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“No,” I told him.
His mouth tightened. “What do you mean no?”
“She means you won’t be staying in the room,” Hugo argued as he stepped up to the IV pole and adjusted something on the tube under the bag.
“I’m not leaving.”
“Yes, you are,” Hugo coolly disagreed. “This won’t be pleasant and you don’t need to watch.”
Casimir’s jaw clenched. “Like watching you reset her bones was pleasant?”
“That was fixing things inside her, things you couldn’t see. I’m going to have to cut her, do you understand? I’ll literally be shaving off her skin, possibly more depending on how deep the damage is.”
“I can handle it.”
“That’s what everyone says, right up until the moment I’m getting choked to death by an angry mate whose soul is screaming for blood. So, no, Casimir, you’re not going to be in here for this.”
Casimir growled at his friend.
“Thank you for proving my case,” Hugo shot back.
My mate’s worried eyes landed on mine. “I don’t want to leave you,” he said quietly.
I rubbed my free palm over my sternum. Unexpected emotion punched me from within. “I’ll be okay. I won’t even feel anything.”
“You don’t want me here.”
For the love of Ladonis!
I felt like I’d kicked a gargoyle pup. “I don’t want you to watch. But I’d like you to be here when I wake.”
Casimir’s chest rose and fell once, then he bent down and kissed my forehead. “I can do that. Hugo, I’ll be right outside. I want to be in here when she wakes.”
Hugo, who was busy preparing several instruments, didn’t bother looking up. “Sure thing,” he said.
One more squeeze on my hand and Casimir was gone. Ten seconds later, I was dead to the world.
Hugo
Chapter 16
Casimir
The door opened and Kree popped her head out. “Raven’s going to wake up soon.”
I stood and stretched, having been seated in the same position the entire time. Hours had passed. I’d wanted so badly to be in there for her. I’d nearly pushed back, demanding a place by her side, but it wasn’t about me. It was about Raven and what she needed.
I passed through the doorway and had a flashback of her under the sheet the day before.Gods, was that only yesterday?It felt like I’d known her so much longer.
Hugo was removing the IV and Kree was standing at Raven’s head. I searched his face for signs of concern but he looked to be his usual self.
“I don’t think you’ll have to pin her this time, but stay close just in case. I’ll grab this arm and you can get the other if necessary.”
The sides of the bed were lowered, so I had easy access. Hugo and I both waited for Kree’s signal. As they had before, her hands went to Raven’s head.
I examined the skin I could see on Raven’s face and neck. The thin white lines were completely gone. It wouldn’t erase the past, but I hoped it would lessen her internal pain. She didn’t want to talk about the scars earlier, but they obviously bothered her.
“On the count of three,” Kree whispered. “Three … two … one.”
