Page 68 of Consume Me

“Doctor,” I addressed Thompson, motioning for her to join me in the corner. It wasn’t exactly private, but there was no need to keep anything from Clara and my wife would feel better knowing I was here.

“I suppose you can guess what we need to speak about. Normally, I would ask a woman directly, but I’m not certain I would get a straight answer from your wife. She obviously lives in fear.” She leveled a beady gaze at me.

It took all my self-control not to snap. This was understandable. She had misinterpreted the situation. Given how carefully we’d controlled news of Clara’s abduction, I couldn’t blame her for that. “It’s not what you think.”

“I hear that a lot.” She crossed her arms, obviously preparing for a fight.

It was going to be hard to stay cool-headed if she wasn’t going to listen. “My men. This.” I pointed to my strange attire. “Someone attempted to take the baby.”

“But the baby…” She trailed away as she began to put this together.

“Clara was in labor when we found her.” I kept my voice low. “I assume I have doctor patient privilege.”

I should have thought of that first.

She nodded, a humourless smile playing at her lips. “You could also order me not to speak.”

“You don’t seem like the type to take orders,” I admitted.

“Neither does your wife.” She looked over to Clara who was watching us from the bed. “She’ll need to speak with someone.”

“She will.” I would do every thing in my power to help her heal from this, and I would make certain it never happened again.

“I wish it wasn’t necessary to remove the baby, but you should know, I think the surgery will need to be performed today.” She looked genuinely apologetic to deliver another blow.

“I understand.” I tilted my head toward the hospital bed. “I’d like to check on her now.”

“Of course.” She hesitated. “And I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

“Alexander,” I prompted her. “No need to apologise. I will never fault someone for trying to protect her.”

When I returned to Clara’s side, she clutched my hand.

“Don’t worry.” I stroked her palm, wishing I could do more to comfort her. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Clara’s eyes snapped open. “Like hell you aren’t. You’re going to stay with the baby. He needs the surgery, doesn’t he?”

I nodded.

“Then you need to be with him. Don’t let him out of your sight.” Panic coated her words and I knew that she wasn’t going to relax about this.

That left me in an awful position. After days of trying to find her, I didn’t want to let Clara out of my sight. It felt as though she might vanish into thin air again. But I also knew that right now she needed me to be where she couldn’t be. Staying with her might make me feel better, but she would be a nervous wreck. I couldn’t fault her for that.

“I’ll be fine,” she said, seeming to sense my dilemma. “Belle will be with me.”

Belle turned at the sound of her name and nodded. I wondered how much of our conversation, she’d overheard.

“Promise me, X,” she demanded.

It was a promise I had to make.

For sanitary reasons, I wasn’t allowed in the actual operating room, but they were able to find one with a theatre typically reserved for student observations. I had promised Clara I would watch him every second, and I’d walked him to the door, left Brex parked in front of it, and immediately entered the observation area. Still, I couldn’t quite handle the site of my hours-old son laying limp on an operating table while the doctors worked to fix his heart.

This wasn’t the natural order of things. It should have been me lying there, not my child.

“May I join you?” Norris asked from the entrance.

I hadn’t let myself think about Norris during his absence. I hadn’t dared hope that both of them would be returned to me. Now, I felt guilty for focusing almost solely on retrieving Clara. I wasn’t sure I deserved having them both safe.