Page 62 of Crown of the Fae King

"I have to open him up," McAvoy said. “I need to take him back to the hospital. But Mrs. MacKenzie..."

Everly stared at her husband while tears leaked out of her eyes and down her cheeks.

I stepped closer. "I'll take care of her."

The doctor grabbed my good arm. "She's had a transfusion, but if she doesn't rest, she'll need another one. She needs to stay here."

"Got it. No problem. I think she'll see reason." At least I prayed she would.

Wickham popped out and came back with a gurney. As soon as they'd transferred the unconscious man onto it--which took the better part of the household and a single hand from me, he and the doctor grabbed the gurney and popped out again. Everly stood still for a minute, waiting for Wickham to come back for her. It was left to me to explain.

"Honey, they're not coming for you right now. McAvoy’s going to clean out the wound, but he’ll bring Urban back. Okay? And while he's gone, you need to do something for him. Can you do that? For Urban?"

She looked like an abandoned puppy. "What?"

"You’re going to rest, and you're going to build up your blood, do you hear me? Urban's going to need you to take care of him, and you can't do that if you have to go back in the hospital too. Do you understand?"

I thought she would fall apart when she took a quick deep breath, but she only nodded.

It wasnoon the following day when Persi stuck her head in the door. She noticed Everly sleeping in the bed and gestured for me to join her in the hall.

I hugged her around the neck until she protested. "I'm so happy to see you," I whispered.

"Same here. How's she doing?"

"Fine as long as she's asleep. When she's awake, she's either catatonic or crying out for Wickham."

"Not Urban?"

"She wants Wickham to take her to him." I sighed. "I'm almost glad I never fell in love if that's what it does to you."

"Oh, it does much worse, but it's worth it."

I stared her down, waiting for a confession, but she wasn't talking.

She nudged me. "And it's never too late."

"So...you and Kitch--"

She lifted her brows in a cryptic non-confession. "I was talking about Lorraine and Loretta and those Irishmen. We stopped by Headquarters so we could get the rest of our things, and I think they've all gotten cozy. Add in the Youngs and the place looks like a set for a reality show for twins. And those sisters weren't too pleased when Wickham invited Brian and Flann to come to Oxford. Now they're pouting like teenagers."

"The men?"

"No. Their...girlfriends." She laughed quietly. "Wickham blamed you, though. Said it was your idea."

"My idea?" I remembered our conversation about needing a bigger pack. "Oh, yeah. I guess it was."

"Tell me where this girl wing is. I can't believe this place. If he moves us to anything bigger, it will have to be a castle."

"Don't tempt him. He'd probably like to have a wall around this place, and a moat filled with alligators."

"Don't be silly." She started down the hall in the direction of the kitchen. "Alligators need a warmer climate. But poisonous snakes? Maybe."

The mention of snakes sent me scurrying back into the room to check on my patient. Wickham said Everly had been bit but hadn't mentioned where. I assumed it was the reason for Everly's limp, but no one had checked on her bandage. The next time she woke, I would ask to see it.

My biggest worry was much more obvious--if Urban didn't recover, I was afraid Everly wouldn't either. And it wouldn't be a snake bite that took her out.

"It wasn't a snake,"Everly said, when I asked if I could check her snake bite. "A short little...I don't know what you'd call it. A fanged, fat-headed beaver on hind legs, losing its fur? Definitely more animal than anything."

---