A true grin painted her lips wide as she let him fold her up into his embrace.
* * *
Dr. Annan’s lips moved without a sound as she flipped through the pages of Quinn’s chart, the dark lines of her brows becoming sterner with every snap of paper. The soft, deep gray of her eyes became colder with every line she read until she stood off with Tobias, gaze made of steel and bitter ice.
“This hospital’s people are inept, but even with that, Mrs. Kahler is on her way to a full recovery. In addition to the anticoagulants, there were a number of other toxins present in her blood. The amounts in her system suggests a long term dosage.” Lips pursed, Dr. Annan snapped the file shut and turned her darkened gaze to Quinn. “This has been going on for quite some time and it is a wonder something like this didn’t happen sooner. The amount of hemorrhaging you presented with was extraordinary, and frankly I’m amazed you were able to survive the trip to the hospital, let alone make a full recovery.”
Quinn didn’t complain when Tobias stepped in front of her, a physical wall of muscle and rage that sought to keep her safe. Even if it was far too late for that. Curling her fingers around his hand when it reached back to grip her shoulder, she quieted the vicious tempest writhing in the bond as she kept her attention on Dr. Annan.
“All of it does explain your previous symptoms. The lethargy, vomiting, lack of fine motor control, and the excessive bruising are all explained by the different toxins.” Dr. Annan took a deep breath, letting it out in a hard sigh that sounded far more troubled than relieved. “With your treatment here and some oral medications you’ll be prescribed, you should notice a marked improvement.”
“Which means nothing if we don’t know who is poisoning me,” Quinn murmured, brows knitting as she stared hard at the cold, speckled tiles.
“Precisely.”
Tobias stiffened, the muscles of his back bunching as he rose to his full height. Quinn could feel the heat of his anger coming off of him in waves, and even Dr. Annan shifted a small step back from the Alpha too close to losing control. Confusion and a not too small amount of betrayal coursed the bond, rattling around in Quinn’s thoughts. He didn’t like that the doctor knew he had no culprits in hand yet, hated that he didn’t have someone strung up for it by now.
“Might I make a suggestion,” Dr. Annan asked, her only concession to Tobias’ oppressive presence the way she kept her cool eyes centered on his chin instead of meeting his gaze head on. Without waiting for his leave to speak further, Dr. Annan continued, “Allow the fewest people possible to come into contact with your food for the time being. I would even go so far as to suggest the same for your children. While the person or persons involved might stop at Mrs. Kahler’s recovery, there is no guarantee they won’t go after the children.”
“It will be handled.” The promise of bloodshed and violence in Tobias’ growl made even the austere Dr. Annan flinch, her eyes widening a fraction as Tobias stepped towards her. “She’s discharged?”
“Yes, sir. I just have to write out a few prescriptions, which can be filled before you leave. An hour at most, I should think, and then you can take her home.”
“Thank you, Dr. Annan,” Quinn called out around Tobias as the doctor headed for the door.
“You thank her for doing her job,” Tobias asked as he turned to her once the door shut behind the doctor. Hands cradling Quinn’s jaw, he held her face up to meet the brush of his lips against hers.
“People like being appreciated,” Quinn murmured, cupping her hands over his as she let slip a sardonic brow.
“I do so like it when you praise my prowess, tell me how very well I fuck you.”
“You would go straight to that.” Snorting a laugh, Quinn squirmed backwards on the bed, grumbling at the paper thin gown bunching and twisting around her hips. “Where are my clothes? I’m done with these things.”
“I’ll send… I’ll have someone get something for you to wear.”
Quinn’s chin snapped up, tears rising and tumbling over her lashes before she’d even realized what the heavy punch to her middle was. Something deeper than the word sorrow could ever encapsulate barreled towards her on a swell of anger. Reaching for him, Quinn sobbed and wrenched at his clothes until Tobias relented. Climbing into the bed with her, cuddling her close, he allowed Quinn to try to soothe the heartache that slammed around her skull.
“Oh, Gods, I’m so sorry,” Quinn choked out, shoving her face into his neck while her shattered purr refused to offer solace.
Since the day it’d happened, she’d been wrapped up in herself. The eerie smile, puddle of deep crimson, being forced to watch the light fade away in the golden warmth of Curtis’ gaze. She’d never once thought of how Tobias might take the loss of his second, a man she now realized was more friend than employee.
“Shh, little bird. It’s all right,” Tobias whispered against her hair.
“No it’s not! You haven’t even been able to have a proper funeral for him and—”
“He was cremated, as he wanted. We both knew the risks of our positions, and I am honored that he chose to save my mate. I will not belittle that sacrifice.”
“Don’t you dare! Don’t act like this isn’t you,” Quinn whimpered. “Fuck you if you won’t admit it, but I know, Gods damn it.”
“Then you cry for me, Quinn. You let it out where I can’t.” Holding her all the tighter, Tobias tucked the blankets closer and smoothed his palm over her hair. Cradling her as she sobbed his sorrow out for him.
The promised hour wound up being two, most of that time taken for Quinn to calm down enough to stop bawling. If she wept for all of Tobias’ sorrows, it would never end. Taking shaky breaths as she answered all of Dr. Annan’s final questions, she stamped down on the need to soothe the Alpha who showed no outward sign of discontent. Cool and aloof as ever, he looked on with a baleful glare as doctors and nurses came and went in a parting flurry before her clothing arrived.
She was discharged. They could go home.
Except Quinn didn’t want to return to the house. Whatever, or whoever, it was that wanted her dead remained on the loose. There was no way for her to know who to trust, if someone might hurt the kids, if they might go to further extremes now that this plan had failed.
Stomach turning an uneasy somersault, she huddled against Tobias in the back of the car as it sped through the city streets. Aimed towards the home he had rebuilt just for her, she wished they were going anywhere else. There was nothing for it. Not with more dark cars trailing along behind them, armed to the teeth and one containing the most precious cargo.
