Page 10 of Outcast

He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

Once inside the tiger’s room, I sat on a chair beside the bed and put my face in my hands. I had to get out of this negative funk. Normally, I didn’t let myself wallow ridiculously like this. What was wrong with me?

“Miss, are you alright?” a slightly accented voice asked.

“Yes, I’m…” I jerked my head upright and my mouth dropped open at the man before me on the bed. “You’re awake!” Reaching forward, I turned his face right and left, raised his eyelids, and lifted his arms, checking him all over. “No physical injuries left. What is your name?”

“I’m Triston,” he answered.

“Does your head hurt?”

“No,” he answered, gently taking my hands from his face. “Who are you?”

“Oh, right. Sorry. I’m Ember Jasperwood. You’re in my home. Someone dropped you off on my property, injured. You’ve been unconscious for a while and in your tiger form the entire time. I’d been starting to worry that you were a real tiger and not a shifter, except I saw your skull heal at a shifter’s healing rate.” I laughed softly and realized I was rambling.

Triston was quite attractive, with a strong, wide jaw, stunning amber eyes, sandy-colored hair with streaks of black just like his tiger form.

He rubbed the back of his head and sighed. “I got jumped while in the city by some dragon shifters.”

“Your cell phone is right beside you, fully charged, and ready for you to call your friends or family.”

I felt like a videogame character with set phrases and words, repeating the same lines over and over lately.

“I just made this breakfast as well,” I said and pointed at the eggs and steak on the table.

“Can you remove this?” he asked and held up his hand with the IV in it.

“Yes, let me wash my hands. One second.” I hurried to the sink in the room, washed my hands, put gloves on, and grabbed a cotton ball. Once the IV was removed and I’d pressed on the spot long enough for it to heal, I threw the cotton ball and gloves away, and wheeled the IV and fluid stand to the corner, out of his way. “Please take your time getting up. Across the hallway is the bathroom, which is stocked and has spare clothes. A shower will likely help refresh your mind as well as your body. If you need assistance, just call out. Oh, and there are other shifters here, other patients like you, so please don’t be alarmed if you smell them.”

“Thank you.” He frowned and stared at his hands, turning them over in his lap.

“Are you feeling any negative side effects right now? Headache? Dizziness?”

He shook his head.

Assuming he just needed a minute to himself, I stood and walked out of the room. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll just be in the living room.”

While I wanted to head out to the river, I didn’t want to just leave him and Percival alone so soon after they woke up. I’d have to delay my trip a bit.

Closing the door behind me, I went to the living room and sat in my recliner, hands clasped in my lap.

For years I had been brought injured animals and shifters, but in the past two years the number of shifters, specifically hybrids, had increased drastically. Instead of one every few months, it was a handful a month. What was going on in the world that attacks on hybrids were increasing so much?

An investigative trip to the city was likely due. Since I wasn’t a shifter, they wouldn’t pay me any mind. I could do some light shopping, listen to the people around town, and try to uncover new information that might help me understand what was going on.

I heard the shower start and smiled. At least all of my patients were conscious and moving about on their own now.

Percival sat on the couch beside me and stared at me.

Being patient was something I was very good at, so I didn’t ask him what he wanted, but waited.

Triston came out, hair wet and hanging over his eyes, and froze when he saw Percival.

Percival turned and looked at him, eyes narrowing.

“Triston this is Percival. Percival this is Triston. You’re both patients here, so please do not fight. I patched you up once and would hate to have to do it again.” I stood, just in case they decided to attack each other. It wouldn’t be the first time that two of my patients knew each other and started fighting.

They didn’t say anything, but their postures relaxed.

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