His hand landed on my shoulder. He bent down and kissed my lips.
I fought the urge to press closer and wrap my arms around him. I was angry with him, but I still loved him.
He pulled away too soon. “The men and I will check on her again when she wakes up. We also request that you ask her to stay in this world until we’ve talked to her.”
Why would I leave this world? What had happened?
Dang it. Now I’ll have to get up.
But…not yet. I’ll ask Dr. Shaw what Zane is talking about in a few minutes, maybe an hour.
“I’ll make sure she hears your request.”
There were more footsteps, but these retreated. The door closed, and the room went quiet.
Dr. Shaw sighed. “Are you ready to get up?”
“No.” My throat was dry. I cleared it. “I’m still tired.” I was.
“All right.” She didn’t sound bothered in the least. She was patience reincarnated.
No one had ever cared for me the way Dr. Shaw did.
My eyes burned when I realized how much I wished my mother had been this way with me. My mother had raised my sister, Connie, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d stroked Connie’s hair when she’d been hurt.
My mother didn’t strike me as the tender sort. I couldn’t picture her wrapping me up in a towel after a long swim in the pool or making me turkey sandwiches with the crust cut off. I couldn’t see her meeting my eyes in the mirror as she brushed my hair.
She would never have done any of that for me because she’d hated me. She’d hated me for being a necromancer. She’d hated me for being born.
I broke into the sort of sob I did best. The ugly sort.
Dr. Shaw gathered me in her arms like a mother hen would do to a baby chick, even cooing as my sobs racked my body. I tried to keep my face away from her so she wouldn’t see me and get turned off or push me away, but she was having none of that. She wiped my face with something and then said, “Tell me where it hurts.”
If only she could fix my stupid heart, but she couldn’t. My parental issues were beyond repair. That part of me was better off being taken to the city dump and buried away until the end of time.
I didn’t know how anyone put up with me. Maybe she hated me because she knew how screwed up my life would be.
“Who?” Dr. Shaw asked.
It was only then I realized I’d spoken out loud. I sniffed and kept my eyes closed. “My mother.” I didn’t want to see her pity or watch her face change as she realized I wasn’t worthy of the tenderness she was giving me.
Instead, Dr. Shaw tightened her arms. “This doesn’t sound like the warrior princess I know. Where’s my strong Lorena.”
My eyes began to leak again. “You know about Wonder Woman?” I looked at her through watery eyes.
She smiled down at me. “Only vaguely until I met you.”
Wow. The woman was even trying to get to know me more than my mother ever had.
“I’m sorry I give you such a hard time,” I found myself saying.
She shook her head. “Peter and I have had some conversations while I helped prepare your meals. I know a little bit about what you were forced to survive. Anyone who knows you would be proud of the woman you are. Why else would all these men adore you?”
I sniffed. I was feeling bad for myself and throwing a pity party of the century with streamers, balloons, and a ten-foot ice sculpture of my weeping face included. “Because of the prophecy?”
“Lorena, you’re already pregnant. If any of them only wanted your womb, they’d be gone by now.”
That was true. I was pregnant and carrying the child of the prophecy. There was no other reason to stick around unless…they actually loved me.
I smiled. “You’re right.”
“Oh, what a beautiful expression. You were meant to smile, Lorena.”
She hugged me, and I sighed with relief when her arms went around me. “I’ll probably lose my temper later today. I want to keep you informed.”
She laughed and patted my back. “That’s all right. I’ve seen your strength and know what you’d be willing to do for your friends. I couldn’t imagine having you for a mother. You’re going to do very well.”
I pulled away.
I was in my room in the mansion.
Dr. Shaw put the box from my dad on my