Page 29
Eryn drew in a long breath and relaxed against him. “Wade is the head of psychiatry, and is often called in to assist when we’re trying to discern the cause of a patient’s psychosis.”
Vann squinted with fascination.
The psychiatrist didn’t need much encouragement, and nodded with sincere gravitas. “The proposed trauma unit would be a blessing. Half the time, it is neither a psychotic episode, nor anything one might find on head CT, or even wildly abnormal electrolytes or some easily attributable medical cause, but rather an acute reaction to trauma.”
Vann nodded in agreement and opened his posture.
A good listener was all the encouragement Wade needed. “Certainly, physical and emotional trauma can induce a mental health crisis, but this is like nothing in my training nor in my twenty years in practice. The stories I could tell.”
Vann took a long, relaxed sip. “Are these stress responses anxiety, or paranoia and hallucinations? From what you’re seeing?”
“Have you tried the stuffed mushrooms?” Eryn looked longingly at a passing tray.
“I love stuffed mushrooms,” Wade answered, and followed her look.
Eryn lifted her glass and gave a quick toast before taking a long, gulping sip. “That tray is emptying fast.”
Wade drifted a hungry look toward the tray.
She stiffened and dropped Vann’s hand.
“I wouldn’t mind a stuffed mushroom or two.” Vann glanced down at Eryn to see if she’d mind if he followed Wade. If there was a pattern, like “hallucinations” that might actually be a creature…
Eryn shivered as she stared across the room with intense focus.
Wade looked back at Eryn, then up at Vann, his brow tightening. “Pleasure meeting you, Vann,” he said, and rested a concerned look at Eryn. With a delicate smile, he excused himself.
“Likewise.” Even in the amber light, Eryn’s complexion was pale, her skin covered in goosebumps. “Are you sure you feel okay?” Vann asked softly. “We can get going.”
Shmoozing. Awkward greetings. A quartet played in the corner, but conversation overwhelmed the large space.
Holden was talking with a tall, toned woman with long dark hair that swished over her low back as fluidly as her golden silk gown.
The woman drifted a look across the room, landing on Eryn. Her smile brightened, as if relieved to see a friend.
Vann whispered to Eryn, “Who is that, talking to Holden?”
Eryn took a step back. After a long sigh, she fluttered an eye-roll. “She’s one of the board members, and trust me, you do not want to get cornered by her. I’d better go say hi.”
“Okay. Want me to—”
“Save yourself. I can take this one.” Eryn looked over at the tray of stuffed mushrooms that was rapidly thinning. “I would really love a stuffed mushroom or two, if you don’t mind?”
“Sure.”
The stuffed mushrooms had disappeared quickly, as had the psychiatrist.
Whatever illness that had plagued Eryn over the past week was still hanging on. Her skin paled, and she looked ready to crash as the elegant woman regaled her with some grand story. As soon as she finished her conversation, Eryn turned and walked back to Vann.
The woman turned on her heel and graced toward a group of tuxedos.
Eryn forced a smile and gestured to his pocket. “Oh, is that your phone ringing? If there’s an emergency, I’d hate to keep you from it.”
“Sure,” he said, and drew out his phone. Nothing, of course, but he scowled at the blank screen long enough to make it look like he’d gotten a message. “We’d better go.” He reached for her hand, but she took his glass instead and set their unfinished drinks on a table, and rushed out ahead of him.
7
Sisters her ass. It had pissed her off, calling out sick for an entire week thanks to the injuries those damn wyverns had inflicted. Avoiding her real sister like the plague so she wouldn’t see the bruises. Five days since the fundraiser—five long, death-soaked days, and still nothing.
