Page 19 of Fractured Memories

Relief softens Lochlan’s face before he leaves the room to find me some food. Rohan refills my glass with water, and I down two of them before Lochlan is back with a plate of eggs and toast.

This is how we’ve always shown our support to one another. Raised in a cutthroat environment, we might not say much. But I know that these two—and even Jude—have my back when I really need it. Just like I’ll always be here for them.

By the time Jude walks in, I’ve managed to eat most of the food and sober up decently well. I’m sure I still look like hell, but at least I can hold a full conversation. Mostly because I only say a few words on a good day, so my short answers are expected.

His icy eyes rake over me, and he shoots Rohan a questioning look that makes me think I might look even worse than I thought. Rohan shakes his head, and that’s enough to keep Jude quiet.

Nolan, on the other hand, eyes me like he’s not sure if he was brought here to bring me back from the brink of death or deliver a report. “Mr. Kelly,” he says warily.

I shake my head. “Kieran.”

He sighs. He doesn’t like calling me Kieran. He’s been the family doctor since my father was still alive, and yet, he insists on calling me by my last name.

“Mr. Kelly,” he repeats firmly. “Are you in need of an evaluation?”

Jude turns his head away, but I know he’s trying to keep from laughing. Lochlan can’t hide his chuckle, but at least Rohan smacks him for me. Pricks.

“I’m perfectly fine, thank you, Nolan.” Shifting, I pick up my water and take a sip. Hopefully, he doesn’t notice the slight shake still in my hand. “I’d like to hear about Eden.”

He eyes me dubiously, but he doesn’t push. Nolan has always been good at knowing when to press me and when to let something go. He’s stitched the three of us up so many times that I have more memories of him when I was a child than my parents.

“From my brief examination, Mrs. Kelly appears to be in perfect health.”

Mrs. Kelly. The mention of her hurts. I want to be with Eden right now, going over every inch of her body and ensuring myself that she is here and safe and unharmed.

I shove all that down and quirk a brow instead. “No signs of injury? No cuts or bruises?”

He shakes his head. “None that appear to be from the rebels. She claims that they fed her, gave her a bed, and no one harmed her.”

Questions I should have asked Eden myself, but I doubt she would have given me the answers. She’s been nothing but combative since I found her. Which, honestly, is her personality. It’s just…different now.

“What about her memory?” Nolan has met Eden before on numerous occasions. He would have noticed something was wrong even if Jude or Rohan didn’t warn him.

He shakes his head. “She has no recollection of anything before waking in the camp, and I couldn’t find any signs of what caused the loss. There’s no physical evidence of blunt force trauma, which is what I had initially suspected.”

“Is there something else that could have caused it?” Rohan asks behind me. He has a soft spot for my wife—treats her like a sibling. Anything else, and I would have killed him.

Nolan looks a little uncertain. “Psychological trauma or nerve damage, both of which would have other symptoms. But there was nothing that I could find. It is as if she just…lost everything.”

“Everything?” Lochlan looks as perplexed as I feel. “Not just recent memories?”

He shakes his head. “She didn’t know her last name or anything beyond what she was told.” He narrows his eyes on me. “It’s made her understandably distrustful and stressed since everything is foreign to her.”

I don’t defend myself to Nolan. I don’t explain that I seem to be an even bigger trigger for her, that I’m not trying to be an arsehole.

“Is there anything we can do for her?” I say instead.

“I’d recommend easing her back into her life. Some things might feel familiar and help, but don’t overwhelm her.” His lips purse. “And give her some control. The lack of it is only worsening her state of mind.”

His answers only make me look over at the bar, wanting another drink. I’ve never been affected by anything the way I have been by Eden, and it’s clear I have no clue how to handle this situation.

“Thank you, Nolan,” Jude says in dismissal when I go silent. “We will want to do regular check-ins, just in case.”

“Whenever you need.”

I don’t look back as he heads out of the sitting room. No one speaks until we hear the front door open and close, and then I force myself to turn my head. Jude is already studying me, and I have to force out the words as I ask, “How bad was she?”

“Her room is trashed. I don’t think she slept. Reportedly, she’s been trying to find any way out of that room, and I had to physically stop her from attacking Nolan.”