“She’s not getting near Tiger.” Bestial blocked her path.
Frustration and anger rose in Zandy. She reached up and grabbed her shirt, tugged it to the side and turned enough to toss her hair out of the way to reveal the back of her shoulder. The scratches and bite marks from Tiger’s teeth couldn’t be missed.
“Is that enough to prove to you that I’m telling the truth? Those are from Tiger.” She glared at the much-taller New Species in defiance. “You could send someone to the apartment at Reservation where I’m staying and have him sniff my bedding. Tiger has slept there with me. There isn’t maid service and I haven’t been able to wash my sheets.”
Shock widened Bestial’s eyes as he stared at the injury to her skin. “You’re his mate. Why didn’t you say so?”
“We’re not mated.” She released her shirt and faced him. “He didn’t mean to bite me. I never would have shown anyone since he said people would assume that but I’ll do anything it takes to see him.” She took a step closer. “Is he in that room behind you? Please move if he is. I’ve come a long way and I’m not leaving until I make sure he’s okay.” Her hands clenched at her sides, ready to do battle if need be. “You might be bigger but I’m determined.”
Bestial’s mouth parted but it was Jaded who spoke. “I’d step aside.”
The big man backed up and pushed on the door. It led inside a hospital room and the sight of the still form on the bed caught Zandy’s full attention. Tears blinded her when she saw how pale Tiger looked lying on the bed. A bandage covered most of his long, streaked hair. A bruise marred one cheek. Her gaze lowered to his bare chest where monitor leads had been attached. His left arm and leg were in casts, his ribs were wrapped and cuts marred his skin.
“Oh god.” Her legs nearly buckled but she made it to his side. Her hand trembled as she gently touched his shoulder, a spot free of damage. “How bad is he?” Hot tears streaked down her cheeks. “Is he going to make it?”
“We’re giving him special drugs designed to help us heal faster. He hasn’t woken yet.” Jaded drew next to her. “He had internal injuries, nine fractured bones in all, and some swelling in his brain. He is improving though. His blood pressure stabilized and the bones are repairing.”
She nodded.
“As I stated, he was given special drugs we recovered from Mercile records that were salvaged. The fractures weren’t severe. Our bones tend to heal fast but with the drugs it is just a matter of days. It helped that they weren’t total breaks.”
Her fingers caressed Tiger’s jawline. “What about the swelling in his brain? Will these drugs help with that?”
“We think so. They gave him a scan two hours ago. The doctors said there was no bleeding and no fluid accumulated. He said the swelling had lessened. They didn’t have to operate. The head doctors said it’s a waiting game now to see if he has any damage when or if he wakes. They said he has a much better chance than a human would and his condition is remarkable, considering his injury.”
She leaned down and her fingers played with some of his long hair that was free of the bandage around his forehead. “I’m here, Tiger. Can you hear me? You need to get better for me. I’m going to stay with you.”
“No, you are not.”
Zandy twisted her head to glare at Bestial. “I’m not leaving him.”
“The drugs he was given have a serious side effect. It’s not safe for you to remain in this room. That’s why Jaded and I are here. He could become very aggressive if he wakes.”
“Tiger won’t hurt me.” She believed that.
Bestial hesitated. “Our kind have been known to get sexually aggressive as well as unreasonably combative from this drug. He was given high doses because he is so injured. He could hurt you and not mean to. He could wake to the scent of your heat cycle and force sex with you. He wouldn’t mean to but your scent might drive him over the edge of sanity.”
Zandy eyed the large man. “I’ll be ecstatic if he feels well enough to want to have sex with me because it will mean he’s getting better. You can’t force the willing.”
Bestial blinked but then laughed. “Fine.”
“Thank you for letting me stay.”
He nodded. “I will be sitting over there. One of us has to remain inside this room at all times in case he is aggressive when he wakes. We don’t want him killing one of the medical staff. One of our human doctors came with us but she is sleeping right now.”
Zandy returned her gaze to Tiger. He could have died, still could. She should have told him how she really felt. It might have made him dump her for fear that she was getting too attached to him but at least he’d know she loved him. Regret twisted at her.
No more fear. She silently made that promise. When he woke—she refused to consider anything less—she’d tell him that she was in love with him. He might not feel the same but she wasn’t going to hide behind uncertainties anymore. Their future would be in his hands. He could end their budding relationship or take it to the next level.
She kicked off her shoes and assessed Tiger again, more closely now that the shock had worn off. The scratches were healing, not raw wounds. The bruises on his body appeared days old rather than from the night before. The drugs they were giving him were obviously some kind of miracle treatment for New Species. Gratitude for them struck her hard. It would give the man she loved a better chance at survival.
Frustration and anger rose in Zandy. She reached up and grabbed her shirt, tugged it to the side and turned enough to toss her hair out of the way to reveal the back of her shoulder. The scratches and bite marks from Tiger’s teeth couldn’t be missed.
“Is that enough to prove to you that I’m telling the truth? Those are from Tiger.” She glared at the much-taller New Species in defiance. “You could send someone to the apartment at Reservation where I’m staying and have him sniff my bedding. Tiger has slept there with me. There isn’t maid service and I haven’t been able to wash my sheets.”
Shock widened Bestial’s eyes as he stared at the injury to her skin. “You’re his mate. Why didn’t you say so?”
“We’re not mated.” She released her shirt and faced him. “He didn’t mean to bite me. I never would have shown anyone since he said people would assume that but I’ll do anything it takes to see him.” She took a step closer. “Is he in that room behind you? Please move if he is. I’ve come a long way and I’m not leaving until I make sure he’s okay.” Her hands clenched at her sides, ready to do battle if need be. “You might be bigger but I’m determined.”
Bestial’s mouth parted but it was Jaded who spoke. “I’d step aside.”
The big man backed up and pushed on the door. It led inside a hospital room and the sight of the still form on the bed caught Zandy’s full attention. Tears blinded her when she saw how pale Tiger looked lying on the bed. A bandage covered most of his long, streaked hair. A bruise marred one cheek. Her gaze lowered to his bare chest where monitor leads had been attached. His left arm and leg were in casts, his ribs were wrapped and cuts marred his skin.
“Oh god.” Her legs nearly buckled but she made it to his side. Her hand trembled as she gently touched his shoulder, a spot free of damage. “How bad is he?” Hot tears streaked down her cheeks. “Is he going to make it?”
“We’re giving him special drugs designed to help us heal faster. He hasn’t woken yet.” Jaded drew next to her. “He had internal injuries, nine fractured bones in all, and some swelling in his brain. He is improving though. His blood pressure stabilized and the bones are repairing.”
She nodded.
“As I stated, he was given special drugs we recovered from Mercile records that were salvaged. The fractures weren’t severe. Our bones tend to heal fast but with the drugs it is just a matter of days. It helped that they weren’t total breaks.”
Her fingers caressed Tiger’s jawline. “What about the swelling in his brain? Will these drugs help with that?”
“We think so. They gave him a scan two hours ago. The doctors said there was no bleeding and no fluid accumulated. He said the swelling had lessened. They didn’t have to operate. The head doctors said it’s a waiting game now to see if he has any damage when or if he wakes. They said he has a much better chance than a human would and his condition is remarkable, considering his injury.”
She leaned down and her fingers played with some of his long hair that was free of the bandage around his forehead. “I’m here, Tiger. Can you hear me? You need to get better for me. I’m going to stay with you.”
“No, you are not.”
Zandy twisted her head to glare at Bestial. “I’m not leaving him.”
“The drugs he was given have a serious side effect. It’s not safe for you to remain in this room. That’s why Jaded and I are here. He could become very aggressive if he wakes.”
“Tiger won’t hurt me.” She believed that.
Bestial hesitated. “Our kind have been known to get sexually aggressive as well as unreasonably combative from this drug. He was given high doses because he is so injured. He could hurt you and not mean to. He could wake to the scent of your heat cycle and force sex with you. He wouldn’t mean to but your scent might drive him over the edge of sanity.”
Zandy eyed the large man. “I’ll be ecstatic if he feels well enough to want to have sex with me because it will mean he’s getting better. You can’t force the willing.”
Bestial blinked but then laughed. “Fine.”
“Thank you for letting me stay.”
He nodded. “I will be sitting over there. One of us has to remain inside this room at all times in case he is aggressive when he wakes. We don’t want him killing one of the medical staff. One of our human doctors came with us but she is sleeping right now.”
Zandy returned her gaze to Tiger. He could have died, still could. She should have told him how she really felt. It might have made him dump her for fear that she was getting too attached to him but at least he’d know she loved him. Regret twisted at her.
No more fear. She silently made that promise. When he woke—she refused to consider anything less—she’d tell him that she was in love with him. He might not feel the same but she wasn’t going to hide behind uncertainties anymore. Their future would be in his hands. He could end their budding relationship or take it to the next level.
She kicked off her shoes and assessed Tiger again, more closely now that the shock had worn off. The scratches were healing, not raw wounds. The bruises on his body appeared days old rather than from the night before. The drugs they were giving him were obviously some kind of miracle treatment for New Species. Gratitude for them struck her hard. It would give the man she loved a better chance at survival.
