Page 80 of Death and Donuts

“What happened?”

“We were targeted last night. The crash was a calculated attempt to take you. Thankfully, you had the necklace that protected you long enough to give me time to recover.”

“Did they try to take your ring?”

“No. It was a human minion. I don’t believe the person who sent them expected me to be in the car after you left Blur. So they likely only had orders to take you.

“Shepard is tracking them down now. I’m sure we’ll get an update soon. Until then, how can I make you feel better?”

“Water for now. Pain reliever if you have it.”

He leaned away and laughed softly when I made a noise of protest.

“Sit up a little,” he said.

As soon as I attempted to move, my body aches increased. Cross immediately helped me upright and handed me the glass.

“Shepard and I would also like a doctor to look at you. We’re concerned about how hard you hit your head.”

“So am I,” I said after taking a cautious sip. “Concussions are no joke. Had one before, thanks to a past adventure.”

“Is that a yes to the doctor then?”

“Sure. I can make an appointment.”

“No need.” Cross reached for his phone and sent a message. “She’ll be here in a few minutes.”

I paused to blink at him. “This hotel has a doctor?”

The corner of his mouth tilted upward.

“Not exactly. She’s an acquaintance of mine.”

Acquaintance? It’d been over two months since I’d fallen into his cave and woken him. But I’d never heard him talk about anyone else. Just other vampires he’d met trying to gather information. Yet, I knew he also needed to feed and had “friends” for that. So, was that what this doctor was?

“Rather than guess, ask,” Cross said, sounding amused.

“Okay. What do you mean by an acquaintance? Is she someone you feed from?”

“No, she is someone I met through one of my kind, who, like me, does not believe humans are simply a food source. Heuses her to obtain human blood ethically, without the need for a feeder.”

“Is she safe? She’s not related to the bad vampires, right?”

“No, she has no relation to Orphia’s group. She’s the sister of a recently turned vampire. Very trustworthy and understands our kind better than most doctors.”

A knock sounded on the door, and Cross got out of bed to answer it. He was wearing a pair of shorts. I looked under the covers to see I was wearing my underwear, and that was it.

I pinned the cover to my chest as he opened the door and let a tall brunette in. Her gaze immediately found me.

“She had a head injury that bled a lot on the way here,” Cross said. “I healed that, but her head still hurts.”

The doctor checked me over, keeping it all professional. She shined her light in my eyes, asked me basic questions, looked at my side, which hurt, then gently probed my neck before handing me some pain relievers. I downed them right away with a large gulp of water.

“I don’t see any sign of concussion. Either you’re lucky, or Cross’ healing ability helped that out, too. There’s still so much about that we don’t understand.”

She stood as she put her things away in the case she carried.

“If anything changes… headaches, nausea, blurred or doubled-vision, call me right away.”

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