Page 90 of Dragon Unhinged

Chapter

Thirty-Eight

BRIANNA

There’s no way in hell I can sleep.

Not when my entire body feels like I’m being torn apart from the inside.

My head has been clearer since the doctor left. It’s like somehow, in getting her to open up to me, I broke through some of Grey’s control over me too. I somehow doubt that’s the cause, but I have no idea how any of this works so I’m making guesses.

I grudgingly head into the bathroom again, hoping that the hot water of a bath might ease at least a little of the constant pain, the constant feeling that my body is going to break before I even get to meet my baby.

With tears in my eyes, I sink into the steaming tub, focusing on Declan. Wondering where he is and what he’s doing. Wondering if he’s missing me as badly as I’m missing him.

I don’t know where I am. I don’t know if there’s any way for me to get a message to him, if there’s any way for me to contact any of the dragons, any of the shifters or witches or anyone I consider a friend.

Would the doctor sneak me a cell phone?

If she did, who would I even call?

The tears are falling freely now, again, completely out of my control, making my body hurt even more as the sobs rip through me. I’m so tired of crying and grieving. I just want to be done with this. I want it to be over if that’s what’s going to happen anyway.

“Brianna?” Dr. Donna’s voice is soft, almost timid.

“Did he send you back to finish what you started? I’m not going to be any more fucking cooperative than I was before.” I look up at her, letting all my frustration, all my pain show freely. I don’t even bother trying to cover up. It’s not like she hasn’t seen practically all of me already.

“I brought you something.” She shuffles across the bathroom tile, like she’s struggling to even be here right now. “I don’t know if it’ll help. I don’t even know if it’s the right one, but I’ve heard stories, and if it can help, it’s worth a shot, right?”

“What is it?” I wipe my eyes and try to sit up more, but it doesn’t stop the tears from falling still.

“It might be Declan’s heartstone.” She holds her hand out, her fist clenched around something.

His heartstone? Is it possible? Why would she have it? Why would she give it to me?

“Why? How?” My heart is hammering in my chest with hope and fear.

She looks close to tears herself. “You broke his spell, at least a little. I don’t know how you did it, and I don’t really care. I haven’t felt like myself in months, and I want you to be able to feel that way too.” She swallows hard. “I’d like it if…”

I wait, reaching out to touch her, to take whatever it is she’s holding.

“I’d like it if you’d find my sister. Let her know that her big sister loves her and misses her.” She shakes her head as she drops the ring into my hand.

“I’m taking you back with me. But if I can’t, it’d help to have a name to give her.”

The ring feels warm in my hand, but I’m hardly paying attention to it. I don’t want her to chicken out, to stop talking to me, being human with me.

“Donna Tripp.” She practically chokes on it. “My sister’s Hannah. She lived in Atlanta, the last I saw her, but I don’t know if she would still be there anymore. Not after what happened.”

“We’re going to get out of here, Donna. Together.” I reach for her and realize the ring she’d dropped in my hand is winding around my ring finger, by itself. Vines of silver with the green, purple, and black stone stretch around my wrist too for a bracelet, ring combo.

Declan talked about heartstones, about the magic that surrounds them. Never did I imagine the heartstone would be able to shift itself much like its owner.

What if this is all another trick, another ploy by Grey, something to make me trust her, to make me let her near enough to take the samples he wants? Or could the ring do something else to harm me and my baby?

“I don’t think I can go. I don’t think he’ll let me.” Donna steps back, wringing her hands together.

“Tell me where we are. Help me get someone here, help me get us both help.”

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