Page 36 of Incurably Cupid

Panic tightened my chest. “Is he going to be okay?”

The doctor hesitated a moment, then nodded, letting his stethoscope drop against his chest. “I think he’s just overdone it. The trip through the ether depleted whatever energy reserves he had. Rest should help him, and we’re giving him a few IVs. Obviously no potions, but we have some IVs specifically for injured gargoyles.”

For the first time, I noticed how quiet my parents had gone. I’d caught a glimpse of Dad trying to jump up to help when Mesmer first came in, but now, he and Mum were exchanging one of those silent looks they did sometimes—communicatingwithout a single word. Then, as one, they turned to me, both barely suppressing grins.

A sense of unease prickled the back of my neck. I had no idea what they were smiling about, but I felt a solidarity with all children everywhere, young or old, when I admitted that my parents smiling at me in that way made me very uneasy.

By evening,the room had emptied, leaving only Mesmer and me.

Felix, Dieter, Mum, and Dad had gone to Felix’s pub. He’d offered to put them up at The Grand Rose, the most luxurious hotel in Glacier Falls. Mum had jumped at the offer, convincing Dad that it would be a nice little getaway. Before leaving, they fussed over me, making sure I was feeling better. Thanks to fae potions, I was mostly back to a hundred percent.

Felix had hugged me tightly just before heading out, making me squeak, then casually mentioned that he’d already covered my hospital bill. I hoped Mum and Dad would find a way to repay him.

I wouldn’t recommend that humans warm up to people who kidnapped you, but in my case, it felt... fine. I had never really seen the other two, so I couldn’t even identify them in a police lineup, but Dieter and Felix seemed to be decent paranormals.

I turned to Mesmer’s bed. They had placed him right next to me. Literally, with a little stretch, I could touch his bed. He seemed fine, just still very pale, and he hadn’t woken up again since he had come to rescue me.

I snorted and shook my head. The cavalry had arrived, and then the cavalry had passed out cold.

It was hard to see him like this. He had looked worse right after the night he’d been shot, but not by much. The doctor had assured me he’d regain his strength quickly, but we’d have to stay in Glacier Falls for a few days so he could recover before attempting ether travel again.

Mordecai had returned home as well. He had stayed for a while but had looked exhausted, so I made him go home. He promised to come again tomorrow, but depending on when they released Mesmer and me, we might already be at the Rose.

Leo had powered down for a bit to recharge. I knew he was still shaken by what had happened to me, even if he didn’t outright admit it. He hid it by shouting at my for not paying attention to my surroundings once his circuits had calmed enough for him to speak. Of course, because I'm me, I'd had to remind him that shouting wasn't a form of healthy communication.

For the record, sentient tablets are actually able to growl like a grizzly. Can confirm.

Mesmer shivered suddenly, his body trembling beneath the blankets. I pressed the call button, summoning a nurse.

She checked and shook her head. “No fever.” She patted my hand. “Don’t worry, hun. He’s a strong one. He’ll be fine.”

I nodded, but the reassurance wasn’t very reassuring.

As a cupid, I knew how vital state of mind was when recovering from injuries, chronic illnesses, or even life-threatening conditions. Some of our teams worked exclusively in hospitals, matching patients with companions—friends or sometimes romantic partners—to give them the strength to keep fighting.

It was a job I had always avoided.

As cold-hearted and unfeeling as people sometimes accused me of being, I knew that kind of work would break me. I’d heard from other cupids that it was rewarding, that they loved whatthey did despite the heartbreak. I admired them for it, but I could never do it myself.

Another shudder wracked through Mesmer. His teeth chattered violently.

I sighed, glancing toward the nurses’ station. She’d said he was fine, just low on reserves. I had to trust that she knew what she was doing.

But I also couldn’t just sit here while he suffered.

I pressed the call button again, and the same nurse returned, her expression patient but amused.

“What can I do for you, hun?”

I gestured to Mesmer’s chattering teeth and deep shivers. “Can you help me move everything so I can get into bed with him and keep him warm?”

That sounded so salacious when I said it out loud, but there were no lustful thoughts in my mind.

Only the fact that my friend was suffering.

The nurse waggled her eyebrows. “I’d try to climb in there too if I were thirty years younger.” She laughed. “Sure, hun. Let's get you situated.” She had to unhook me from the machines so I could quickly use the restroom, then I gently climbed into Mesmer’s bed, sliding under the covers piled on top of him and lying on my side. The nurse reconnected me to everything, moving some of the machines closer to my new position. Then she turned off the light and closed the door so we could get some sleep.

I inched closer, keeping a small gap between us at first, hoping my body heat would be enough.

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