"You're doing great, Sky," Colt said softly. "Can you answer a couple of questions by nodding your head?"
For the man who'd apparently saved my life? Yeah. I could manage that.
I nodded and he smiled again.
"Great. Were you being held against your will?"
Nod.
"I figured. Were you able to talk before they put that fucking razor blade in your mouth?"
Another nod.
"Good. Hopefully you'll be able to again. Are you a shifter?"
I tipped my head from side to side.
"Damn. Human?"
I nodded and Colt sighed.
"I think we're going to need to get you to a hospital, then. You're pretty badly injured."
I whimpered and his eyes widened a bit.
"Hey, don't try to talk. It's okay. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you, kid." He hesitated for a minute and blew out a breath. "I'll try to think of something other than the hospital, okay?"
I tried to smile, but my lips were so numb that I had no idea if I succeeded.
He reached behind me and adjusted the pillows, allowing me to recline a little further back. Wrapping one hand around the nape of my neck, he squeezed lightly. "I know you're starving, but we need to give your mouth time to scab over. Why don't you get some sleep? When you wake up, we'll see if you can eat." When I continued to stare at him, silently imploring him not to take me to the hospital, he sighed and, when he spoke again his voice had a compelling note to it. "Sleep, Sky. I'll watch over you."
Against my will, my eyes drifted closed and I lost myself to the darkness again.
