Tangled

84 Ava: Doctor’s Care

Dr. Ellison never appears before me again. @

My new doctor is an older woman who smells like a mix of raw meat and chocolate chip cookies. Like a bunny–slaughtering, chubby grandma. It’s an odd mix that makes my nose wrinkle a little.

“Good morning, Miss Grey,” she greets me, her voice gentle and sweet, belying her stocky frame. It only adds to the Disney grandma effect, still with a side of vicious killer. “I’m Dr. Annise Beaumont, and I’ll be taking over your care from now on.”

She moves closer, and I flinch without thinking, tensing at her approach.

The rational part of my mind knows she’s here to help,

but after the disastrous encounter with Dr. Ellison, I

can’t shake the sense of unease that settles in the pit of my stomach. I don’t want to be touched by people

who hate me.

Dr. Beaumont seems to notice my apprehension, knitting her brows together as she watches me. “I’ve heard of your issues with Dr. Ellison. He’s well known

C 84 Ava: Doctor’s Care

to be a bit of a problem child. Too big for his britches after heading

ng off to university. No need to worry, dear. I don’t care what pack you’re from. I’m just going to check your vitals and take a look at those wounds, make sure everything is healing properly.”

Of course. All important things a normal doctor would

1. do.

relax a

with another whiff of bloody cookie grandma scent, her fingers surprisingly deft as they press against my

maternal touch is unfamiliar

a little elevated,” she murmurs, -more to herself than to me. “But that’s

tongue at my blood pressure. “That should go up with some medication changes,” she says,

toddler?-who’d been ill from some sort

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Doctor’s

the shifter parents at daycare. Turns out, she’d eaten something she shouldn’t, and there was no horrifying epidemic taking

myself drawn in by her soothing cadence, the tension slowly ebbing from my body as she works, carefully checking every wound on my

raw, has my breath catching in my throat. Vivid memories of the fight with Todd flash through my mind, and I have to squeeze my eyes shut to block out

Dr. Beaumont murmurs, her voice a gentle anchor pulling me back to the present. “Just focus on my voice, Ava. You’re safe

my eyes open, fixing my gaze on her face

of the revulsion I

Doctor’s

she comments, her fingers ghosting over the edges of the wounds, just shy of touching them. “They cleaned it up well. We’ll need to keep them clean and change the dressings regularly, but

for a few minutes,

When she’s finished, she steps back, giving me

an ordeal, haven’t you, dear?” she says at last, her voice laced with sympathy. “But you’re a fighter, I can see that. And with the right

but she holds

Miss Grey. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later. I’m going to reduce the frequency of your pain medication, and now that you’re awake I’ll have you swallow them as pills

Doctor’s

them through the

pauses as though she’s

with you, so she’ll be checking on you daily. Most of our healers are on par with doctors, but without the required licensing of the government. I’m not sure how it was in

flummoxed by her no–nonsense

you need anything, your call

Dr. Beaumont takes a moment

my bed, picking it up from

on the floor. “Here.

as I’m sure you’re aware. If you have any more questions, let them know, and I or my colleagues. can come chat with you, okay?” Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet