Page 20 of Eight Embers

The panic starts to hit hard, and I can’t help but look back at Delaney to make sure she’s really physically okay and not fading into nothing.

“Oh, my. That sounds…okay. Has this ever happened before? Does she have a history of head trauma or anything like that? Has she fallen recently or ingested anything that could interfere with her magic?”

I shake my head no, and it seems that I’m done talking. I sink into the nearest chair before my knees give out, so worried about my girl that I can’t actually function now that the adrenaline is wearing off.

I have the clarity of mind to at least text her parents first, making sure her mom knows something is wrong with Delaney and her memories, because that feels like something she ought to know. Also, I’m maybe hoping for some brownie points so I can be the favorite son-in-law.

Chapter eight

Saladriel

I’ve felt out of place since my goddess sent me here, but for once, I actually feel like I’m helpful.

Whatever has happened to this woman that is supposedly my mate, has me thinking that things might be more serious than I thought they were. And the way she’s looking at me…

I might have lied when I told her mates I had a girlfriend. We weren’t committed, because neither of us cared enough about making it official to actually do so. At the time though, I think I just felt that the excuse was helpful, a simple way to keep myself removed from the group of men that are over their heads obsessed with the woman that keeps looking over at me like she thinks I’m safe.

I have no idea what to do about that.

Most of her mates are losing their minds right now with her obvious distress, so maybe it’s good for me to be unattached thusfar, because I can remain levelheaded where they are struggling to do so.

The nurse is helping Delaney back to a more private room, but the nurse won’t let any of us take a single step back with them because she says the room is too small to fit us all. That’s when she looks to Delaney to pick someone she feels comfortable with being by for a little bit, and her eyes meet mine and I don’t even think to refuse.

Huh, maybe I’m not as unattached as I thought I was.

The nice thing I’ve discovered about her very large and very strange collection of men is that they all try very hard not to act jealous with one another. So even though the gargoyle looks like he might want to rip me apart so he can accompany Delaney himself, and the teacher looks like he’s ready to pounce on the nurse and demand she let us all go back with her, I know they won’t.

They don’t even begrudge me somehow needing this, somehow enjoying being needed like this, and they give me a nod, and it makes me nearly gasp out loud to recognize that they trust me with her, trust me to take care of her and to advocate for her.

The nurse is making small talk with Delaney as she leads us to a room, but I stay close to her in case she needs me to catch her in a swoon again. Tough job, I tell ya’.

Once the door closes and everything is quiet, the nurse looks to me for a heavier explanation.

“I…well, I had just come from somewhere else and went to talk to her. She was…spending time with a couple of her mates after class released—”

“Mates? You are mistaken. I don’t…no, I don’t…” Delaney stutters confusedly, putting her hands on her forehead like that will put her memories back.

I nod my head to the nurse, showing her exactly what we’ve been experiencing. “One minute she was fine, then she brushed my arm and clutched her head suddenly, apologized for bumping into me, and wandered down the hall like she’d never seen me before.”

“And you are one of her mates, yes? You didn’t interfere with her in any way? It is a little suspicious that this happened right after she touched you,” the nurse points out as she takes some notes on her laptop.

“I would have no reason to harm her, and besides, I lack the ability to do so. Technically yes, we’re mated, but—”

Delaney bursts into tears and throws herself at me, sitting in my lap and all but forcing me to wrap my arms around her. “I forgot you? How did I forget about someone so important to me?”

She’s a blubbering mess, grabbing my face and pressing herself into me. I don’t have the heart to tell her we’re not actually together as of now.

“And all those gentlemen out there…” the nurse trails off, asking without trying to set Delaney off.

I nod back while Delaney wipes tears from her eyes, and she misses the action, thank the goddess.

“I need to inspect your mate marks, Ms. Duncan. Is that alright with you?”

“Well, yeah, fine, but…I don’t…do I have mate marks?”

She turns her head to me, her mouth so close to mine I stop breathing. Dingleberries. I’m not supposed to be able to feel thisway. What is happening to me? Something is stirring within me, and I find it unpleasant.

I nod in confirmation, too nervous to speak in case I kiss her instead.