Chapter 108
Trok the bag with numb lingers and nodded. “Thank you.‘
+25 BONUS
The fluorescent lights flickered slightly above the women’s restroom. I slipped inside and locked the door, grateful for the moment of privacy. The clollies were soft, warm, and mercifully simple.
I peeled off the swimsuit with trembling hands, the fabric stiff with dried saltwater, sand, and blood.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
Red eyes. Streaked mascate Blood on my shoulder that wasn’t me. Blood on my hands.
I stared for a long moment. I looked like someone I didn’t recognit
promised I’d never become. The kind who couldn’t keep lier childsafe..
haunted and hollow, Like the version of myself I’d once
The tancet groaned when I turned it on. I washed my hands in the sink, scrubbing until my skin stang, until the water swirling down the drain turned from pink to clear.
In teltlike I was washing him away. Like every trace of Alden–ls warmth, his breath, his light–was being pulled into the pipes.
I braced my palms against the cool porcelain, bowing my head.
H
“You’re a Luna,” I whispered to myself, closing my eyes. “Get it together.” But the words came out cracked.
I dried my hands. Pulled the sweatshirt over my head. Tagged the leggings up my shaking legs. Zipped the jacket with fingers that barely worked.
Then I stepped back into the hall–and found Derek waiting just outside.
He was leaning against the wall, arms folded, jaw clenched tight like he’d been holding himself together by sheer will. He had cleaned up as well, was dressed in crisp linen pants and a white–button–down shirt.
His eyes snapped to mine the second the door opened, and for a beat, we just looked at each other.
He didn’t:
t speak.
He just reached out and gently tucked a strand of damp hair behind my ear.
I finally, finally came back to myself.
“Why are you here?” Tasked. “Why did you come to Barbados?”
He looked at me, serious and unflinching.
“I came for you.”
I didn’t have time to ask what he meant.
A doctor appeared at the end of the hallway, walking briskly toward us.
“Are you the parents?” he asked.
froze. Helt Derek do the same beside me.
“I’m the mother,” I said quickly.
The doctor nodded. “Can I speak with you privately?”
He led me a few steps away and folded his hands.
“Your son’s wounds were severe. He lost a significant amount of blood. We’re treating him for silver poisoning. We’ve done what we can for now–but we need to perform a transfusion.”
Chapter 108
“So do it,” I said. “Give him a transfusion. Is there something Ine to sign? Do you need
Theoctor interjected.
“it’s not that simple.” He hesitated “Are you aware that your son has a very rare blood type
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I remembered our pediatrician mentioning something about thisst after he was born, but I wan sa high on meeting the new little life I’d created that I hadn’t given it much thought store,
“Shifters already have a limited donor pool we can’t give them lipnsan blood. And Alden has an even rarer type than most ABX. Are you… Are you ABX?”
My mouth had gone dry. “I’m not.”
The doctor sighed. “That’s what we were afraid of. We don’t have early enough on the Island. We’ve already contacted our off- site partners, but-
“Can’t you fly it in?!” I said, panie rising in my chest.
He shook his head. “Not in time.”
He looked at me gently but firmly. “We’re going to do everything we can. But without a transfusion–and soon your son will make it through the night.”
My knees gave out, and I grabbed the wall beside me to stay standing.
Not like this.
Not my boy.
Not Aiden.
–it’s unlikely
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Chapter 109
