“It’s nice to meet you, Miss McKnight. I hear you’ve had a tough couple of weeks.” The doctor’s voice was smooth and warm, non-threatening in a practiced way that only made her more wary.
Anyone who looked likethatand was still somehow trusted by Felix was someone to watch.
“Uh-huh.” She didn’t bother pretending to be polite. “Sorry you came all this way, but I don’t need to see a doctor. I’m all set on my check-ups this year.”
The corner of Alvin’s mouth lifted. “I’m sure you’ve had your fill of doctors recently.”
Recalling that she’d been sold out by the piece of shit doctor from the ER, Dahlia found her upper lip curling over her fangs. “You have no idea.”
The men made brief eye contact. Some wordless exchange passed between them before Felix tilted his head toward one of the couches around the fireplace. The doctor made his way over to it.
Setting a well-oiled leather bag on the coffee table, he sat down. “I promise this won’t take more than a few minutes. We just need to check that your system is adapting as it should.”
Dahlia was unmoved. She remained in the doorway to the bedroom, the muscles of her shoulders tightening. “We, huh?”
If he noticed the edge in her voice, he didn’t acknowledge it. Alvin popped the latches of his bag and began to pull out some equipment she had no name for.
“Me and Mr. Amauri,” he explained, tossing her an absent smile. “I read your records and it looks like you went through the transition mostly unassisted, which raises some red flags. Obviously it wasn’t your fault, but in cases like this, the preference is to have medical supervision as soon as possible.You’re young and healthy, so I’m sure you’re fine, but I’ll need to check your heart, blood pressure, reflexes, venom gland, and the like.”
She took a deep breath. “That’s interesting. I wonder how you got my private medical records, Dr. Turner, since I don’t remember giving them to you.” She narrowed her eyes. “OrMr. Amauri,for that matter.”
The doctor looked up from his task of meticulously organizing his instruments to give her a glib smile. “It was handled for you, of course.”
Before she could give the doctor the response that shit deserved, Felix stepped up behind the couch. “Dahlia, just do this for me.”
“What do I get in return?”
Felix rolled his eyes. “What do you want?”
Knowing it wouldn’t work but trying anyway, she demanded, “Take me home.”
“Try again.”
“Drop me off at a hotel.”
“Still not happening. Try again.”
Holding his amused stare, she bit out, “A car.”
Felix’s smile turned predatory. His low chuckle made her toes curl. “You want me to buy you a new car, pet?”
Hoping her cheeks weren’t as flushed as they felt, she shot back, “So I can drive as far from you as possible? Yes.”
He spread his hands on the back of the couch and dipped his chin in an exaggerated nod. “A new car it is. Now come sit so we can get this over with, hm?”
Once again, it somehow didn’t feel like she’d won anything when she walked stiffly over to the couch and perched on the edge of the cushion. She stoically endured Alvin’s impersonal inspection of her, trying not to wrinkle her nose at his smell as heleaned over to check her pupil dilation or press her tongue down with a popsicle stick.
He didn’t smell… bad. But he didn’t smell mouthwatering, either. Alvin smelled like citrus and fresh water and a little bit of mint. Nice, clean. Not for her.
Dahlia’s eyes swung involuntarily back to Felix, who hovered over the couch with his arms crossed, his attention fixed on the doctor’s every action. The roof of her mouth gave an angry pulse.
Alvin, who was peering into her mouth with a pen light, made a thoughtful sound. “Gland looks good, but it’s pretty inflamed. Are you experiencing discomfort?”
He withdrew the tongue depressor, allowing her to speak. “A little,” she begrudgingly admitted.
The doctor nodded. He didn’t appear surprised as he reached for his bag again, withdrawing a small plastic cup and a strange little instrument with a rubber tip encased in sterile wrapping. After donning a pair of gloves, he instructed her to open her mouth again.
“I need to take a sample of your venom so we can test what type it is. I’m going to massage your gland a little and it should empty a sample into my vial. Hopefully it’ll help with a little of the pressure you’re feeling, too.”
