Fury and Flame | 3

1 | 6

K A N E

We spent too much time in hospitals these days.

After waiting for hours in the lobby, a nurse finally saw the dark patches of blood I'd been trying to conceal. Now, my own wounds were being cleaned and bandaged by several nurses. They repeatedly asked me what happened to give me so many lacerations all over my body, but I remained quiet. The less they knew, the better.

I didn't flinch as more cleaning alcohol was poured into a stab wound Delphinium had given me. In fact, I'd barely moved this entire time. My thoughts were not on my own injuries.

Riley had been rushed off to the emergency room the moment we arrived here. The doctors pushed her into a stretcher and tried to stop her bleeding as they rushed her off. Some time after, a nurse had seen my own injuries and insisted I get them healed. Frankly, I'd forgotten I was even injured until she pointed it out.

     I had no idea where the others were now. Delphinium and my brother could be hunting us right now. But I found I hardly cared about those things at the moment. All I could think about was Riley's limp body, the blood flowing from her skin. Delphinium had completely crushed her. I tried to forget how mangled she'd been when Jaxon and I first got to her.

     And how pale she'd been...like death itself. Like she was already half-gone.

I was unsure if my heart was beating or not. Though I'd never said it, though I'd never let myself admit it, I couldn't lose her. I'd already lost so many people. I couldn't take another loss. Especially not Riley Traversa.

At first, I'd been hesitant around her. She was a whirlwind, a wild storm. To look directly into her eyes was a dangerous thing, a challenge. But I'd come to enjoy—even rely on—her presence, even if she did make constant flirtatious and lewd comments. I'd began to care for her when I realized that no one else had. Despite my better judgement, I'd wanted her to open up to me. I'd let myself have feelings for her, even if it would be infinitely easier not to.

      Somehow, I'd found it inside myself to let go of my brother and what happened to him. I didn't think I could do the same with Riley.

      Sighing, I closed my eyes, trying not to move under the nurses' careful work. When I'd first joined the team, I'd been angry and cold. All I'd wished for was freedom; I did not want to get to know my clearly dangerous teammates.

      And now look what had happened since then. I wasn't sure if this was better or worse. At least then, I had nothing to lose. But one thing was for certain: I was different now. We all were.

     "You're done." The nurses stepped away and I stood up. "You can wait in the waiting room for your friend."

      After giving them my thanks, I left the room and went down the hall. If the others were out there, they might have heard news of Riley's condition before I did. The thought that they could have announced her death to the others chilled me to my bones.

      What would I do if she died? How could I ever move past it?

      "Excuse me." A doctor passing by stopped me. "Were you the one who came in with our patient Riley Traversa?"

      The answer came slow and uncertain. "Yes." Was he about to deliver her statement of death?

      "I was just on my way to request the help of one of your friends, but you'll do. Come with me."

      Barely breathing, I followed him. He hadn't said anything about her state. I wasn't sure if that was a bad sign or not.

The doctor ushered me into a room and closed the door behind us. There, on the bed lay Riley. I quickly scanned her body to see the level of her injuries. Though the hospital gown covered most of her abdomen—which undoubtedly was wounded when she was crushed—I saw that her arms and legs were only a bit bruised. No broken bones, as far as I could see. The top of Riley's head was heavily bandaged, through her dark hair hung free underneath it, clean from any blood.