Page 11 of Free Me

“Miko?” Dad asked. “Are you all right? You went away.”

“Sorry, I keep getting lost in thought. Just remembering all the good times with Linus and waiting for all the new ones.”

“That’s a healthy perspective, son.”

“Can you share some of that optimism with Demir?” Tarius asked. “I haven’t seen him this withdrawn since Layne got pissed at him during Peyton’s treatment.”

“He can’t possibly blame himself for this. It was a car accident,” Miko said. An accident that wouldn’t have happened if Miko had stayed home from the party, or if he’d insisted he could get home without help. Linus would be safe and whole, instead of unconscious and broken.

Tarius sipped his paper cup of coffee. “Of course, it was an accident, but you know Demir. He takes it personally if Layne or Linus get so much as a paper cut and always has. All of us missed how depressed Layne was after Caleb was born. And now Demir’s got another problem he can’t fix; he can only offer a few consultations. But he’s not an orthopedist or a neurologist.”

“Is Demir coming by today?”

“I’m not sure. He’s kind of thrown himself into work this week. If he can’t fix his brother, he can try to fix a stranger’sbrother. Or father or cousin. He’s been determined to heal the world since he was fifteen.”

“Well, if Linus is going to wake up today, Demir can take a few hours off.” Miko didn’t realize how sharply he’d spoken until he noticed Dad staring at him with a raised eyebrow. “What? It’s true. I know there isn’t a lot he can actually do, but he could be in the room with Liam and Isa.”

Being a doctor, even if not specifically Linus’s doctor, got Demir access to the ICU without being buzzed in by a nurse. He’d done it several times since the accident, and each time he’d completely bypassed the waiting room. Miko was trying not to take it personally but…well, he was taking it personally. Especially after how hands-on Demir had been with Peyton’s illness. Now he couldn’t be around for his own brother?

I’m being unfair and I don’t give a damn. Not while my mate is—wait. No.

Miko rubbed both hands across his face and dug into his eyes until he saw those amoeba-like splotches behind his lids. He hated being so confused and angry, and he hadn’t felt this way since Peyton forgot his entire life, Miko included. He hadn’t let anyone see how angry and scared he was back then, not even his best friends. Definitely not his parents, who already had one son to worry about.

“Hey.” Tarius squeezed his shoulder but Miko didn’t look up. “I know you’re upset and worried, but I promise you that Demir is doing his best.”

Miko glared at him through the spots in his vision. “To do what? Invent artificially regenerating limbs?”

Tarius took a step back, his hand falling away, expression pained. Guilt tickled at the back of his mind, but Miko didn’t retract the words. It was how hefelt, damn it. Too fucking much had happened in the last three years, and he was so sick of keeping everything inside.

“How about we take a quick walk?” Dad asked him. “Just to burn off some energy.”

“Yeah, fine.” Linus probably wouldn’t wake up for hours, and Miko wasn’t interested in studying for an upcoming geometry test anyway. Winter Solstice break was in about a month, and he really didn’t care if he did well on his finals.

He followed Dad down a long, boring corridor that looked like every other corridor in the hospital. The only real differences were the locations on the signs and the directions of the arrows. The artwork and the artificial plants seemed painfully identical, even though it wasn’t the exact same forest scene each time. But the rest? Same tiles, same paint, same trim, same faux-wood doors. They passed a long bank of windows that overlooked one of the campus’s many gardens. A few evergreens still held color, while the rest of the trees and foliage were dry and brown for the winter months.

Depressing.

Dad stopped in front of a vending machine and studied the contents. Miko stared at the floor, impatient with Dad’s indecision, until he blurted out, “We have snacks back in the waiting room.”

“Yes, we do.” Dad swiped his credit card and hit two buttons. “But we don’t have pretzels, and I am feeling the need for something salty after those cookies. Want a bag?”

“No, I’m not hungry.”

“I didn’t ask if you were hungry, son. You’re never hungry, but you still need to eat.” He hit the buttons again, then retrieved two bags of twists from the machine’s slot. Held one out to Miko. “Take them.”

Miko swiped the bag with a huff. “Fine.”

“You know, you weren’t this belligerent and short-tempered during puberty. I never thought heat would bring your teenage angst out at twenty.”

“It’s not your best friend who’s in a coma!”

Dad’s even expression barely shifted. “No, it’s not. But my other son was in a coma. I’ve seen my friends and their kids struggle so much these last couple years, and I have done my very best to support them without losing my temper, which is not easy for me. When I was your age, I was a writhing ball of rage until I finally got help, and then I met your omegin. And I know what Linus is going through is awful. But I’ve never seen you as angry as you’ve been these last few days. Maybe you need a break from the hospital.”

“I can’t leave Linus.”

“Why not? Take a day off. His family is?—”

“Because I think he’s my bondmate!” The shout echoed down the long, mostly empty corridor, and Miko flinched at both what he’d said and how he’d said it. He’d never yelled at his sire before, and even Dad was gaping at him, lips forming a perfect o-shape.

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