Leah’s body relaxed, the tension seeping from her muscles, making her sag in her seat. “Thank you.”
Nix and I went out into the entryway of the doctor’s office, giving Leah some time with her son.
“She’s exhausted,” I said.
Nix grimaced. “Hopefully, a bed will help, but let’s be honest, nothing will help more than Rory getting better. How is he doing, honestly?”
His expression was uncharacteristically serious. At the end of the day, he was one of the Alphas of the horde. The health of his people probably weighed heavily on him, even if he didn’t admit it.
I thought for a moment, choosing my words carefully. “He’s improving. I think taking him off all the man-made medications is helping.”
“There’s no denying that. The kid’s hardly been lucid for the last two weeks. Now he’s able to string a few sentences together. You really are amazing, you know that?”
“I haven’t done much yet,” I pointed out. “Just stopped what Jenkins is doing.”
Nix shrugged, “Well, it’s making a big difference.”
My eyes dropped to the floor, unable to hold his intense, almost adoring gaze. I was used to being appreciated and even revered by dragons—any decent healer was because we were so few and far between.
The moment of quiet was interrupted when Jenkins walked through the door. Wearing his white lab coat, his gray hair slicked back, his face morphed into a scowl the moment he saw me.
“Why are you still here?” he asked in a wholly unpleasant tone, directed entirely at me like he hadn’t even noticed the Alpha standing by my side. Regardless of what he thought about me, he should have at least had a little more respect around Nix.
After the last twenty-four hours, I was emotionally strung out. My ability to deal with the old dragon’s crap was at an all-time low.
Casually, I shrugged. “I’m just looking after my patient.”
“And waiting for a bed to be delivered,” Nix added helpfully.
Jenkins eyes widened. “A bed? Why are you having a bed delivered tomyfacility?”
His use of the termfacilitymade me want to gag. Never in my wildest dreams would I be such a territorial dick toward someone who was helping.
Then again, he thought I was nothing more than a hindrance.
“Because Leah needs somewhere to sleep.” I pointed out the obvious in a monotone voice. Thanks to Nix standing right next to me, I was a little more empowered to look at him like the total moron he was.
“She has a house,” Jenkins sneered.
Yes.Thatwas his retort.
“Why, yes, she does, but her sick son isn’t at her house.”
“Wait, she’s staying here?” Jenkins spluttered, looking between Nix and me. Personally, I was surprised it had taken him that long to catch on, but I refrained from saying anything. “You can’t?—”
“I approved it,” Nix said coolly, stopping Jenkins in his tracks.
“But, Phoenix, I know?—”
“I agree with Rowan. We will not be keeping a mother away from her sick child.”
“He needs to rest!” Jenkins insisted.
“And you think he can’t rest with his mother near?”
“She’s flapping around, sobbing, and causing disturbances!” Jenkins hissed.
I clenched my hands into fists at my side. The urge to swing at this dragon was growing by the minute.
