Page 17 of Incurably Cupid

It didn’t help that Indie was gorgeous. Every time her fingers touched me, my skin hummed with a strange, electric pleasure. I didn’t understand it, but I chalked it up to her bonding magic. She probably had that effect on all non-cupids.

“Dr. Belloli here. What can I do for you?”

“Hello, this is Indie Valentine. I’m taking care of a gargoyle you treated a few days ago, Mesmer Damaris.”

“Yes, I remember him. I asked you to call if something went wrong. I’m assuming something’s gone wrong?”

“Yes, he’s running a fever.”

“How high is it?” the doctor asked.

“102.7.”

The doctor’s voice turned concerned. “He’s right at the cusp. I’m hesitant to have him moved, but I’ll need to see him to determine if he needs to be admitted. He may need to return to the hospital for constant care, maybe for a week.”

I frowned and weakly shook my head. My king would never allow me to return to work in two weeks if I had to go back to the hospital.

Indie paused, her brow furrowing in thought. “Doctor, I can bring you through the ether if you’re willing to make a house call?”

The doctor’s tone brightened. “I’d be delighted. Never had the chance before. I’m at the end of my shift, so I’ll wait for you at the hospital’s entrance with my bag of party tricks.” He chuckled at his own joke, and Indie gave a polite, pained laugh.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” Indie replied before they disconnected. She gave me a fierce look. “Stay.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I assured her. I didn’t think I could lift my hand even if someone came at me with a knife.

In the blink of an eye, Indie was gone.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were feeling ill?” Leo grumbled.

I chuckled weakly, wincing at the pain. “It came on really suddenly. Sorry. I wasn't trying to keep it from anyone.”

Leo sighed. “I suppose you get a pass,” he said.

“Thank you.”

Indie returned with a man who looked like he could be in his eighties, but I suspected he was more than just an elderly human—he had the look of a wizard. He scrutinized me closely before pulling a few items from his leather satchel. “Trying to die on me again, young man?”

I managed a painful laugh. “Not at all. I’d prefer to live, if you can manage it.”

The doctor nodded, his hands working with expert precision as he listened to my chest, peeled back the bandages Indie had just applied, and examined my wounds. He frowned at a few of them, particularly the ones on my chest.

“Hmm, your body’s not fighting this as well as I’d like,” he murmured. He pulled out a tablet and started tapping on it. “I’mgoing to prescribe something to boost your immune system. It’s dangerous if taken for more than a week, but I’m hoping it helps you fight this off more effectively in that time. I’ll also prescribe an infection-fighting medication and a stronger antibacterial wash.” He glanced up over the top of his horn-rimmed glasses. “The wash stings when applied. It feels like someone’s pouring battery acid over your open wounds—lemon juice times ten,” he warned.

I winced. I wasn’t a stranger to pain; with my background, no one could be, but that didn’t sound pleasant at all.

He nodded at my expression. “Yes, not pleasant. Because of that, I’m giving you a topical cream to apply that dulls pain, to be used with the oral pain reliever I prescribed for you at the hospital.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you coming down to take a look at me.”

“It’s actually up,” the doctor chuckled, putting his diagnostic tools back into his bag, then shook his head. “Semantics.”

Leo beeped as though he’d received a message. “I've got your prescriptions, Mesmer. Sending them to the pharmacy here in Devotion. They deliver.”

“Thanks, Leo,” I murmured, feeling my eyelids grow heavy. I was exhausted, and there were too many people in my bedroom. I just wanted to sleep for a decade... or two.

“I’ll be right back,” Indie said, then disappeared with the doctor, only to return moments later without him. She must have dropped him off at home.

“Go ahead and sleep for a bit," she said softly. The pharmacy will take about an hour to deliver your meds,” she assured me, pulling my blanket up so it rested just below my chin.

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