly as the nurse warns him about my behavior.

“You should be careful, Dr. Heart. She’s pulled her IV out and been extremely aggressive. I had to call for help to get her back in the bed.”

His warm hand grips mine tightly, and I sigh as he leans up to kiss my forehead. It’s not something he’s ever done before, but I melt into him, regardless. Because Imryll is my safety, my breath of fresh air when I’m suffocating.

And I am suffocating right now.

A plastic bag has been pulled over my head, cutting off my oxygen and killing my mind. I understand nothing, not even the imploring green irises that bore into me.

“Dr. Heart,” one nurse admonishes.

“She’s my wife.” He turns to glare at her as he uses the Earthly term.

I’m surprised by the malevolence radiating from Imryll, even as his thumb gently traces over the back of my hand. When she steps away, he calms slightly. His eyes are incredibly cold, making the nurse falter.

“I—I thought the man in the hall was your husband,” she stutters.

I can’t help the snort that escapes me.

Imryll turns an amused expression on to me as he replies, “He’s still out there. Tell him his husband would like him to come in here.”

She darts out of the room, followed by the other nurses. The first woman gawks at us as Imryll smiles down at me. I think… Maybe I should be taken aback by his sudden switch in demeanor, but I can’t find it in me to fear him or worry while he’s here.