Chapter 34 #2
“Normally I wouldn’t,” I explained as I started setting up the bag on a pole next to Rory’s bed.
“But in this instance, Rory isn’t healing fast enough.
Whatever he’s ingested is toxic and sticking around.
That’s how poisons work. They bind to the person’s cells.
His kidneys can use all the help they can get to remove the substance from his blood and organs. ”
Leah started to sob, pressing her hand against her mouth.
“How bad is this?” Grey asked in a soft voice that only I could hear.
“Pretty bad. I have no idea what could make him this sick this fast. Especially when he was doing so well yesterday. If this were a human toddler, I’d think they got into something, like eating fertilizer or drinking antifreeze.
But Rory wouldn’t do that.” I muttered, trying my best so only Grey could hear me.
After using an alcohol wipe to sterilize Rory’s arm, I did my best to insert the IV quickly and painlessly.
“Can you keep hold of him?” I asked.
Grey nodded, already at work.
“I’m going to run and grab some things from the storeroom.”
Darting across the hall, I grabbed several familiar bottles and a mortar and pestle.
“What’s that you’re making?” Leah asked when I returned and got to work crushing the herbs.
“I’ll be honest, I’m going to make a detoxifying tea—and a concentrated version. One for him to drink, one to put in that fluid bag to see if it helps.” I turned to Grey, nodding at the bottle. “Okay, have him drink that.”
He did, emptying the ipecac into Rory’s mouth.
It didn’t take long to work, and Grey stood with a basin for Rory to vomit into.
The sounds were awful, but I didn’t think anything of it, simply preparing what I needed for the next steps.
Emptying his stomach was only the first item on the to-do list. I needed to clear the toxins from his blood now.
As my concoctions filtered into his system, Rory twisted and writhed on the hospital cot. He groaned so much, gripping Grey’s hand, as his mom stood behind him, stroking his back. I pressed a cool compress to his forehead as we waited.
And waited and waited.
Greylen’s other hand rested on my back. Even though his attention was fully on Rory, that little touch meant everything. Grounding me.
The first few times Kiki had let me heal, she had done something similar, resting a hand on my shoulder. It was a familiar and comforting gesture, and I appreciated Greylen just a little bit more in that moment.
“It’s… It doesn’t hurt anymore.” Rory mumbled and stilled on the bed, taking several deep breaths as he relaxed, his muscles no longer rigid.
I sagged, while Leah and Donald downright collapsed from the relief. Blinking slowly over and over, Rory drifted off, the exhaustion getting to him.
Twenty minutes later, Rory was peacefully asleep as the IV slowly did its job.
“So, it’s working?” Leah asked between tears.
“I think so. I don’t want to promise anything just yet, but his temperature is getting a bit better, and he’s calmed down.”
Then the door to the small clinic room opened roughly, and Jenkins came in with Orsen and Bastian.
“What the hell happened?” Bastian growled.
“He must have eaten something,” I explained, running a hand through my hair. “He got so sick, so quickly—”
“Well, well. Perhaps you're not as good a healer as you thought you were,” Jenkins hissed, his words dripping with venom. His gray hair was scraggly and he looked more unkempt than usual.
He was still wearing that stupid white lab coat, though.
I was pretty sure he would request to be buried with that stupid thing when the time came.
“What on earth is he doing here? Get him the hell out of my clinic,” I instructed, looking at Orsen.
“He heard Rory was bad and… wanted to help.”
“We don't need his brand of help here,” I shot back, fury rising in my gut and twisting it nearly as much as whatever fucking toxin had gotten into Rory.
Everyone in the room stared between Jenkins and me, their faces torn.
“Rowan…” Orsen trailed off.
“You can’t be serious.” I glared at him. “After what I proved about his so-called vitamins. You need to—”
“Bastian,” Jenkins cut in, “enough is enough. Let me take over the boy’s care. I will get him better swiftly. I assure you.”
“Oh? How can you be so sure?” I snapped, cocking my head.
“Because I’m a competent doctor.” Jenkins flared that haughty tone, irritating the crap out of me. “I know what the boy needs.”
“No doctor, medical degree or otherwise, should act like they have all the answers. You weren’t even—”
But I stopped, my stomach dropping as I looked between Rory and Jenkins, a sickening thought occurring to me.
No. That can’t be… but…
I’d seen cases where dragons had been poisoned by something natural from the earth.
That was my firsthand experience. But this was different; I could tell right away.
If it was something synthetic attacking Rory’s system, there was no way he’d just eaten it.
Like I’d mentioned to Grey, Rory wasn’t a baby.
He wouldn’t chow down on something he knew he shouldn’t be messing with.
And his parents had been there the entire time to vouch for that.
“This doesn’t look like natural poisoning,” I whispered, turning away from Rory slowly as I faced Jenkins.
Grey was at my side, his hand on my back. “What do you mean?”
“This is what I would expect to see when a dragon shifter consumed something toxic, yes, but also something synthetic. Like the things I mentioned before and human medication.” As I spoke, I glowered at Jenkins.
I didn't want to believe he would do something that would hurt Rory purposefully, but everything I’d seen about this despicable dragon’s character said he was perfectly capable of harming a child to get his way, to prove his fucking point.
He wanted me out of the horde, and if I looked incompetent, he got his wish.
“What are you accusing me of, you whelp?” Jenkins surged forward, rising as much as he could to sneer down at me. “I am the doctor here, and you will not—”
From the small bed, Rory stirred.
Conversation forgotten, I darted over to his bedside. “Rory, hey. It’s Rowan. Can you stay still for me? I had to put a needle in your arm to help you get hydrated.”
“Rowan?” he asked in a weak voice, blinking and coming to more and more with each second. “Did I… fall asleep?”
“Hey, kiddo. Yeah, you did.” I smiled, doing my best to hide the unease simmering underneath my skin, aware of Jenkins glaring daggers at me.
Then Rory noticed him too. Even after only a few seconds, he appeared much more awake, and he focused on Jenkins, looking… guilty?
“Oh, hi again, Dr. Jenkins. Did the medicine not work? Did I use it wrong?” Rory asked.
“The medicine?” I echoed, my heart dropping.
He nodded sluggishly.
“What medicine, Rory?” Greylen asked in a restrained voice, trying to be gentle.
Rory’s voice was weak and shaky. “The one Doc gave me. He said it was like the stuff Healer Rowan was giving me that made me feel better.”
Everything fell silent—deadly silent.
Every Alpha in the room glared at the doctor. And they were pissed.