Max

The human doctor hands me a set of scrubs.

"Sorry, Mr. Horenson, this is all we have in your size."

"What, no Saville Row suits stashed in the back somewhere?" I say, climbing off the trolley with a wince.

"Fresh out," he says with a wry smile. "I've bagged what's left of yours." He nods towards the clear plastic bag on the floor, tied up with a zip tie. "You'll either need to come back here to have your dressings changed or see your own physician in the next week."

"I think I can manage that." I pull on the scrubs with care. "Can I see my mate now?"

His smile increases. "Like I would put myself between you and her, given what you did to your back in order to protect her," he says.

"About time someone understood," I grumble, slipping on my shoes which feel odd without socks. "Getting fed up with having to growl mine at every other male."

I pick up the bag, and the doctor leads me out of the treatment room. My back feels tight. The burns apparently could have been worse, had I not been wearing the virtually bullet proof bespoke suit. But my discomfort is nothing to seeing my Vee fade in my arms.

She has to be okay. She has to be. I eagerly offered up my blood to the Fae doctors in order to provide her with everything she needed.

"Here you go," my doctor says as a door opens and another white-coated figure steps out.

"Mr. Horenson," the Fae acknowledges me.

"Is Vee…Vikki okay?"

"She's been through an ordeal. A couple of cracked ribs and significant bruising to her arms and legs. I was a little concerned when she told me a wraith had been in contact with her, but there seems to be no lasting damage. The sedatives she's been given will work their way out of her system in due course."

"Can I see her?" I query as anger and relief flow through me in equal measures.

"Absolutely. She needs you, but she also needs rest." He gives me a stern look, which is, admittedly, the default expression for a Fae. "I know what trolls are like. But you'll be able to take up relations in a few days."

He steps aside and allows me entry to the large, airy room. Dawn is breaking outside, and the sky is lit up like it's on fire. The last time I see fire for a long time, I hope.

Vee looks tiny in the big hospital bed. She's pale and her eyes are closed. I take a seat gingerly next to her and pick up her hand.

"Hey, my good girl, how are you doing?" I ask her.

Her eyes move under almost translucent lids before they flicker open, and her hand tightens around mine.

"Olly?" she rasps.

"He is undamaged. Vulzal made a mistake when he tried to set fire to a basilisk."

"The library?"

"Mildly singed, but nothing which can't be fixed."

"You?"

"I have a broken heart," I reply.

"Can it be fixed?" Vee asks, tears filling her pretty eyes.

"It can, if I can have an answer to my question."

"What happened to Vulzal?" Vee deflects, but at least she doesn't let go of my hand.

"He and the other organizers of the auction were rounded up by the authorities. He'll be dealt with in due course."

Vee growls. My fierce little mate growls. "Least he deserves."

"Did he hurt you?" I do my level best to keep my voice even, not wanting to upset her or risk pushing her away.

"He fucking kidnapped me with a wraith." Vee shudders. "A wraith."

I grit my teeth. Vulzal's days are very much numbered. It doesn't matter what it costs.

"It wasn't good, but I'll live." Vee fills her lungs and her breath stutters.

The door to her room opens and the orderly from earlier comes in.

"I'm just bringing a new infusion," he says cheerily, holding up a bag filled with pink liquid. "Thanks to Mr. Horenson here, you'll be as right as rain in no time."

He offers up the bag to the drip stand and then connects the tube which goes into the back of Vee's hand. She watches in silence as the liquid begins to flow into the tube.

"That'll be good for both of you." The orderly gives us both a big smile. "Congratulations," he adds as he closes the door behind him.

"Congratulations?" I furrow my brow at Vee. "What an extraordinary thing to say to us both, given we've just survived near slavery and being barbecue."

Vee looks up at me. Her hand flutters over her stomach. Her bottom lip trembles.

"I'm pregnant," she says.

I open my mouth. I close it again. My heart beats so hard, I'm sure she can hear it.

"You're…" My voice is hoarse, even hoarser than hers.

The tears run down her cheeks. "I am. I'm having your baby, Max."

"Don't cry, sweet girl." I get out of my chair and ease myself onto the bed, lifting her onto my lap because I can't bear to be apart from my Vee for a second longer.

"What if all of this has hurt the baby? I couldn't forgive myself if it did." She curls against me, and I want to draw her inside me, protect her until the end of time.

"The doctor says you'll be fine, my love. And this is on me, my darling mate. It's all on me. I did everything I could to find you, and I wasn't quick enough."

"He didn't contact you?"

"Vulzal? He wanted me to suffer, and for me, not knowing where you were, where my mate was—believe me, I suffered."

Vee reaches up a hand, placing it on my cheek, and I lean into the warmth and softness, drinking in her scent like a troll starved.

"Oh, Max," she says, her voice breaking. "I missed you. I needed you."

"Sweet girl." I wrap myself around her as her tears fall in dark circles on the blanket. "I'm here now. I'm here for you, and I will not leave you ever again."