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Reece doesn’t look sad or tense about this, which is good. I don’t want to talk about his trauma when we aren’t in the office together, but I reach for him and cup his cheek.
“How are you doing with all of this?” I ask him.
“What? Having a beautiful naked doctor in my home?” He raises an eyebrow. “I think I’m doing okay with that.”
“No, silly,” I laugh. “With the planned attack on Lucky.”
The fact that our clan is planning to attack the pharmaceutical company that has destroyed so much of our world and community isn’t really a secret. It’s kind of common knowledge in the world of shifters. Luckily, our clan is fairly isolated, and shifters are really good at keeping secrets.
Just not from each other.
“I’m ready,” he says.
“It’s been a long time coming.”
“Forever.”
“Are you going to go with them?” I ask gently.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Doc,” he says. “You know better than anyone else why I won’t go with them.”
“It’s a good idea to stay behind, Reece.”
“I still feel worthless.”
“I know.”
I reach out and hug him, pulling him close to myself. I know that he hates feeling worthless. That’s probably the one emotion that has bothered Reece more than anything else. Most of the time, he handles himself just fine. He can deal with living as a tiger in a world of dragons. He can
deal with not going back to his old life before the clan. He can deal with all of that.
But feeling useless?
That kills him.
I know it would kill me, too.
“I’m not going either,” I say.
“That doesn’t make me feel better, sugar.”
“I know, but we can spend time together while everyone else is gone, right? Keep our mind off of things.”
“Is that right?”
“That’s right.”
“And how do you suggest we keep our minds off of things?” He raises an eyebrow and tips an invisible hat. “Good doctor.”
I push back from Reece and look at him: really look at him. Despite looking a little sleepy, he looks better than he has in weeks: maybe months. In fact, I think it’s safe to say this is the happiest and most content I’ve ever seen him.
Reece and I have cried together.
I’ve held him while he poured his heart out.
