Page 118 of Tail, Dark and Handsome: Celestial Mates
“Some spots.”
“You’ll need a scan.”
“I will if they remain tomorrow.”
The medic nodded, pulled off his gloves, and tossed them in the waste container. “Very well. Let’s find your mate.”
Marigold was still in surgery. The staff informed him that the surgeons were skilled, and he should not be alarmed by the time she spent under the surgeon’s blade. The bullet missed a major artery and bone. It was the best possible scenario and she would make a full recovery.
Still, waiting was agony. He furiously sent orders to Peaceable. They needed to act soon. His plan felt unfinished and, no doubt, Chase already had an overly complex scheme in place, waiting for his mark.
With that done, he messaged his lawyer. The one move he expected Chase to make, he had prepared a defense against. Chase had waited eight years to claim paternity of Zero, and Winter doubted he would wait a day more.
* * *
An eternity later—approximatelyan hour—Winter was allowed to see his mate.
Marigold rested, pale and unconscious, in a bed. An alarming amount of tubing was affixed to her arms. The medics swore the tubes were nothing to be concerned over; they merely delivered hydration.
Chase arrived moments later. Perhaps it was also an hour, but being as Winter never wanted to see the male’s face again, it was too soon.
“Leave,” Winter said, blocking Chase at the door.
“Careful. Lay a hand on me and I’ll tell the world how you assaulted me at the bedside of the second mate you attempted to kill.” Still dressed for his party, the male wore a finely tailored suit that loudly announced the price tag. Some people downplayed their wealth. His cousin used his with all the subtlety of a bludgeon.
Displeased at the threat, Winter pulled his hands away. “I would never harm my mate. You did this.”
Chase ran a hand down the front of his jacket, smoothing the lapels. “I threw a party. You’re the one who got out of hand and took it too far.” His face pulled a look of concern. “How much did you have to drink?”
“A glass of the aged liquor you kept locked away in your office. Saving it for a special occasion?”
His top lip curled back in sudden anger. “For the day justice finally found you. Thankful is not here to cover up for you anymore. When he died, I discovered his cache of all the data he covered up. For you.” His tail swayed behind him. “The world will know the truth of what you did.”
“And what about what you did?” Winter asked, sidestepping the question he knew Chase wanted him to ask. “Hiring Marigold’s ex-mate to torment us? Attack us?”
“That fool did not follow instructions. He was meant to lure her away and deliver her to a special location, but that proved too difficult for him.”
“And attack me? Was that part of the plan or just a bonus?”
“What part of lure her away was confusing? She was meant to leave with Tomas at the party. I know you’re awake, so you might as well stop faking,” Chase said.
Marigold
She wasn’t faking anything. Her head felt fuzzy, and her entire body had a floaty feeling. Whatever drugs the medics gave her worked. She couldn’t feel a thing.
She blinked at the light and struggled to sit upright. Her arms shook from the effort. A firm hand helped her get in place.
“Don’t let me interrupt your monologue. All the best villains get a monologue,” she said. Her throat was dry but not terribly so. The medics had used a local anesthetic, keeping her awake the entire time they removed the bullet from her leg. Sleep happened when exhaustion caught up with her. Every part of her felt heavy, like she’d never be fully awake again.
“I’m not the villain! I was wronged! I demanded justice and was ignored, so I sought it for myself.”
“By framing Winter for my abduction and murder?”
“By bringing his crimes to light!” Chase’s claws were out. He took a step toward the bed.
Winter blocked his path. “I would not.”
“I could gut you right now, and no one would blame me,” Chase said.
