by Julia Mills
Aaron laughed out loud, clapping him on the back, “Hungry, dude?”
“I guess I am,” Devon chuckled. “I think Sam’s surprise party was the last time I ate anything other than sandwiches and chips from the vending machine in the waiting room.”
“I know I’m going to sound like the old man, but you really have to take better care of yourself. Your mom’s gonna give you another dose of hell when she sees you. I didn’t want to mention it, but you’re kinda looking like Grizzly Adams there. It’d be a damn shame if you scared your lovely mate as soon as she opened her eyes.” Aaron laughed at his own joke, and for the first time in ten days, Devon laughed too.
“You’re right. I look like a bum. I’ve been spending every waking minute here or on the road. I leave long enough to run home, shower and change clothes, then haul ass back here. I’m trying to at least be presentable to speak to the doctors and nurses that come in every day, but it’s just so damn hard to leave her. I’m always afraid she’s going to wake up and I’m not gonna be there.”
Devon turned away from his brethren, hiding the emotions that speaking of his mate stirred within him, and grabbed a tray, heading towards the food. He decided eating before his mother arrived and the sermons began was a good idea. It was going to be bad enough when she saw his shaggy hair and almost full beard without a lecture on how important it was for him to take care of himself.
They ate in companionable silence for a few moments until Devon asked, “Did Kyra mention if she thought Andrew had anything to do with her mother’s disappearance?”
Aaron took a drink of his iced tea, then shook his head as he answered, “I asked and she said there were no signs of the traitor or any witches or wizards, for that matter. She said every spell she used registered the same thing…really old, really dark magic that was definitely from the earth, but had no human or magical practitioner’s signature attached at all. When I asked what the hell that meant, she sounded really frustrated, cursed a little bit, and admitted she didn’t have a clue. Her next step is to call her Aunt Della, something she didn’t sound thrilled about. Freaky, huh?”
Devon furrowed his brow and nodded, “Damn sure is.” Before he could contemplate what fresh hell was coming for them this time, his mate’s voice sounded in his head, “Are you there? Please, help me…”
“I’m here, Sweetheart. Can you hear me?” He waited less than two heartbeats before jumping to his feet, tray in hand, and headed for the trash cans, his brother and their conversation completely forgotten. Aaron’s voice from behind brought him back to reality.
“Dude, what’s up?”
Devon pointed to his temple and answered, “She’s talking again.”
Aaron grabbed the tray. “You go on, let me throw this shit away and I’ll be right up.”
Unable to speak, waiting for a reply from his mate, Devon nodded and jogged towards the elevators. Once the doors closed, Devon called to her again, “Baby, are you there? Can you hear me?”
As he stepped out of the lift she spoke again, “Please help me. I can’t find my way.”
“I’m here. You’re not alone. I’ll do whatever I can to help, but you have to talk to me. You have to tell me what you see or feel or smell…anything.”
He spoke quickly as he raced down the hall. Crossing the threshold into her room, he had to swerve not to run right into the back of one of the younger healers from his clan. Quickly taking in the scene, Devon saw his mother, Lance, and Sydney standing at his mate’s bedside. Then he saw two more of his younger clansmen, who were training with Siobhan, unpacking candles and incense, placing them on every available surface. It was obvious his mother wasn’t wasting any time. He knew she was aware of his presence but had yet to acknowledge him, and if truth be told, he wasn’t looking forward to their first interaction since her abrupt goodbye earlier.
He made his way to her bedside and Lance was the first to speak, obviously trying to relieve the tension filling the room. “Hey, Dev. How’s it going?”
Devon continued to call to his mate while greeting their visitors. Before he could answer, Sydney, Lance’s daughter, came running towards him, arms outstretched, a huge smile on her sweet face. He grabbed her just as she jumped and swung her into the air before settling her on his hip. Her arms came around his neck and she kissed his cheek as she whispered, “Miss you, Dev.”
“I miss you too, Syd. How have you been?”
“I’m good. Been going to classes.” The room erupted into laughter at the matter of fact way the child spoke. She was most definitely six going on twenty-one. “When are you and your mate coming home?”
They reached her bedside just as Devon answered, “I don’t know, Syd. The doctors say we need her to wake up first.” He hated that he didn’t at least know her name. It sounded so impersonal to say ‘her’ or ‘my mate’ all the time.
The perceptive child in his arms hugged him tighter and said, “It’s okay. She knows you’re here and she’s really happy ‘bout it.”
He snapped his head to the side and looked right into Sydney’s big blue eyes. “What did you say?”
Sydney rolled her eyes in mock irritation, placed her hands on his cheeks, and stared deeply into his eyes. When she spoke it was slower than her normal cadence and with a great deal of deliberation, “I said…she knows you’re here…and she’s really happy ‘bout it.”
In any other situation, he would have laughed at Sydney’s actions, but the sheer gravity of the situation stole the air from his lungs. It took a few seconds for him to find his voice and when he did, it came out as barely more than a whisper, “You can hear her? Can she hear you?”
“Of course I can hear her.” Sydney shook her head like his questions were ludicrous and he was reminded once again that the child had wisdom well beyond her years. When she spoke again, it was on a giggle, “And why wouldn’t she be able to hear me, silly dragon?”
It was then that Devon realized the room was as quiet as a tomb and all eyes were on him and the little beauty. Slowly, her hands slid from his cheeks and once again wrapped around his neck as she hugged him tight. She spoke and his heart skipped a beat, “She’s trying her best to wake up, but the black fog won’t let her.”
Thankfully, Siobhan chose that moment to speak, because there was no way he could. “Sydney, why don’t you jump down and come over here and tell me what you and Devon’s mate talked about.”
The child gave Devon one more hug and a kiss on the cheek before sliding to the floor and skipping over to his mother. He watched as she went, impatient to hear what she had to say, not sure what to make of the fact that his mate could hear the girl, but not him. He knew Sydney was extraordinary and that her parents and Siobhan were doing everything possible to understand all her exceptional abilities, but he was almost afraid to hope that the little girl could actually help wake the woman that was meant to be his.
“Sam’s heading this way,” Lance spoke directly into his mind.
“Is she alone?” Devon asked.
There was a pause and then his brother answered, “Charlie is with her and the specialist will be here within the hour. There’s also a nurse on the way to draw blood.”
The words had barely been spoken when Sam stepped into the room with her friend and colleague in tow. Sam was quick to speak in an effort to distract her friend from the young healers gathering up the candles and incense they had just placed. “Hey, why wasn’t I invited to the party?”
“Mommy! Mommy!” Sydney yelled, all thoughts of anything but her mother forgotten as she ran to Sam.
Devon watched the scene unfold before him with a new perspective and a happy heart, knowing that someday that would be his mate and child. Lance joined his family as the healers finished hiding their magical paraphernalia. Dr. Gallagher, aka Charlie, Sam’s oldest friend and colleague, was more interested in getting to her patient than paying attention to the people around her so everything out the ordinary went unnoticed. He watched as she checked his mate�
��s vitals, recording them on the chart.
Sam soon joined her friend at his mate’s bedside, and although it was crowded, he stood his ground. As he listened, the two doctors discussed what would happen when the specialist came in and the treatment options still open to them, making sure they had all their bases covered. Lance once again spoke through mind speak, “I told Sam what Syd said about the black fog and she’s ordering another MRI and CAT scan, whatever the hell they are. She also said something about checking medical journals.”
“Thanks, bud. Hope she can figure it out.”
“Me too. Trust me, if there’s a way, Doc will bring her back to you.”
Devon smiled at the way Lance used his wife’s nickname, another testament to the incredible bond between mates; one he could not wait to share with his. The sound of Sam’s voice pulled his attention, “I need you to sign this paperwork so I can have some additional tests done.” She smiled and barely winked, letting him know that she was aware of the conversation between him and her mate.
Devon nodded as he signed and asked, “Will these take place before or after the newest specialist examines her?”
Sam smiled and touched his arm. He could feel the reassurance she was pushing towards him and appreciated her efforts. When she spoke, he was once again reminded what an amazing doctor Samantha Malone truly was. “I’m going to wait and see if she orders any others so we can do them all together. I just wanted to get this paperwork out of the way before I forgot.” She moved to the side letting the phlebotomist closer to take the blood that had been ordered.
The young man carefully extracted the samples and Devon worked hard to keep his jealousy and that of his dragon in check. Logically, he knew the man’s interest in his mate was purely professional, but his heart and beast saw the man as a threat, one they wanted very badly to exterminate. The longer he watched, the more the need to remove the young professional’s hand from the end of his arm became a living force within him. His feet took a step towards the younger man of their own volition. Only Sam’s hand on his arm and the sound of Lance’s voice in his head kept him from continuing his forward motion. “Whoa there, Brother. Chill out.”
Devon jerked from the jealous fog and shook his head before answering his friend, “Damn, what the hell was that?”
His brother’s answering laughter further calmed Devon and his dragon, “That my friend…is the mating call. Ain’t it grand?”
“No, not really, smart ass,” he chuckled and moved behind his mother until the lab tech left the room, just to be safe.
“Yeah, well it gets easier, but trust me, it never goes away.”
Before he could respond, Siobhan spoke, “How long do we have before the specialist gets here?”
Sam answered, “About thirty, maybe forty-five minutes. Charlie and I are going to my office to wait for her. Sorry y’all, but everyone except Devon will need to move to the waiting room while Dr. Lawrence does her examination.” She winked in their general direction and then followed her friend out the door.
“Can we go get some ice cream, Dad?” Sydney asked as soon as her mother was out of ear shot.
“Sure we can, leanbh,” Lance answered as he lifted Sydney from Siobhan’s lap. “Anybody else want some ice cream? I’m buying,” he added as he turned to head out of the room.
“Yes!” Everyone answered, almost in unison. Devon watched as they filed into the hall.
His mother was the last to stand. Turning, she reached for his hands. They stood looking at one another for a few seconds before she spoke, “You know I love you with all my heart, but if you ever pull a stunt like this again, I will beat you black and blue.”
Devon felt his eyes grow large and had to work hard not to laugh at the vision her words inspired. He knew his mother was being serious, but just the thought of her beating anyone, especially him, was truly funny. Eager to put an end to their feud, he apologized, “Mom, I’m so sorry. I know I should’ve called right away, but I truly thought it was nothing serious and I could handle it without bothering you.”
He barely had the words out of his mouth before she dropped one of his hands and swatted his arm. “There will never be a time when you are bothering me. I am your mother and the healer of your clan. Don’t you EVER forget that.” She emphasized her point with another swat to his arm.
Knowing better than to belabor the point, he quickly answered, “I really am sorry, Mom. Won’t happen again.”
Siobhan smiled her ‘approving mother’ smile, then hugged him and kissed his cheek before leaning down to grab her oversized leather bag. As she turned to leave the room he heard her say, “See that it doesn’t.” He barked out a laugh and saw her shoulders shake as she tried to hold in her own glee. Calmness settled over him to know that he and his mother were once again in good standing. She was an important part of his life and he hated when they disagreed.
Devon settled into his recycler, laid his hand over his mate’s, and spoke, “Well, a chumann, here we are again…just you and me. And now you’ve met my mom.”
He raised her hand to his cheek. At the skin to skin contact, an electric current shot through his body, making a beeline to his cock. His eyes slid shut and his breathing became labored. The longer they touched, the more intense the feelings became, until his erection pushed against the zipper of his jeans and he was forced to let her hand fall from his face.
The sound of voices in the hall alerted him to the arrival of Samantha and the specialist. Devon took a deep breath and used his considerable self-control to rein in his raging libido, just as the doctors entered the room. He stood while Sam introduced her companion. “Devon Walsh, this is Dr. Jane Lawrence. Dr. Lawrence is the top neurosurgeon in the country with a specialty in trauma.”
He sensed her nervousness and knew she hurried with the introductions to avoid the personal questions that would inevitably come. Without answers, both Devon and Sam worried that Dr. Lawrence would become suspicious of their relationship with the patient. It was something they were getting good at avoiding as the days ticked past and more unfamiliar doctors came to examine her. The hospital had been incredibly lenient due to Sam’s sterling reputation, but he doubted it would work with the woman before him.
With a smile and nod, Dr. Lawrence reviewed the chart Samantha had handed her quickly, making small notes in the margins. Without looking up, she commented, “I see you ordered another MRI and CAT scan, was there a change that prompted this new testing?”
He saw Sam’s eyebrows rise at the other doctor’s question, but was impressed with her quick thinking. “There was eye movement and increased dilation during her last exam. You will see that in Dr. Gallagher’s notes.”
“Oh, yes here it is,” Dr. Lawrence answered in a somewhat underwhelmed tone and Devon recognized her question for exactly what it was…a way to double check her colleague’s work. He would have laughed out loud at the outrage he saw on Sam’s face had he not feared one or both women might kick him in the balls. Besides, there was something just a little different about Dr. Lawrence that he couldn’t get a read on.
After a few more moments of strained silence, the specialist returned the chart to the hook at the end of the bed and without a word, moved closer to his mate. She stood staring, making him wonder if she was trying to divine a diagnosis. Dr. Lawrence’s intense stare and lack of movement was odd to say the least. The longer it lasted, the more uncomfortable Devon grew. He looked to Samantha for direction, only to find her looking like she was about to pounce. Her brow was furrowed, her mouth turned down in a frown, and her fists were clenched to the point of making her knuckles white. He spoke through the link shared amongst all his brethren and their mates, “Sam…”
Her eyes snapped to his and she gave a quick shake of her head. “Hang on just a sec,” was her only reply before she returned her stare to the doctor.
Devon counted to thirty before Dr. Lawrence’s stance relaxed, glancing first at Sam and then Devon. Looking back to the patient bef
ore speaking, she began, “From what I can see this woman has been through a substantial trauma, but that is not what keeps her from waking. I cannot pinpoint what is keeping her in the coma and I am not sure further testing will reveal anything new, but it can’t hurt either.”
Sam was the first to speak, “Excuse me, Dr. Lawrence, I mean no disrespect, but you didn’t even touch the patient. How can you make any assumptions about her condition?”
Instead of answering, the specialist spun on her heel and walked towards the door. Devon was sure she was about to leave without further discussion and was surprised when she shut the door and leaned against it. Smiling slightly, she crossed her arms over her chest and spoke, “Maximillian Prentise sent me.” With that declaration, her eyes flashed from totally human to very feline and back again in a split second.
“Well, shit,” Devon said under his breath, forcing a chuckle from the doctor.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away, but Max’s message was very brief and he neglected to let me know that her attending physician was also dragon.” She smiled the first real smile since entering the room.
“I’m not a dragon shifter but my husband is, and I had no idea Max was even aware of the situation,” Sam remarked.
