Chapter Three
Em began to get nervous when she heard loud voices outside her room. There was a shout and a thud. She saw her sister’s face in the doorway. There was a shriek, and everything went quiet.
Samsor stuck his head in. “You good?”
She nodded. “Yup. They flat?”
He grinned. “Yup.”
Dr. Aquilar came back in with an instrument tray and smiled. “He’s effective.”
“Yeah. I guess so.”
Duran came in, wiping his hands on a napkin, and there was blood on it.
Em blinked. “You were in on that?”
Duran grinned. “I get my fun where I can. We have the temporary restraining order, and since it is active, they are being arrested... again. Echel, how is the hunt coming?”
Echel gave him a thumbs-up.
Dr. Aquilar set the instrument tray down, put on gloves, and looked at the incisions. “You heal fast. I am going to pull the stitches before you leave.”
“How long is it supposed to take?”
“About a week to ten days.”
“Huh. No one ever mentioned it.” She sighed. “So, that isn’t normal either?”
He began to clip and tug at the stitches. “No, it isn’t normal. What would you have done if you knew?”
“I dunno. I wouldn’t have expected it to heal so fast.”
Dr. Aquilar nodded and kept working.
“How many holes did you make?”
“Seven small incisions. I am good at working in small areas.”
“Your wife must be very happy.”
The hands working paused. “Don’t make me laugh. My new daughter-in-law can energize someone, and my wife has been reminding me of certain things.”
“What?”
“Our first weeks together before our son was even a possibility.”
“Ah. Good memories.”
He smiled and got the last stitch out, putting surgical tape on all of the marks.
She sighed and lowered her gown.
“A nurse will be in to help you get the catheter out, and then you can start walking around.”
“Boo and hooray.”
He nodded and left.
Echel looked at her. “How are you feeling?”
“Slightly relieved. By the way, neither you nor Duran is going to be here when the nurse comes in.”
“Why not?”
“A lady needs some mystery, and I am never sure what will happen, so shoo when she shows up.”
Duran smiled. “We don’t mind.”
“I do. The rest of me is dotted with scars that were inflicted because someone felt that my body wasn’t mine to control. Allow me to get myself under control again.”
He looked at her soberly and nodded. Echel mimicked it.
When the nurse came in, they went out, and a few minutes later, she was carefully on her feet. They came back in, and when she was standing, she could see both aspects of each of them. She sighed. “I need to walk. I have my sceptre of justice, so I am good to go.”
Echel looked at her with a smile, and Duran did as well. Her lawyer said, “Allow me to escort you, my lady.”
Echel smiled. “I will do the next round.”
She snorted. “Great.”
He smirked. “We have a vested interest in getting you back in shape.”
“I thought that was an alpha thing.”
Echel narrowed his eyes at her. “We are trying it on for size.”
Duran offered his arm, and she was wheeling out of the room, walking slowly, holding his arm.
She sighed, as they were a few metres from the room where Samsor was still posted outside the door. “So, what the fuck is going on with you idiots?”
There were two barks of laughter behind her. She recognized Samsor’s and Echel’s laughter, and that wasn’t good.
Duran grinned. “Whatever do you mean?”
“You guys are all acting like teens in drama class.”
He snorted. “It isn’t that far from the situation.”
“What is the situation? Enlighten me.”
He chortled. “When the court case is complete, I will.”
“Ah, right. Charges are pending.”
“Correct. I might have to hand your case over to Marshall if things drag on.”
“Marshall?”
“Another lawyer with similar genealogy.”
She grimaced. “Is he a delta, too?”
“No. He’s an alpha with a small pack. An omega and another alpha.”
“Oh. So, I am a downgrade.”
He snorted. “No. As impressive as Ruby is, I think that with some physiotherapy, you could take her. Well, aside from the barbs she can spray. Those are different.”
“Oh, she has weapons.”
“Yes. Most of the elf omegas do.”
“Great. Well, that makes sure I will avoid certain environments.”
“Like what?”
“Restaurants run by your people. Doesn’t matter. Can’t even get in with a reservation.”
“That really upset you.”
She looked at him as she kept moving. “Do you know what kind of effort it took to make and hide that reservation, save up the money for it, and then get dressed up and sneak to the reservation? It wasn’t the fucking food, I just needed something to go right for a change, and it didn’t.
It crushed me. Just another stranger telling me that I don’t matter and no one cared or noticed. ”
He asked softly, “Who else?”
“Doctors, police. Every time I tried to get attention and report something, Augusta and the others swept in and called me a drama queen, pulling me out of there and telling them I wouldn’t bother them again.
Then, they took me home and beat me until I couldn’t move for days.
” She smiled slightly. “I kept trying, though, so do you think that’s a learning issue? ”
There was a group of elves coming out of the elevator. The woman saw her and lifted her camera.
The flash made her wince. “Oh, that’s going to be a crowd pleaser,” Em muttered.
The woman paused. “I am sorry. There was just something about you. I had to see.”
Em blinked. “Blinding me was integral to the process?”
The woman chuckled. “Sorry, ma’am.” She navigated around her camera and blinked. “Holy shit.”
“What? Is there a bug on me?”
Duran paused. “May I see?”
The woman turned her camera and showed him the image. Duran nodded. “That is what I thought.”
“She’s a starburst with eyeballs.” One of the elves behind Win said.
“Fuck you, you pointy-eared asshole. Punch another hole in that stupid-looking head. Two are insufficient.” She glared at them. “Look at my face and arms. Actually, look at them. Do you think I want any man commenting on the way I look right now?”
The man who had spoken looked sheepish. “I am sorry, but you burn very bright.”
“I will take your word for it. Now, shoo. You are in my walking path.”
Duran smiled. “You heard her.”
The woman sighed and said, “I am sorry he is an asshole. I have only seen one of you before. Your signature is astounding.”
Em nodded and started moving again. “Right. The lady from Tiberia Games. The chaos mage.”
The elf paused. “You know her?”
“Haven’t met her, but I have seen her.” She looked to Duran. “Let’s go.”
He nodded. “Yes, my lady.”
The other male elves looked at them in shock.
They passed the photographer, and Em heard a clatter.
She looked down and knew she couldn’t bend, so she reached out her hand, and the USB stick flew into her palm.
She was about to hand it to the elf with the camera when the download started.
Em’s vision flared, and she understood so much more about what she was in that moment.
It felt like hours, but she slowly straightened and met the elf’s gaze. “Here you go.”
The woman took the USB stick and said, “I didn’t bring this with me.”
“Well, it must have fallen out of one of your men. You should train them better.”
The entire group gasped as Em was moved through the halls. Duran was highly amused. “You are going to hear about that later.”
“I have no doubt, but I was nearly kicked to death by a pack, and I don’t like being confronted by groups led by an omega. It makes me angry.”
Duran nodded. “That is fair. Have you been able to get therapy?”
“Nope.”
“May we look around to find someone?”
“Do I have to pay?”
“No.”
“Then sure.”
He sighed. “We will be here for you when you are ready.”
She chuckled. “It’s a good thing you live for a really long time.”
Luna had offered her a safe house, and Em had taken it. The older woman asked, “How long do you think you will be staying here?”
Em paused. “I can leave now if I will be a problem.”
“No. Dear. No. I just wanted to see if you had matches or something else was in the works.”
“Right. I think I just need to get through the court case and get out the other side. I know I am nothing like Zara. Luna explained the situation. I will stay out of your way and keep to myself. I am not here to get in the way. I am here to hide until I can be free.”
“Fair enough. We will share at least one meal a day.”
“I will start now. What do you want to eat?”
Em looked at Emma, and they got up to examine the kitchen. When she had a basic outline for a meal, she got to work.
* * * *
Emma spoke to Luna on a video call. “Has anyone not fucked her over? She has so many layers between herself and the world, it is astonishing that she can move.”
Luna sighed. “She’s never been offered help before.”
“Well, the book club is good for that.”
“No. We aren’t. She’s been a member for nearly a year. The more obvious alterations are always given priority, and she was slowly being taken apart at the hands of her family. We didn’t even look at her.”
Emma blinked. “Well, that explains a lot. Her parents?”
“Sent her to be her sister’s assistant. She even has to leave work when her omega calls. If she arrives too late, she’s in trouble.”
“Oh. She didn’t mention that.” Emma felt like she had been too harsh with the young lady.
“No. She wouldn’t. That’s her life.”
“Right.”
“She hasn’t had a kind word or touch in the last two decades. Not since her grandparents passed.”
“Oh, no. I have done this all wrong.” She took her phone and walked to Em’s room. “She’s gone.”
“What? What do you mean she’s gone?” Luna was hissing as she rocked her baby in the screen.
“I mean, she’s gone. She’s wearing that sweatsuit from the hospital. I don’t know what she changed into.”
“Nothing. She doesn’t have access to anything else.”
“What about money?”
“I think she has a bit of cash in her purse, but she can’t rent a hotel. She’ll be found. Two pack members have made bail, and they are looking for her.”
“What kind of alphas does she have?”