Chapter 17

DARIEN hovered over Leandi while placing his other hand on her and reaching for the nurse’s call button. Despite how sharply the pain ran through every nerve ending, she wouldn’t take any more painkillers and turn into a zombie once more.

When Nurse Grey entered the room, she cast a confused glance from Lelandi to Darien.

Darien remarked, “She’s hurting very hard. “No.” Shaking her head, Lelandi “I can handle it,”

There is no use in putting up with it. Reaching for the IV line was Nurse Grey. It might as well be cozy.

“No.” Lelandi attempted to free herself from the IV as she narrowed her eyes, sent the nurse and Darien a scathing glance. I’m done, thank you.

Darien and Nurse Grey exchanged brief smiles.

She wanted to yank her hand out of his grasp, and she even believed she had succeeded, but he held it captive.

She wasn’t sure what had changed him as he stared down at her with such compassion, a hint of uncertainty, and even a trace of want. The impulse to force her to confess about who she was and everything about her seemed to have vanished. Even though she felt her body sliding away and the painkillers rushing through her veins, she swore his grasp tightened on hers. Fine. Oh, dear. She would locate her ideal partner. Somewhere. Forget about the actual world.

Darien was angry and wanted his partner back in his arms. How could her lovely figure continue to torture him in his sleep? He was preoccupied, uneasy, and felt like a piece of his soul had been torn away even as he checked on Jake who was waiting to speak to him about the silver mine in the hallway outside Larissa’s room. Even though his pack contained six women who were suitable, just one would do—the small woman of his dreams—and she was now dead. She had been the addiction he couldn’t get enough of.

Lelandi.

Jake looked at him and scowled. Another unfavorable night? Darien gave him the warning not to go there in his gaze.

Jake gave a head shake. I’ll continue working in the silver mine. Better there than here, he murmured to himself as he stalked away. Brother, you’ve got to find another mate and give up. She has left. One day, you have to accept responsibility.

Gone.

Will having a new partner put an end to the dreams?

He laughed. The dreams persisted even while he was with Lelandi. The fantasy is far superior to reality.

He cast a quick glance at the deputy serving as the guard, Peter Jorgenson, who was seated on a chair. Want a break?

“Thanks, manager. I’m simply glad Trevor is gone. I have another two hours here.

Time to head home and try to get some much needed sleep. Yet if Darien could locate Lelandi in the woods, even if it was only in his dreams… he’d sacrifice sleep for an eternity.

The next morning, Lelandi sat up in bed, her head mostly cleared, no constraints, although the medica- tion still blurred her senses. Otherwise, she would have noticed the brooding man sitting in the room. Jake’s eyes grew wider when it noticed she was awake. Darien must have given up and gone home.

Jake rubbed his whiskered chin for a minute. Finally he spoke, his voice condemning. “He doesn’t want you. He views you as her.”

Nobody had to tell her Darien viewed her as Larissa. Swallowing hard, Lelandi prayed at least her vocal chords had returned to normal after the snake had strangled them. She still didn’t feel she had any energy, but at least she felt no discomfort. Her throat dry, she noticed her water cup was empty. The water pitcher was too far away to reach, but she wasn’t asking grouchy to get it for her. The other solution was to hit the nurse call button. If Ritka was manning the counter, she might spill the water on Lelandi, or ignore her totally. Besides, Lelandi was used to fending for herself.

“He’s already been through the wringer enough over your sister without having to go through the same thing with you. Darn it, woman, he needs to heal.”

Like she didn’t? Jake was talking about her sister! She’d loved her just as much as Darien had. Why else did they suppose she was here? To revenge her sister’s death, darn it!

Lelandi twisted her mouth, her throat seeming drier by the second, presumably because of the medication she was taking. Indecision caught hold. Should she try to go back to sleep, or get the water herself?

Had to mate with Trevor’s sibling. Well, if he had, none of this would have occurred.

Her teeth were ground. Sister of Trevor? It makes sense why he didn’t like her. She, however, refused to yield to Jake’s provocation. Jake made it apparent that he wasn’t going to assist her despite knowing she needed some water. In any case, she didn’t require a gray’s assistance.

“I requested that he leave her alone. She wasn’t the appropriate match for him. You shouldn’t be playing with his head, either.

Lelandi gave Jake a scowl. She had no desire to “mess” with Darien’s head in any way. She leaned over and grabbed the water pitcher. Her back, where her gown had opened up, shivered in the cold draft. She paused as sickness filled her stomach and dizziness overcame her as her head began to fill with fog. Slow. Take things slowly.

The industrial-strength carpet on the floor was moved back by the chair as hasty movements were made in the direction of the hallway.

When Jake said, “Get Ritka,” she shut her eyes to block out the nausea. The woman collapsed.

Which female?

Lelandi opened her eyes with her ideas still being hazy. She had to stop taking the dreadful medication that made her feel so uncontrollable.

Jacob crept back into the space. “Stand still. Resuming your sleep

Ignoring him, she re-attempted to reach the river. She felt herself swiftly sinking as soon as she leaned over the bed railing. Her head and stomach both began to dog paddle.

Darn it, lady. Jacob touched her with his hand.

He placed a gentle push on her shoulder while maintaining a stern expression.

A snarling Nurse Grey entered the space. What is the issue? She requires re-application of the shackles.

Lelandi gave him a grimace. “Water.” She gestured toward the container with an obliquely raised hand.

She had already fainted twice and was going to do it again.

Doing her best to obtain the water? Upon taking Lelandi’s temperature, Nurse Grey asked in an irritated tone.

He made a shrug. She didn’t inquire.

“And you didn’t plan to accept. Sit down and extend your sleeve.

“What… ?”