I smiled sadly at him.
The thermometer beeped and Rory’s eyebrows dipped low. He shot me a concerned look before he offered Conall a smile. “Have you been feeling weird in any other way? Vomiting? Nausea?”
Conall pressed his lips together in thought and rubbed his arms, like he was cold. I dragged him against my chest, offering myself as his personal blanket. I laid a kiss on his temple.
“Pet, you need to tell us. I’m worried about you.”
“I don’t know,” he whispered in a way I wasn’t used to hearing from him. His voice shook and he sounded so small and confused. This wasn’t him. “My eyes hurt in the light, sometimes. And I do feel sick. I don’t think I’ve puked?” The hesitancy in his tone had my spine stiffening. I needed to get him help and fast.
Rory nodded and pulled out his stethoscope. He went to work on his examination while I held and comforted Conall.
“When did this start?” Rory asked.
“When?” Conall frowned. “When what?”
“When did you start feeling ill, sir?” He tried again.
“I...What month is it?” Conall glanced up at me in confusion. “You were just in jail. But now you’re out.”
Rory’s eyebrows dipped in concern and he sent me a wide-eyed look. He continued to talk to Conall, but Conall’s answers came out in nothing but a tangle of nonsensical words, as if he didn’t understand what he was being asked.
Finally, thewhoppingsounds of helicopter blades sliced through the air, loud and unforgiving, and I rose with another kiss on Conall’s cheek before I left the greenhouse. The helicopter landed on the large expanse of my backyard. As the doors slid open, Dr. Goodheart jumped out and ran over with his head down to escape the whooshing air of the blades.
“Sir, we’re here to take Mr. Morrissey to the EK Memorial.”
I held up a hand and marched back to the greenhouse. Conall tipped his chin toward me and I shushed him gently as I hooked my arm under his knees and around his back, lifting him. He whimpered in pain, and I held back a wince. I fucking hated when he was hurt. How was I supposed to keep him safe if I was away from him?
Rory and Ronan followed me as I carried Conall toward the chopper. Rory rushed in front of us so he could talk to the doctorand the two exchanged words I couldn’t hear before Rory passed Goodheart a piece of paper.
Conall groaned. “I’mfine. Sloan, tell them it’s okay. I don’t need this shit. I just want sleep.”
I tightened my hold on him, not willing to let go. Not yet. Maybe not ever. How could I have let this happen? “Pet, you’re going to the hospital. You won’t argue with me. Let’s go.”
He peeked up at me from beneath those long lashes I loved so much. “Will you come with me?”
Warmth spread through me and settled low in my stomach. I pressed my forehead against his clammy one. Love for him pummeled me until I was breathless. How did I ever exist without Conall Morrissey? Having a pet was once about having power and owning someone, but Conall had changed the entire meaning for me. He belonged to me, but I was his, too. “I’ll always be at your side, Pet. You’re mine, remember? I’m not going anywhere.”
Goodheart sidled up beside us, his lips thinned in determination. “Sir, we need to get you on the helicopter. Please follow me.”
I didn’t give Conall a chance to argue. There was no time for anything but action, but when Goodheart looked like he was going to grab Conall from me, I bared my teeth.
“No, I’ll do it.” I shoved past the doctor. Despite knowing he was trying to help, anger weaved flames of molten lava through me, leaving my skin heated and fury driving to the surface. The power to keep my emotions in check was fraying, nothing more than a worn thread ready to snap.
I laid Conall on a stretcher in the helicopter and the team secured him.
“Sir, sit down and belt up.” Goodheart handed me radio headphones with an attached speaker before slotting a pair over Conall’s ears, too. “This’ll make it easier to talk to us and blockout the sound.” His strong voice came through the speakers beside my ears.
“You’re still here.” Conall’s words came out soft, but confused, and my worry kicked up the fear building inside me.
I shifted forward and brought his hand to my lips before laying a kiss on it. “I told you I’m not going anywhere, Pet.”
He gave me a dazed smile. “I like that. Pet. I’m your pet.”
“You are.” Bile rose in my throat and a weird sensation clamped around my stomach. I couldn’t fix whatever plagued Conall and I’d probably made it worse by fucking him. What kind of partner was I if I couldn’t take out whatever was hurting him? I’d finally been released from jail to be useless.
“Sloan,” Conall murmured, barely loud enough for me to hear under the crackle of the headset. He tightened his grip on my hand.
“Yes, Pet?” I leaned as close as my seat belt would allow.
