Chapter Three
Ahearn
“That was very foolish,” a gruff man with a deep scowl snapped at me when I stumbled back into my hospital room. “We didn’t hook this shit up to you for fun,” he huffed, waving his hand toward the tubes and wires I’d torn from my body to make sure that Bari Herschel was removed from the hospital.
I’ve always been told I was stubborn, but between the throbbing where I’d opened veins by ripping out the various needles and the searing pain in my throat -not to mention the coppery taste of blood filling my mouth- from forcing the tube out of my throat, there simply wasn’t any defense left for me, so I just nodded and collapsed onto the bed, ignoring the nurses who stepped up and began to bandage the oozing wounds I’d left.
The man lightly jostled my shoulder until I opened my eyes. “Drink this,” he insisted, holding a small paper cup to my lips. I raised up enough to take a small sip and winced when it stung all the way down my throat.
“What is that?”
“An internal antiseptic. It will help to clean out the injuries to your throat from ripping out the intubation tube. Drink some more.”
Wincing, I did as I was told and continued to sip until the cup was empty. “Now what?”
The man shrugged. “Beats me, I’m just an orderly. Your little he-man act scared the doctors off.”
I sighed. “I apologize for that.” I settled back onto the bed and closed my eyes. “You may tell them I have calmed myself.”
“Oh, I may, may I?” the man snorted. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He stepped to the side of the bed and before I could ask what he intended to do, I felt the bite of a needle in my arm followed near immediately by an overwhelming calm. “How about I do that after you start your nap?”
When I woke again, I was restrained, strapped to the bed with thick, padded black straps, and all of the tubes and wires had been replaced, save for the horrid throat tube that Nurse Jan had explained was no longer necessary as I was breathing well on my own.
Regrettably, the large male orderly called Randy was correct in his assessment of the medical staff being scared of me and no amount of apologizing would convince the intensive care unit staff to remove my restraints until I was transferred to a rehabilitation center a short distance away.
Once there, I was placed on a therapy schedule to regain the proper use of my weakened muscles which I applied my full efforts to, eager to regain my freedom and return to my normal life.
Or at least to determine exactly what my normal life had become.
Galen, the valet who had been in my service for more years than I remembered visited daily. He dutifully answered my questions, including explaining that my injuries had been inflicted in a fall from my horse while riding through a darkened forest in the middle of the night on a romantic interlude with my Omega husband, none other than Bari Herschel.
Naturally, I discounted that part of the story, instead pressing Galen for the reason that he was participating in the fairy tale that the Omega had spun to the hospital staff.
“I don’t understand, Sire,” Galen said, his brow scrunched in confusion. “What fairy tale are you referring to?”
I gritted my teeth to hold back the frustrated bellow that tried to break free. “The story that claims I am his husband and the father to the bastards he carries.”
Galen’s eyes widened. “Sire?” his response was nearly a gasp. “Did Master Walsh tell you that the babes are your issue?”
“Don’t call him that,” I snapped, narrowing my eyes at him. “Why are you changing the topic? He presented himself to the hospital as my mate, which is absurd.”
“He is that,” Galen said slowly, the furrow in his brow only deepening. “You don’t remember?” When I didn’t respond, he sighed. “You brought him with you from Ireland when you finished university and married some years later when the monarchy relaxed the regulations surrounding monogamous relationships within dragon society.”
I was shaking my head before Galen finished speaking. “He must have manipulated the situation somehow,” I insisted with a huff. “I know what he is and would never have voluntarily entertained such an absurd notion.”
Galen fell silent, so I continued.
“I’ve spoken with my father on the telephone and he has no knowledge of me having taken a mate. He also confirmed my memory that the Omega Herschel,” I emphasized the last name, “was ruined long before I left school.”
Galen sighed and shook his head. “I can’t speak to any of that, sire,” he finally said sadly. “All I can say is that you’ve been together more than seventy years and have always seemed very happy.” He stood from his chair, seemingly eager to make his exit. “Perhaps your memories will return before you make a significant mistake.”
I snorted out a rude noise. “Ridding myself of that troublesome bit of baggage will hardly be a mistake and Father is already working with an attorney on my behalf.”
