Whisper snarled as if they’d slit my throat.
“It’s okay, kitty cat,” she soothed. “Stay here. Come on. Be good.Pleasebe good.”
Roger raced to my side, clamping a wad of gauze against the tiny hole in my wrist. “I’ll deal with the compression and stitches. You get the other one.”
Blood soaked through the gauze instantly.
He swapped the drenched handful for another, bright red splashing onto the white towel beneath.
Both Rook and Whisper shuffled closer. “Lucien—”
“I’m fine,” I lied. “Stay away.”
Closing my eyes, I let spinning sickness carry me away while both doctors worked on me. I tensed as the other cuff was slowly sliced and unlocked. I held my breath as they leaned over me, putting all their weight on the matching wounds to stop them from bleeding.
I didn’t open my eyes as I felt the sharp poke of a needle—sewing up the tiny holes left behind. I didn’t make a sound as they wrapped tight bandages around both wrists, hiding the mess my arms had become and replacing silver cuffs with cotton instead of metal.
I wanted a break.
I needed to breathe.
But all I said was, “And now the vitalsync.”
“You know what?” Roger barked. “My nerves are shot. I’ve had about enough of backyard medicine for one day. I don’t think I—”
“I’ll do it.” Harry sniffed. “The sooner this is over—even if I do end up killing him—the better.” Marching to his bag, he pulled out a big red box.
“Harry, wait. What about another option? We leave and take him with us. We’ll say he needs urgent care at the hospital.” Roger shot a wary glance at the exit. “We’ll say he’ll die if we don’t and—”
“You take me out of this room and Marcuswillkill you.” My veins turned to ash. The bandages around my arms were so tight, my fingers throbbed.
Rook squeaked as Harry pulled out a defibrillator, placing it on the side table that he’d dragged next to the desk. Playing with wires and paddles and buttons, he waited until things flashed before nodding with satisfaction. “I agree with this crazy bastard. I’m not willing to put my family’s life at risk. I’ll uphold my Hippocratic oath and do my best to help him, but themoment I step out of this room, I’m done.” His eyes narrowed on me. “Do you hear me? I’m not responsible for what happens next.”
“I hear you.” I nodded, my heart galloping.
Holding matching travel-sized paddles in each hand, Harry loomed over me. “Ready?”
“Wait.” Rook leapt to her feet.
“Do it,” I snarled.
I turned my head and locked eyes with the girl responsible for getting me this far.
I clung to my dreams of revenge and—
“Clear!”
The shock hit like lightning.
Like fire and freedom and fury.
The world detonated white.
And blackness fell—
Chapter Fifteen
HE LOOKED DEAD.
