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.

myself to relax

cookie grandma scent, her fingers surprisingly deft as they press against

touch is unfamiliar to me.

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

says, before launching into a casual story about how her daughter had spent

toddler?-who’d been ill from some sort

13

217

Doctor’s Care

she’d eaten something she shouldn’t, and there was no horrifying epidemic taking down

my initial reservations, I find myself drawn in by her soothing cadence, the tension slowly ebbing from my body as she works, carefully checking every wound on my face and neck

catching in my throat. Vivid memories of the

now,” Dr. Beaumont murmurs, her voice a gentle anchor pulling me back to the present. “Just focus on my voice, Ava.

force my eyes open, fixing my gaze on her face as she carefully

the revulsion I would expect at the sight of my

Ava: Doctor’s Care

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 you’re on the mend.

Beaumont works in silence for

back, giving me an appraising look that makes me feel like I’m being evaluated on more than just

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

my mouth to respond, but she holds up a hand, effectively

need 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

Ava: Doctor’s

giving them through the

though

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

head, flummoxed by her no–nonsense summarization of my

need anything, your call light is… Not

takes a moment

it up from behind

“Here. Nurses are around all

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 website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the