Page 2 of Kings
After what felt like forever, there was a knock at the door, and Sterling grudgingly went to open it. Something told Ella he wasn’t used to having guests. A moment later, he ushered the older tom into the room.
Dr. Miller’s gaze filled with recognition as it landed on Ella, but she could sense his confusion as well and couldn’t blame him, given the circumstances. Not to mention the location of their meeting. “Ms. Doe,” he said, looking to Axel. “Is anyone hurt?”
“No,” Axel said brusquely, walking over to stand behind the chair Ella was sitting in. “She’s being a freak and we need you to run some tests.”
“Hey,” Ella snapped, glaring at him over her shoulder.
The doctor blinked. “Well, I can certainly try, but it would help if I knew what I was looking for.”
“She bit him,” Sterling said, clearly uncomfortable with the subject matter. And his guest, for that matter, but none of them really had a choice.
The doctor looked back at Ella in disbelief, until he saw the bandage on Axel’s neck. “Oh. Am I correct in understanding this was during…?”
“Yeah, we were fucking,” Axel said without a hint of shame. “These two think that means she’s a feral. I take it you know what that is?”
The doctor hesitated, glancing at the other two toms who were watching him with great irritation. “Yes,” he answered, nodding. “I—”
“Good,” Axel interrupted. “Run whatever tests you need to figure it out and we’ll talk after.”
“Axel,” Ella growled, realizing even he was trying to keep it from her, despite the fact that he didn’t know whatitwas anymore than she did.
The doctor had already set his bag down on the coffee table. “A blood test would be the first order of business.”
“I think the first order of business is an NDA,” Bishop said, taking a menacing step toward the man. Sterling remained where he was, but his stony gaze was every bit as threatening.
The doctor gulped audibly, looking between them. “I take patient confidentiality with the utmost seriousness. I took an oath.”
“And you’d better keep it,” Bishop said in a low tone Ella had only heard once before.
“Bishop!” she cried, realizing he was just coming out and threatening the man openly.
“It’s alright,” the doctor said, giving her a faintly reassuring smile that was now tinged with nervousness. The most unsettling part was that Ella could tell it was directed at her, not Bishop. “Let’s begin, shall we?”
Ella reluctantly rolled up her sleeve, figuring it would be easier to extract the information she needed if they actually had some data to go off of. Whatever it was they were all freaking out about, she hoped it would turn out to be nothing. As he stuck her with the needle and drew more vials than seemed necessary, she grew doubtful.
“Alright,” he finally said, placing a bandage over the crook of her arm. “I’ll get these back to the lab and run some tests. But first, how are you feeling?” he asked, looking Ella over.
“I’m fine,” she murmured. It was far from the truth emotionally, but her physical symptoms had vanished, including the once unbearable heat under her skin.
He nodded, standing. “That’s good.”
Sterling blocked his path. “The school laboratory will suffice. I’d rather you didn’t leave with those samples.”
The doctor looked down at his bag and nodded slowly. “Alright, but how am I going to get in?”
“It’s empty on weekends,” Sterling said, opening the door. “I’ll take you.”
With that, the two men left and Ella found herself lightheaded for reasons other than the lost blood. She looked up at Bishop. “This is your last chance to tell me, whatever it is.”
He frowned, and she could tell he was actually thinking about it, even if it was only for a moment. “You should go lie down,” he finally said, draping a blanket from the back of Sterling’s sofa over her shoulders.
Ella bristled with agitation, but he was right. Whether it was the long trip or simply everything catching up to her now that she didn’t have the adrenaline of a heat running through her veins, she was exhausted. He led her into the other room and she felt like an intruder curling up in Sterling’s bed, but his scent was more than comforting. She strained to keep her eyes open as she heard the low tones of Axel and Bishop conversing in the other room, but she couldn’t.
The most troubling part was that for once, it sounded like they were actually getting along.
Chapter 2
Ella
