Page 84 of Forbidden Devotion
The other alphas had met without him. They were going to wake him, but Erika convinced everyone he needed to rest, and for that, he was grateful. She was beginning to grow on him.
He and Sinclair had made the trip to the hospital together, but Mitchel would visit Ramsey alone. Their last conversation had gone terribly. Then Ramsey had almost died. Though Mitchel was rattled with nerves at the thought of talking to his uncle, he was relieved their last conversation wouldn’t be theirlast conversation.He would never have forgiven himself for that.
The hospital halls were steadily busy. Not frantic, as they must have been last night, but streaming with an endless trail of nurses, visitors, and staff. The air smelled strongly of antiseptic, medicines, and beneath that, blood.
How many were injured? How many dead?
The questions sat heavily on his soul as he found Ramsey’s room and paused outside his door. The nurse had said Ramsey was doing well.
He gave a quiet knock on the open door and stepped inside. Ramsey was sitting up in bed, an irritated expression on his familiar face that morphed to warmth as he spotted Mitchel.
“Nephew. I owe you my thanks. Erika tells me you saved my life.” Ramsey stretched out his hand.
Mitchel approached and took it. “She’s being humble. It was Erika who told me your rooms were near the blast. If she hadn’t been there to guide me, I wouldn’t have known where to look.”
“I owe you both a great debt, then. Thank you for thinking so quick on your feet. The doctors say if I’d stayed in my room much longer, I’d have died. Whether from smoke inhalation or blood loss, I don’t know,” Ramsey explained. “I don’t even remember the explosion.”
“I barely remember it. Everything happened so fast. You were at ground zero.” Mitchel squeezed his hand. “Gave us all a big scare.”
“There’s work to be done. I don’t have full reports of who we’ve lost, who else is hurt, none of it. I can’t sit in this bed when I could be helping.” Ramsey’s irritated expression returned full force. “We need to convince these damn vampires to let me out of here.”
“These ‘damn vampires’ took excellent care of you. How about we go easy on them? Besides, Erika has assumed your responsibilities in our absence, and she’s doing an excellent job. She doesn’t need your help.”
“Erika Silver would have made a fine mate for you, nephew.”
“Except we aren’t in love, Uncle,” Mitchel pointed out.
Ramsey shrugged as if such a thing weren’t important.
Mitchel continued. “I’m beginning to think she only flirts with me because she knows it won’t work. She doesn’t want to catch me. She just doesn’t want to be tethered herself, and pursuing me discouraged anyone else from courting her. Very clever if you ask me. That’s my theory.”
“Perhaps,” Ramsey said. “She told me Nathan was shot rescuing that vampire of yours, the Davis boy. That wolf’s a brave young lad and loyal to you. Why couldn’t you court him?”
“Nathan?” Mitchel almost laughed. “He’s too young, Ramsey, and not my type. Brave and loyal, yes, but I’ve made my decision. I want Sinclair for as long as he’ll have me. I know you don’t like it, but I hope, in time, you’ll be able to live with it.”
Ramsey frowned. “You’re making a mistake.”
“No. You are, but let’s not argue. Just let me be happy you’re all right. We have all the time in the world to argue later if you think that’s necessary, but I won’t budge on this. I’ll see about getting you released.” Mitchel turned to go.
“Manage that, and you’ll have my thanks, if not my approval for your vampire boyfriend,” Ramsey said, but his tone was lighter. A decent start.
“I’ll do my best. Stay put. I’ll be back to collect you as soon as I can, and we’ll meet with the other alphas.”
Mitchel left and searched for the nurses’ station to see about those release forms.
* * *
Sinclair
Intimidatedby the idea of greeting Mitchel’s uncle, Sinclair had bowed out and gone in search of Nathan instead. It didn’t take long to locate his room, but when he arrived, Dr. Arleth was in with him. So Sinclair waited outside.
Laughter came from within. Though Sinclair hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, he couldn’t help but hear the two of them chatting and laughing together. He only needed to listen a moment longer to suspect they were…flirting?
Definitely flirting.
He’d never heard Nathan flirt, and he had to hold back a chuckle. His spirits rose. If Nathan felt good enough to chat up the good doctor, he must be healing well.
Sinclair gave a polite cough to snag their attention, then rounded the corner and stepped inside. Doctor and patient sprang apart, but not before Sinclair noticed they’d been holding hands. Two slightly shocked faces greeted him.
