Nadia was right. Zayne needed to control himself. It felt wrong to take any joy when the woman he once loved sacrificed herself for him, but he refused to let his past mistakes continue holding him back from being who he needed to become. So he thought of Kira out in the territories, finally safe.
“You need another surgery. You were too weak to continue.” The Phaedra’s eye twitched when he glanced at the heart rate monitor, likely upset that Zayne started calming. “We really should pray. I don’t know what I would do if something terrible happened to you.”
He clasped Zayne’s head.
“Be healed, child.”
His hands pressed against his chest over his scar.
“Be healed!”
The Phaedra settled against Zayne’s bandaged wound.
His world erupted.
He jerked his head back, his heart pounding hot in his face, agony ripping apart every nerve, making him choke.
He heard his heart rate climbing.
“BE HEALED!”
Nadia yelled, and the Phaedra growled, and pain muffled their voices until he heard nothing but his own heart crashing in his ears.
Zayne didn't fight the shadows dragging him into darkness. He gave in to them, but soon a terrible odor stung his sinuses. Roused him.
Smelling salts.
No escape.
“It's not time for that,” the Phaedra said. “I told you to stay awake. You have a guest arriving at any moment. Don't be rude and pass out again.”
Who? His father? He knew he'd need to face the man one day, but it was too soon. He wasn't ready.
The Phaedra kissed Zayne’s forehead. “Your wife and children will need you to be healthy.”
That was not happening. Zayne left Mellie, and he'd never have children with her. He wasn't giving babies to the Phaedra to abuse and manipulate. To kill or turn into killers. If the Phaedra thought he could force Zayne back into his old life, then he continued to underestimate what he was willing to do.
The cuffs on his wrist shifted when the Phaedra unlocked them. He fought with all his might to wring the man's throat, but his fingers only twitched.
“You'll mind your manners,” the Phaedra said, “Or we'll let Dr. Cooper have all the time with Nadia he wants. He's awfully sour about his collarbone.”
Despite expecting the threat to hold Zayne in place, the Phaedra backed away. The lack of restraints made no difference. He was too weak.
“You have such a complicated relationship with these women.” He chuckled. “It's going to be very entertaining.”
Zayne caught Nadia's eye. Though he couldn't speak, he tried to offer her comfort.
She smiled and then winced when the Phaedra clutched her arm too tight.
“I don't think you'll be welcome here in a few minutes,” he said. “Come back later. And Zayne, be good for her sake.”
The Phaedra pushed her out of the room. Dread built with each passing moment, pain threatening to drag him under again.
But there was no bracing for the moment that Mellie raced into the room.
“Zayne,” she cried. “Oh, babe. Oh, no.”
“He needs another surgery once he's stable,” the Phaedra said, smiling from behind her.
