The Protectors Series Bundle - By Nana Malone Page 0,29
gray swirl of loss. Love. Not romantic, but love nonetheless. Love and sadness.
“You want to tell me what happened to him?” Lisa’s flipped her dark hair over her shoulder as she kneeled to examine him.
Cassie had already decided to tell the truth. She was at full power again. She could mind push the doctor into forgetting the two of them had ever been here, if necessary. Or push her into thinking Seth had arrived alone. That way, if medication was missing, there would be good cause for the disappearance.
“He was shot. Mostly healed, but the burning and body transformation started early this morning. I don't know what to do for him. He needs pain medication and something to bring his fever down.”
Lisa stared at Cassie, mouth agape, her expression changing from incredulity, to horror, to disbelief, then back to incredulity. Likely, she tucked Cassie into the crazy-out-of-her-brain category.
But to her credit, she tried to keep her voice professional. “Did you say body transformation?”
Cassie pinched the bridge of her nose. “Look at him. When I met him yesterday morning, he had a runner’s body. Now he’s got ripped abs like the guys from the movie 300.”
Lisa nodded. “He’s so much taller than I recall. Maybe it's the years and I don’t remember well.”
Cassie shook her head. “No, that's the transformation. Yesterday, he was just over six feet. Today, I’d estimate six four, at least.”
“You want to explain the gunshots? I see no evidence of them.”
Cassie quickly told the story even as she tried to read Lisa. Still, she had little luck, gathering impressions and feelings, but no thoughts. The doctor’s mind was strong. Maybe as strong as Seth’s. While Lisa finished examining Seth, Cassie assumed her post by the window and watched the main road. “You don’t have to believe me. But please, please bring his fever down. Please give him something for the pain.”
Lisa stared at her. “What the hell am I supposed to say to a story like that?”
Seth didn’t completely trust this woman. Cassie didn’t trust anyone. But right now, Dr. Lisa Trenery was all they had. Cassie turned her attention to the doctor’s medical bag and levitated it across the room. “I realize this is a lot to take in. And I know you barely want to fulfill your favor to Seth, but we need you, and from what I've seen on television about doctors, you have taken an oath to first do no harm. In action, I’ve only seen the opposite. Please help him. We have nowhere else to go. Please prove me wrong.”
Lisa stared at her levitating medical bag, then at Cassie, then moved her gaze back to Seth. “Oh Seth, what has been done to you?”
Cassie turned back to the window. “I wish I knew.”
Chapter Nine
One word echoed in Seth’s head. Run. Through the pain, he reached for Cassie. He needed to get to her, to keep her safe. His heart thundered in his chest his breathing stuttered. He jerked up with a start, as if a coiled spring propelled his movement. “Cassie.”
“Seth. It’s okay. I’m right here. We’re okay.”
Relief flooded through his body the instant she spoke to him. She hadn’t left him. Not that he would blame her if she had. She needed to put miles between Gentech and herself, and she didn’t need an injured, blind guy slowing her down.
“Cassie?” His throat was scratchy and hoarse, but at least he could speak. The more he focused, the more he realized he no longer hurt. The burn was gone. His hands quickly groped around and came into contact with soft cotton material underneath him. A bed, maybe? His hands shifted to the edge of where he lay and he tried to push himself up.
“Calm down, Seth.” Cassie's voice was steady and matter-of-fact as she patted his knee. She slid a soft hand into his palm and twined her fingers with his. “You still need to rest. After what you've been through, nothing will feel the same. You have to take it easy.”
His reflexes kicking in, he blinked. Hazy gray shadows lurked through the gauze patches over his eyes. With his vision no longer pitched in darkness, he tugged hard at the gauze and tape. He didn’t remember much of anything after Cassie lifted him out of the car. Just the pain.
“I thought you were going to keep him calm. If you can't, then I'll have to ask you to wait outside.” Lisa's voice was cool.