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 little

cookie grandma scent, her fingers surprisingly deft

touch is

murmurs, -more to herself

with some medication changes,” she says, before launching into a casual story about how her daughter had

ill from

13

217

Ava: Doctor’s

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

from my body

my abdomen, angry and raw, has my breath catching in my throat. Vivid memories of the fight

pulling me back to the present. “Just focus on

on her face as she carefully

one of calm professionalism, betraying none of the revulsion I would expect at the sight of my mangled

Ava: Doctor’s

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

in silence for a few minutes,

When she’s finished, she steps back, giving me an appraising look that makes

been through quite 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 help,

she holds up a hand, effectively

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 you swallow them as pills instead

Doctor’s

giving them through the IV.”

as though she’s waiting for my

and evening, just to make sure everything’s going well. Our healer, Vanessa, seems quite taken 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 your

head, flummoxed by her no–nonsense summarization of

you need anything, your call

takes a moment

picking it up from behind

the floor. “Here. Nurses

know, and I or my colleagues. can