Page 74 of Gift from the Tree

“Willow, are you okay?”

“What the fuck happened?”

I pat Draken’s chest and whimper. I hear everyone’s questions, but I’m getting overwhelmed between the pain and all the noise.

“Everyone, get the fuck out of my way and let me lay her down. Can you not see she’s fucking hurting?” Draken doesn’t shout, but the tone of his voice silences everyone as he lays me down on a soft bed and moves to the side, not letting go of my hand.

“Here, child, drink,” Gaster speaks quietly beside me, placing a straw to my lips, and I drink whatever it is down, knowing it’ll help. After a few minutes, I’m able to open my eyes without the need to throw up all over the place.

As soon as I blink them into focus, I’m met with an angry set of whiskey eyes.

“Hi,” I say lightly, giving him a small smile.

“Are you okay?” he asks, voice trembling with anger.

“I’ve been worse. And I’ve been better,” I tell him honestly, my eyes becoming glossy.

“Excuse me, excuse me,” I hear a feminine voice say as she makes her way past all the bodies in my room. “Willow, I’m Dr. Evie. I was expecting you this afternoon but not like this.”

“Sorry for my grand entrance.” I give her a small, teasing smile.

“I’m glad to see you have a sense of humor. Okay, who needs to leave the room while I look over your injuries?” she asks. Gaster and Oakly, plus the three guys, all take a step closer to my bed, indicating no one’s leaving.

“They’re all fine for this part. Only Oakly will stay for the other unless she wants to step out too,” I say vaguely. She knows what I mean, but the men in the room don’t need to be informed.

“What other part?” Corentin asks, looking between the doctor and me, never one to be okay with being out of the loop.

“That’s a patient-healer matter, Headmaster Vito,” Dr. Evie tells him firmly but respectfully.

“A lady matter. Would you like to stay for that as well?” I ask sweetly, hoping to embarrass his controlling ass.

“If you aren’t going to tell me what it’s about, then yes, I’m staying.”

“Absolutely not. That’s final,” I growl, staring him down so he understands how fucking serious I am. He finally relents with an irritated huff.

Nosy control freak.

Tillman’s lip twitches and my gaze shoots to him, eyes going wide.

Holy shit, he has been reading my thoughts.

“Sometimes, or when you broadcast them loudly,” he says with a shit-eating grin on his face.

Note to self, figure out how to block his ass out and not think too loud.

“Okay, Willow, tell me where it hurts the most,” Dr. Evie cuts his growl of disagreement off.

“My face. My head. My throat. I’m not sure which hurts more than the other,” I inform her. It’s all throbbing.

“I’ll start at the top and work my way down then. I’ll need to place my hands on your head. Is that okay?” she asks before making any sort of move and I appreciate that very much.

“That’s fine. Do whatever you need to make this better.”

She places her hand on my head, and I expect it to be cold like most doctors’ hands are, but hers are so warm and emit a slight tingle. My magic glows in my chest and makes its way toward her hand without my permission.

“Curious magic you have there.” She chuckles, causing a chain reaction of laughs to resound around the room.

“That’s my kitten for you.” Draken picks.

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