Page 55 of Taught By the Dragon
The doctor’s lips twitched before he replied, “Aye, well, I’ll see what I can do.”
He went over to help the other doctor, and Violet laughed. Percy glared at her. “What?”
“My dad merely tumbled, Percy. It happens to us all, especially when we’re learning. He doesn’t need two doctors for something so small.”
She grunted. “Well, they’re both here, so I don’t see the point of one standing around. For all we know, the bloody male broke a wing bone and is hiding it.”
Violet moved her head closer, studying Percy as if she were an insect under a glass. “I like this side of you.”
“What side? The bossy side?”
The younger female grinned. “I prefer to call it commanding, but yes. Dad can be stubborn sometimes, and he needs someone who can handle it.”
She froze. “What do you mean he needs someone?”
Violet retreated. “Oh, nothing. Just a friend. Yes, a friend.”
Given how mischief danced in Violet’s eyes, Percy didn’t believe her.
The two doctors waved them over, and as soon as they were close, Dr. Sid said, “He’ll be fine and doesn’t have any serious injuries. Bronx just needs to stay in his dragon form for an hour or so to heal that wing, eat a proper meal after that, and he’ll be as good as new.”
Percy frowned. “Only an hour? That seems really fast.”
Dr. Sid nodded. “Dragon-shifters heal fast, and it’s just a minor cut. But can I leave you two in charge, making sure he obeys his doctor’s orders? I have a few patients I need to visit.”
Even though the doctor didn’t say it, Percy knew it had to do with the other inmates. She blurted, “Are they okay?”
Dr. Sid studied her. “Are you sure you can handle it?” She nodded, and the doctor continued, “Most of them will recover fully, at least physically. There’s only one who hasn’t woken up yet.”
She had a feeling she knew who. “Kit Ashworth.”
“Yes. If it’s too much to ask, I’ll understand. But if there’s anything you can tell me about him, anything at all about what they did to him, then it might help.”
Her gaze trailed over until it met Bronx’s. Drawing from the strength she saw there, she whispered, “We all had our different coping mechanisms. Mine was to lock away all emotions. Kit couldn’t handle what was done to him, and he became catatonic, or so the doctors said.”
And I hurt him, too, at one point, when they forced me to have sex with him for an experiment.Not that she said that out loud.
An almost soothing warmth emanated from the light inside her head. It gave her the strength to add, “The only time I ever saw a flicker of awareness in his gaze was when they played some sort of upbeat music. I don’t know if it was a coincidence, but that’s all I know.”
Dr. Sid bobbed her head. “That’s a brilliant start, Percy. Thank you.”
The female doctor smiled at her, and Percy noticed how the other doctor moved to her side, drawn like a moth to a flame. It almost made Percy smile too. Here was yet another couple who cared for each other, supported each other, and affected each other in a good way.
Not that she should care. She would never be part of a happy couple herself—that would interfere with her dream of freedom.
Dr. Sid stated, “If you have any questions or concerns, call me or Gregor. But my official diagnosis is he’ll be fine.” She leaned over and whispered for her ears only, “Although his bruised pride may need some propping up.”
Frowning, Percy was about to ask why the doctor would say that to her when Dr. Sid and her mate both strode off.
Resisting a sigh, she went to Bronx’s head. “Don’t even think of shifting until the hour is up, okay?” He playfully butted her shoulder with his head, and she smiled. “Yes, even if I’m only a tiny person in human form, I’ll think of a way to keep you here. I’m sure I can call the Protectors or your brother or someone.”
Bronx huffed in what she thought was a dragon laugh.
She sat near him, stroking his scales and chatting to Violet, until the hour passed.
And as the teenager hurried her out of the area, she almost wished she could stay to see him shift back. Only for information, of course. Not because she was curious to see what he looked like naked or to judge if he was just as muscled in his human form as his dragon one.
Or to see his leg in that form, too, and let him know she didn’t find it gross, weird, or any of those things; it was still a mark of survival.
