Page 120 of Auctioned to the Convicts
“That’s enough.” The doctor quickly cut him off. “She needs to rest.”
Looks flew back and forth between the three. She could swear she was watching a match of air pong.
“Tell me,” she insisted.
“In short, you took a drug, and it affected your behavior. I. . . we. . . nearly lost you, but Sersie identified the drug and together we worked out the best treatment plan.”
“I don’t do drugs. I would never. I watched Amelia die, Ky’Li,” she said, turning to her soldier, hoping he’d believe her.
The backs of two fingers brushed her cheek. “We know.”
“Sorry, Hannah. I misspoke. You didn’t intentionally take a drug. From what we’ve been able to figure out, you accidentally inhaled it during a cleanup of a cargo spill at work.”
She searched her memory, unable to recall any spills, except that first day at the port two months ago. The last she remembered, there’d been tension in the house, and a lot of it.
“The drug made you hyperactive and impulsive,” the doctor continued.
Okay, that would make sense, she guessed, depending on the drug. “What did I do?”
Both men looked to Ren who had returned but remained in the doorway. “You ran from the house,” Ky’Li finally said. “Ended up at the water treatment plant, surrounded by eight men.”
Hannah began to shake.
“They didn’t touch you,” Ren said, as if he knew what she needed to hear.
“Sersie tried to reach you as well, but he had a head injury. He told me where to find you. Waved off treatment so I could catch up to you.”
“The men attacked him too?”
“You hit him with the metal vase, sha’vi, before you encountered the workers. You don’t remember anything?”
Hannah sank into her covers, pulling them up high. “I attacked Sersie. . .” The shaking returned. “Is he okay? Tell me he’s okay, please!”
“He’s fine. The nanites I gave him repaired the hairline fracture of his skull and there’s no swelling of his brain. He’s still in pain, but I won’t give him narcotics with his history. Herbal tea for him right now. Same with you. Is your head hurting?”
“A bit.” A lot, but she didn’t want to worry him, her doctor with no name and a heart of gold. She reached out and ran her fingers over his jaw, along the scruff of a beard. “What is your name?” she asked before she could stop herself.
Sadness returned to his eyes. He needed joy, this one. If only he’d let her in. . .
“Don’t take it personally, Vaughn,” Ren said. “You said it yourself, her memory might be scattered.”
Vaughn. . . of course! How handsome, and always sweet, her quiet doctor who hid himself from those around him.
“Ren is right,” Ky’Li added.
Hanna’s mouth dropped open.
Vaughn chuckled. “I think you shocked her by agreeing with Ren on something. She needs to rest. Everyone clear out, please.”
“I’m not sleepy,” she said, as she reached up and stroked Ky’Li’s face.
He caught her hand, moved it to his lips and kissed her palm. “You will listen to Vaughn’s instructions. Rest, so you may get well.”
“Where is Sersie? I need to apologize.”
“He’s not mad. But he’s not here right now. He’s. . .” Ky looked to Ren for an answer. . .Ren who remained by the door, afraid to approach.
“We’re not sure,” Ren said. “As soon as Vaughn proclaimed you would be fine, Sersie left.”
