The Lion and the Artist by Veronica Sommers

Author:Veronica Sommers [Sommers, Veronica]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2020-06-16T05:00:00+00:00

-10-

Don't Go Breaking My Heart

When I open my eyes, the first thing I notice is that breathing hurts.

Breathing, the thing I barely think about from minute to minute. The process that's so natural, so automated, that I take it for granted. It hurts.

And my left shoulder hurts like fire itself whenever I move. It's heavily bandaged. No broken bones, apparently, but there's bruising, and I lost a lot of blood from the puncture wounds.

I'm not intubated, so that's a mercy. I remember using a mask for part of the night, though. People came in and out of the room, checking my vitals, administering this and that. My feet are bandaged, but all my toes are still there. The doctor said the little one on my right foot is a mess, but it won't have to be removed. It's going to look butt-ugly once it's healed, but I can't worry about a little scarring—not until I know if Oakland is all right. They wouldn't tell me anything last night except that he was getting the best care.

I shift, turning my head so I can find the call button for the nurse. I'm going to press it again and again until somebody tells me something about Oakland—

And there he is, asleep on his stomach on a cot beside me. He's naked from the waist up, his back swathed in bandages. When did they bring him in here? Why isn't he in intensive care in some burn victims' ward or something? He looks—good. There's color in his cheeks—all the soot is gone from his face and hair. There's no IV. He doesn't look like a third-degree burn patient.

"Oakland," I whisper. Gosh, my throat is sore. I try again, louder. "Oakland." But his mouth is still slack, his eyes sealed, his entire body deeply relaxed.

Maybe he heals faster than normal humans. Maybe this is some sort of super-deep healing sleep?

Maybe he needs to wake up so he can answer the hundred questions that have been swirling through my head since he shifted in front of me, out on the rocky point.

I press the call button and ask for water. Within five minutes a nurse arrives, and I croak, "Is he all right?" pointing at Oakland.

"He's fine." She rolls her eyes. "He supposedly had third-degree burns, but that initial report was a mistake. I guess the EMS guy couldn't see the wounds properly, or assumed they were worse than they were? Your guy there has got a couple first-degree burns—nothing too bad. He refused to let us bandage them unless we brought him in here with you. I'm not even sure how he convinced the doctor to approve it. Is he a relative? Boyfriend?"

"Significant other, maybe?" I grimace. "I'm not sure yet. But he did drag me out of a burning house. Almost got himself killed."

Her eyes spark with interest. "Well, we won't kick him out just yet then. Are you interested in some breakfast?"

"Yes please."

"It should be along soon. And then we'll see about getting the doctor in to see you.

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