The Summer King Bundle 3 Stories - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,135

pain?”

“Not bad.”

“Good. I’m going to check some of these wounds and do a quick check-up,” she explained. “Then we’ll see about getting some real food in you.”

The exam was rather quick and only a little painful. Sitting up wasn’t exactly fun, and it was only when she lifted the hospital-type gown that I really got to see how the cuts were healing.

My legs and stomach looked like someone had been counting the days on my body like I had been on the stone.

When the healer was done, I was sitting completely upright, my feet resting on the floor, focusing on taking slow and even breaths.

“Everything looks like it’s healing up just fine,” Luce told me, slipping her hands into the pockets of her lab coat. “Actually, you’re healing better than I would’ve anticipated given the number of wounds and the lack of nutrition combined with dehydration. I am aware that can be particularly dangerous for humans.”

“Luce works part-time in a human clinic,” Ivy explained, apparently noting the way I was staring at the doctor.

“Just a couple of hours a week,” she said. “Humans fascinate me. Sort of like how I imagine wild animals fascinate zoologists.”

I blinked.

Ivy pressed her lips together, expanding her cheeks as she widened her eyes once more.

Unabashed by the human and wild animal comparison, Luce continued, “Have you had any more nausea? Vomiting?”

I shook my head and then said, “Not that I remember.”

“Not since yesterday,” Ivy confirmed.

“Good. I think we can get some food sent up. Something light. We’ll see how that goes.”

Exhaling, I nodded again. “Can I take a shower? I really want to wash my hair.”

“If you feel up to it and keep the wounds on your legs and arms bandaged, I don’t see why not.” The fae jerked her chin in Ivy’s direction. “I do think you should have someone here while you do it just in case you get tired.”

“I have ample time on my hands,” Ivy offered.

My gaze shifted between the two women. “When can I go home?”

Luce’s smile remained firm as she glanced at Ivy. My brow puckered. “We’ll see how you’re doing in a day or so, okay?”

I opened my mouth.

“In the meantime, I’ll have some more pain meds sent up,” she moved on. “There’s something else I want to talk to you about.”

Ivy started to rise. “I’m just going to go see if I can rummage up some food for you.”

Understanding flared. I knew what the healer wanted to talk to me about. “You don’t have to leave,” I said, and Ivy halted. “I know what you want to talk about. If I was sexually assaulted.”

Luce nodded. “As you know, there are no diseases that can be transmitted between human and fae, nor is pregnancy common. It’s rare and has to be done without compulsion, but that does not rule out physical force. Even so, it’s still extremely rare, but there are people that you can talk to. Humans I know that specialize—”

“I wasn’t raped,” I cut her off. “I mean, I’m pretty sure I wasn’t. I don’t remember anything like that happening.” My stomach soured. “He did get…handsy a few times, but I think he was actually disgusted by humans.”

At least until the end.

In the end, I had a vague sense that he’d begun to admire me and had started to view me in a different light, as twisted as that sounded.

Luce nodded. “There were bruises on your inner thighs and hips, the kind that are sometimes found in victims of assault.”

Victims.

I closed my eyes, took a breath, and then reopened them. “When I said handsy, I didn’t just mean in a sexually unwanted way. He liked to hit and kick. Those bruises could be from anything.”

Luce smiled faintly as she nodded. It was one of those well-practiced smiles designed to make a patient feel at ease. “Okay, but if you happen to remember something, please do not hesitate to come to me or someone else.”

“I will,” I said, hoping that would be a non-issue. “Thank you for helping me and for…well, making sure I’m okay.”

Luce left after mentioning that she’d pick up the routine blood work that she’d sent into the clinic soon, leaving Ivy and me alone. Things were oddly awkward between us as Ivy found a pair of loose pants and a shirt that I could wear. Ivy was too smiley and too nice. Not that she hadn’t been nice before, but she was like Positive Polly now, and that wasn’t her.

“I’m still Bri,” I