“You’ve been through a traumatic event,” Alton said. “You’re going to have physical and psychological aftereffects. The bruises and sore muscles will heal faster than the memories. Flashbacks are common, and so is anxiety. I’m also giving you a referral to a counselor who’s tied into the supernatural community. Don’t be too proud to ask for help.”
“I’m pretty sure my partner will guarantee that happens,” Scott replied.
“Good for you,” Dr. Alton said. “Call if you have any other issues. Otherwise, go home and rest.”
Justin jumped to his feet as soon as Scott came out of the examining room and hurried to his side. “Well?”
Scott nodded to Dr. Alton, who gave Justin a summary of Scott’s injuries and treatments. Justin took notes on his phone and listened carefully, and Scott felt another rush of gratitude at having such an attentive partner.
“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Justin assured Alton.
And so will I,his coyote side added silently.
“I’m sure you will.” The doctor chuckled. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
Justin gave him a worried once-over. “You okay?”
Scott let out a long breath. “I’m exhausted, and everything hurts. I should probably eat, but then I want to sleep for a week.”
Justin linked hands with him as they walked toward the parking lot. “Let’s pick up your prescriptions, and I’ll order dinner. Then you can sleep as long as you want.”
He frowned suddenly, as something occurred to him. “I know you were planning to drive back to Albany, but you really shouldn’t for a few days. Can you stay? That gives you more time to recuperate and for Armel’s people to make sure you don’t get any surprise visitors.”
That possibility hadn’t even occurred to Scott until Justin mentioned it, but now he had even more reason to delay going home.
“Yeah, I can stay. I didn’t bring my laptop—good thing—but all my documents and research are virtual. I need to replace my phone, but if I can borrow a computer from you, I can work remotely. I’ll get my neighbor to hold my mail. No one else will notice.”
Justin leaned in to give him a peck on the cheek. “I promise to takeverygood care of you.”
10
JUSTIN
Justin wasn’tsurprised when Scott fell asleep early. Once he was soundly out, Justin got up, too fidgety to drift off.
I thought I lost him. He was exceptionally lucky. I love him. I don’t want to waste any more time making him mine.
Justin knew he would remember the fraught drive to the crash site and the smell of smoke. His headache had gotten increasingly worse, which he figured was stress. Then Brandon, who had telepathic gifts of his own, suggested that Justin’s abilities were blasted wider open than usual by trauma, and his psychic link with Scott was picking up on the other man’s pain and fear.
The hike from the SUV to the burning plane had been bad, especially when they found the burned wreckage. Armel promised to make sure that anything that remained of the bodies would be properly removed and returned to the families, but all Justin could imagine was losing Scott like that.
Justin poured himself a glass of bourbon and sat at the kitchen table. He didn’t want to turn on the television and risk disturbing Scott, and he was too distracted to pay attention to anything anyhow.
He remembered his rage when they surprised the hitmen and how much he wanted to shoot the men who threatened his mate. Justin thought he should probably feel bad but couldn’t bring himself to care.They would have killed him and sold his pelt. I almost lost him twice.
Justin’s hand shook as he held the glass. He struggled to get his feelings under control and knew today’s events would haunt him for quite a while.
I need to hold it together for Scott. He had it so much worse.
Justin startled when Scott came up behind him. “I woke up, and you were gone. Are you okay?”
Justin looked up at him. “That’s a loaded question today. I guess…as okay as I can be, considering.”
“Yeah. Same here.” Scott sat next to him. “I can’t have any of the good stuff because of the medications, so you’ll have to enjoy it for me.”
Justin gave a humorless chuckle. “I think you got the better end of that deal.”
“Thank you, again.” Scott looked haggard. “I really didn’t think I was going to get out of there.”
