Page 40 of Threads of Fate

“Fuck, yes.”

“Can we go in now, do you think? I miss the little punk. And I could gaze upon sleeping beauty for a bit, too.” Gideon is already on his feet.

“Why don’t you go in, and I’ll be there in a minute. I should answer a few messages.” Jay takes out his phone and holds it up.

Leaving Jay to his mysterious business, Gideon finds Rowan lying beside Nix, eyes closed. They look like they are both just sleeping, Rowan’s arm under Nix’s head and his hand on his belly.

“He fell asleep about twenty minutes ago. I feel obligated to tell you he has shared all hissecrets of manipulation, his words, not mine. I may implement a few of the strategies with my pack. I mean, I work out.” The tiny nurse raises her arm and flexes her impressive biceps.

Gideon chuckles. “I have no doubt these two will wrap us around their fingers.” He can tell that Rowan is awake because he smiles, too.

Figuring out he’s been discovered eavesdropping, Rowan reaches out his free hand, beckoning Gideon to come to him. “Gimme.”

“See? No shame.” But Gideon goes without a moment’s hesitation.

“Hi, Ro. Give me kisses.” He makes kissy lips and fully expects his mate to squirm away. He’s surprised when Rowan’s hand comes up behind Gideon’s head to hold him while he licks his lips and then bites down on the lower one. Despite his many satisfying hours with Grayson and his betas, a frisson of desire slithers in his belly. Rowan is an amazing kisser, and Jay was right: the tank top is giving.

“You smell like fucking and Gray. Was it good?” Rowan rubs his nose along Gideon’s ear and breathes the words softly to better hide the intimate conversation from the nurse twelve feetaway. Gideon shivers. The “How to be a Good Alpha” lessons are clearly working.

Yasmine breaks into song to better shield her ears, and Rowan stiffens as he realizes she can hear every word despite his best efforts. His baby alpha’s cheeks are immediately pink, and Gideon is in love. Again. Over and over.

“How’s our sleeping beauty? He still smells so good, eh? You’re managing it better now?” Reaching over Rowan, he runs a finger over Nix’s brow and down his cute button nose. He can’t wait for him to open his eyes.

That reminds him.

Walking toward the nurse, Gideon asks, “Yasmine, hello. Do you know when we might see Dr. Spencer? We’re anxious to know when Nix might wake up.”

Picking up the tablet, she scrolls through several pages, “Dr. Spencer has logged hospital hours…in an hour and a half or so. Will that work? I think she mentioned she wanted Jay to be available, but any of you are welcome, of course.”

“Of course. Will Hannah be on this morning?”

“She’s on her four days off schedule. Dr. Spencer has requested I remain, although I’m not sure why. But it’s fine. My four off starts when I’m done.”

“Thank you for staying, then, and for your excellent care.”

“Of course. I’m hoping that Nix can be moved to a regular ward soon. His kidney and bowel looked good on the scan shortly after the transition, but I haven’t seen the results from the scans from yesterday or even the blood work. It’s weird…” She’s scrolling and stops. “Huh. It’s pass-coded and marked ‘restricted access.’”

“That doesn’t sound good.” Jay enters the room and catches the tail end of the conversation. He looks exhausted and worried. Gideon wonders if there will be a time soon when theirleader won’t exude this level of stress. He hopes that having Nix awake will make that possible.

“I’m sure it’s fine. His vitals are excellent. The brain scan was good, too; even though his concussion symptoms might remain for a while, they exceeded even the transition’s effects. I am sure Dr. Spencer will clear things up soon.”

Rowan has moved from the bed to participate in the conversation. Yasmine flinches subtly, so he stops to give her space. The big alpha is still mortified at his earlier breach of etiquette, but the nurse smiles and waves him forward anyway.

“So if he’s well, why are you keeping him in a coma, and why does he smell like…that?” Rowan asks, his usual description of “sex in a bakery” not wholly appropriate.

Yasmine blushes because Gideon is sure that even to the nurse, Nix smells exceptionally good. He’s impressed with her professionalism and adds a second (eighth) muffin basket to his growing mental list.

“I think I can shed some light on that. Yasmine, I wonder if I might have a few moments of privacy with Nix’s Alphas?” Dr. Spencer enters and ushers the confused nurse out the door. Once Yasmine is on the other side, she closes the door after her and turns up the privacy dampening in the room. The added noise irritates the enigmas’ hearing, and it’s one of those times Gideon is happy for his “regular” alpha senses.

“Dr. Spencer, thanks for meeting with us, but I must confess, you are making me nervous.” If Gideon had a dollar for every time Jay has had to say that in the last few days, he’d be a billionaire.

“I’m sorry for the added caution, Mr. Rhodes, and I’m hoping you will understand very shortly. I think the best way for me to explain is to show you.” She gestures to the trio and pulls something up on her tablet. She enters a long passcode and activates her face scan.

Rowan looks at him in disbelief, and Gideon has to agree; this is right out of a spy movie. The hospital has strict security, but this is next level. What could be so important that it required a freaking retinal scan and ten-digit encrypted code?

Once her identity and security level have been verified, the doctor turns the tablet toward them. Gideon struggles to understand what he’s seeing. He’s not stupid, so recognizes that he’s seeing someone’s internal organs, probably Nix’s, but other than that—?

“What are we looking at, Dr. Spencer? I’m sorry, my medical degree fromGrey’s Anatomydoesn’t extend to interpreting this.” Jay waves his hand over the tablet, ever charming, even when he’s dead tired and deeply concerned.

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