Page 136 of Forged

He removes one last fragment, smaller than the rest, and drops it into the tray with a quiet clink. “That’s it,” he adds,setting the instrument aside. “We’ve cleared the visible debris. The cuts are superficial. She was lucky.”

Neomi exhales slowly, her shoulders easing, but she coughs again, harder this time. The doctor’s gaze flicks to her throat, then back to me as he steps away and strips off his gloves.

“She’s dealing with some smoke inhalation,” he explains. “Irritation in the airways, which is causing the coughing. We’ll monitor her oxygen levels, but right now she’s stable.”

My eyes move to the gauze packed against her ear.

“What happened to her ear?” I ask.

“Ruptured eardrum,” he says plainly. “The pressure from the blast can do that. Her hearing on that side will be affected for a while, though the eardrum should heal on its own. We’ll have her follow up with a specialist.”

I nod, but the information doesn’t settle well. It just stacks on top of the fear.

He continues, “Bruising, minor lacerations, and some impact trauma, but nothing life-threatening. Given the circumstances…” He lets the sentence trail off, like even he knows how close this came to going another way.

My gaze finds hers.

She’s watching me, eyes clear despite everything. And that’s what breaks something open in my chest.

“She’s going to be okay?” I ask, my voice low.

The doctor meets my eyes. “Yes. She’s going to be okay.”

Only then do I move toward her.

“Neomi.” My voice breaks before I can stop it.

“Hey,” she breathes.

I’m across the room in seconds. I gently take her hand, needing the contact.

“You’re okay,” I say, but it sounds like I’m trying to convince myself.

“I’m okay,” she repeats, her hands coming up to cover mine, grounding me. “I’m right here.”

I want to hold her, pull her to me, but I’m scared I’ll hurt her.Instead, I lift her hand and place a gentle kiss. I hold her hand to my lips, not wanting to let her go.

“That call scared the hell out of me,” I whisper against her.

Her free arm wraps around me. “I know,” she whispers. “It happened so fast, Lars. One second I was unlocking the door, and the next?—”

I lean back, my thumb brushing gently against her cheek, my chest still too tight.

“Don’t,” I say quietly. “You’re here. That’s all that matters.”

The door opens behind us.

I turn just as Gabriel steps into the room, and for a moment, everything stills.

His gaze goes to Neomi first, scanning every detail before it shifts to me. Something dark and shaken moves through his expression, quickly buried beneath control.

“She’s okay,” I say, even though he can see it.

He steps closer, slower than I did, like he’s holding something back.

“Hi,” Neomi says softly.

His hand comes up to cradle her jaw, his thumb brushing just beneath the bruise with care. “My little Siren,” he replies, his voice soft.