Page 26 of Hart's Redemption

“Dr. Lyons, I was expecting your call later this afternoon,” I said as I closed the guestroom door and peered through the window to ensure I still had the cottage to myself. I really needed to get my hands on a new silencer since mine had been destroyed during my first change. Once I was satisfied I was still alone, I quickly administered my last remaining dose of sedative.

“Yes, of course. Are you available to meet now, or should I call back at the agreed-upon time?”

I snorted and sat on the edge of the bed, then made a throwing motion at the far wall. Immediately, a hologram of Dr. Lyons appeared sitting across from me. “You say that as if there’s anything that could be occupying my time.”

She ignored the derisive comment. “I’m pleased that you initiated the appointment on your own, though I would have preferred to see you in the lab.” She held up a hand before I could interject. “I’m not saying I don’t understand your reasons for requesting the appointment to be via hologram, but I wantyouto understand that I agreed out of courtesy and respect for what you’ve already endured.”

“Suppose I should thank you for your generosity.”

She cleared her throat and sat up straighter, once again ignoring my rudeness. “How are you doing?”

“I suspect you already know exactly how I’m doing.” The moment I realized I was baring my teeth in a snarl, I paused and took a deep breath, a feat which was only possible due tothe sedative now coursing through my veins. “Things have been strained at ho—the cottage,” I quickly amended. It didn’t matter how much I longed for the picturesque little cottage to be my home, it never would be. I was as much a prisoner here as I had been in the quarantine ward.

“Can you elaborate on what you mean by ‘strained’?” she asked in a professional tone. Like hell was I going to tell her the truth about the chasm that had opened between me and Elijah. But I had to tell her something, something that would convince her to give me what I needed, so I chose my words carefully.

“I’m finding the efficacy of the sedatives you prescribed to be wanting. I’m not… I don’t…” I growled to myself in frustration. Fuck not being able to lie.

“Take your time, Detective Hart.” Her sympathy was the last thing I wanted, and it took everything I had not to snarl at her.

“I feel like I don’t have any control over my emotions or my state of being, for that matter. I can barely hold a thought long enough to process it before it’s replaced by a dozen more, and my body might as well be vibrating half of the time.”

One of her eyebrows rose. “How do you expect me to rectify the situation?”

Thank fuck she wasn’t going to make me say more. Admitting that much had been akin to torture. My whole life I’d been strong, dangerous,lethal, but I’d also been in control every second. “Increase the dosage of the sedative. Double at least,” I said without hesitation.

She set down her pen and gave me a concerned look. “Detective Hart, do you understand what you’re asking?”

“I’m asking for the chance to feel normal for more than fifteen minutes at a time.” I bit my tongue to prevent myself from saying more. My inability to control the inevitable flood of words might have been the thing I hated most about my condition. I was on the verge of withdrawing my request when Dr. Lyons nodded.

“I will agree to increase the dosage of your sedatives–”

“When–”

She held up her hand. “I will permit the increase on a limited basis on the conditions that you report for tests in two weeks, where I will expect to see your mate as well.” I ground my teeth so hard, I was actually grateful for the enhanced healing that came with being a lycan. If it meant I could exist without wanting to crawl out of my body, I could suffer being close to Elijah for a little while.

“You said ‘conditions’. What are your other stipulations?”

“I need you to release all of your medical records. When I requested them initially, the request was denied with the explanation that they were sealed and would require a special order to be released into my custody.”

I gave her a dubious look. “You want my medical records? From when I was a child?”

“Precisely.”

“Why?”

“Because, Detective Hart, in case you may have forgotten, I am still trying to determine how you transformed when it supposedly shouldn’t have been possible. I suspect the key lies in your past.” There was that infuriating, sympathetic smile again. What had Elijah told her?

“I’ll notify my lawyer. You’ll have them by the end of the day. I expect to have the new batch of sedatives by then as well.” She mercifully agreed and signed off after reaffirming when I’d be physically coming into the lab for tests.

Once her hologram disappeared, I fell exhausted back onto the bed, feeling like I’d run a marathon up a mountain with a broken leg. I was about to heave myself up to get some more water from the kitchen and maybe a snack, when the front door chimed. Elijah was back. It seemed there wouldnotbe a snack in my future after all.

Chapter 9

Josh

IgroundmyteethasElijah's warm, summery scent instantly surrounded me the second I stepped out of the guest room. A quick glance into the living room as I made my way to the kitchen showed him exactly where he’d been every day for the last week and a half. It had only taken three days of him trying to engage and me blatantly ignoring him for him to give up. That fact alone threatened to send acid up my throat. Then again, it wasn’t like anyone had ever fought for me before. Why would Elijah be any different? I fought back the acid, determined to actually keep my meal down today, and continued into the main part of the house.

On cue, Elijah’s head popped up from where he’d been lying on the couch.