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

another whiff of bloody cookie grandma scent, her fingers

maternal touch is

herself than to me. “But that’s to be expected, given the circumstances.”

with some medication changes,” she says, before launching into a casual story about how her daughter had spent a day in the hospital the other day

been ill from some

13

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Ava: Doctor’s

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

in by her soothing cadence, the tension slowly ebbing from my body as she

first glimpse of the ragged wounds on my abdomen, angry and 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 the images.

voice a gentle anchor pulling me back

her face as

the revulsion I would expect

Ava: Doctor’s Care

shy of touching them. “They cleaned it up well. We’ll need to keep them clean and change the dressings regularly, but you’re on the mend. I know it probably looks awful to you,

in silence for a

to my wounds. When she’s finished, she steps back, giving me an appraising look

you’re a fighter, I can see that.

to respond, but she holds up a hand,

to say anything now,” she says with a shake of her head. “Just rest and heal, 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

Ava: Doctor’s

giving them through

pauses as though she’s waiting for my

with doctors, but without the required licensing of the government. I’m not sure how it was

my head, flummoxed by her no–nonsense summarization of

your call light

Beaumont takes a

bed, picking it up from behind it

the floor. “Here. Nurses are

know, and I or my colleagues. can come chat with you, okay?” Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and