“Alright, then. Let’s get started.”
I pulled my shirt off, then locked my eyes onto the far wall rather than the mess that was about to be my chest.
A needle pressed into my skin between my scales, the cool liquid stinging as it went in.
“This will numb you, but you will be conscious,” Qinlin said.
“Excellent,” I gritted. I would rather not be awake for this, but I needed to return to Monqilcolnen, hopefully before he woke up.
“Why do you have to do this?” she asked, lifting another instrument.
I tensed, knowing what was happening even if I couldn’t feel it. “We both find it romantic, and he needs to see how serious I am.”
Qinlin snorted. “He would probably be satisfied if you just told him you wanted him to be your mate. No need to get this dramatic about it. But that’s what lovers all do: become hormonal dramatic idiots.”
“Perhaps.” I was willing to go to any extreme to prove how much I loved Monqilcolnen. I swallowed, and my vision wavered at the sight of my light purple scales on the table.
“Two more,” Qinlin said.
“Thank you for the update.” I forced myself to look at the wall. If I didn’t look straight forward, I was going to pass out, and who knew how long it would be before I woke up again. Monqilcolnen would need me before then.
I heard the tink of another scale landing on the table, and I swallowed my surging bile. This was for my mate. I would prove to him how much I loved him. Monqilcolnen would have no doubts. I would spend the rest of my life taking care of him, treasuring him, loving him.
Monqilcolnen was my mate; he was my sole reason.
Another tink sounded, and I took a heaving breath.
“Let me clean you up. Make sure to clean and oil your skin. Hopefully the scales will regrow, but I’m not sure they will,” she said.
“I know.”
“Do not let Monqilcolnen bathe the injury.”
I did not respond to that. If he wanted to, I wasn’t going to deny him, that was for certain. Besides, as my mate, it was his right.
Qinlin snorted, and I was fairly certain she knew exactly what my thoughts were.
She cleaned the scales and handed them to me. “There. Your barbaric tradition continued.”
“I think it’s romantic,” I said with a slight smile. “Thank you, Doctor Qinlin.”
She didn’t acknowledge me more than a flick of her tail as she strode toward her office. I hopped off the bed and went to the dispenser on the wall. It was still alive. It didn’t take long for me to find the bracer from our experience. I chose a gold metal and placed my scales in the tray. In less than a breath, the bracer was in the dispenser. When we arrived home, or somewhere where there was a metalsmith, I would have another bracer made and have my scales inset into it. But for now, this was perfect.
I checked the lift, but it was still not working, so I entered the tunnels to begin the long journey back to me and mine’s quarters.
My eyes opened, and my hand instantly reached for Wyn, needing to feel him. I blinked, stretching further. Nothing. I snapped upright. The bed was empty. I looked around. Our bedroom was empty.
Where was my mate?
Growling, I prowled toward the bathroom. It was empty as well. Where was Wyn? My soul sped and panic pulse under my skin. Where was my mate? If something had happened to him… I couldn’t even finish that thought. Wyn was the only thing holding me together.
I strode out of our bedroom, not even bothering with clothes.
“Holy fuck,” Seth snapped, cheeks red, before he turned around. My cousins both peppered me with questions I didn’tbother to listen to. Bartholomew simply stared at me, completely unnerved, until Seth covered his eyes, making him snort.
None of them were who I sought.
“Where is Wyn?” I snarled.
