He smiled at her.“Since I can work anywhere, I will be here most of the time.Duran will come and go as he updates you on charges.”
She nodded and looked up at the IV fluids.A nurse came in, looked from one visitor to the next, and cleared her throat.“Miss Em, you have visitors.”
Em looked up.“Can I sit up yet?”
The nurse went to the head of the bed and gently raised it about fifteen degrees.“No more.We are trying to let your body put itself back together.Dr.Aquilar will be in shortly to let you know what went on.”
She nodded.“Thank you.”
The door opened as the nurse was about to leave, and Em saw Mateo standing there.She blinked rapidly.“I didn’t tell them anything.I said I was your cousin.”
The giant spider walked into the room to the head of the bed and pressed a kiss to her forehead.“It’s okay, Em.If I had known, you would never have ended up here.”
She blinked away tears.“I am not very likable.”
He looked at her, and his expression was hard to read.Spiders weren’t good at emoting.“You are fine at it.I had a problem with it, but with another omega and a daughter, I now understand what is needed for those who can’t read my expression.”
Em smiled but then tried to frown.Her face was still swollen.“Why are you here?”
“They called me.They were right to.Persephone is an excellent teacher for emotional demonstration.If you do something right, you know about it.”
Mateo touched her skin with the lightest of touches.“It was Augusta’s pack?”
“Yup.I was twenty minutes late to fix her makeup after she got sweaty.”
“Wait, they called you home to do makeup?”
“Yes.They only like to fuck Augusta when she is camera-ready, I guess,” she whispered.
Voices were outside the door, and she swallowed, “Did you bring everybody?”
“Yes, are you comfortable with them meeting you like this?”
“I have been in worse shape.”She sighed.“At least now the wounds got some attention.”
Mateo’s expression tightened.“You should have called me.”
“Yeah, like you are always in a great fucking mood.I can’t face you right after a bunch of angry alphas.It’s like covering a wound in acid...usually.”
He paused and then nodded.“I accept that assessment.Can Owen come in first?”
“If he tries to cry or pat me, grab him.”
Mateo smiled.“Yes, little sis.”
She blinked.
“What?”The spider face frowned.
“That is the first time you ever claimed me as a relation, let alone our actual connection.”
He frowned harder.“Surely, I have claimed you in front of family.”
“No.I am justFather’s regret.”
His dark cheeks flushed.“I had forgotten.”
He paused before leaving.“I am sorry.”
