Avery pushes herself up in the bed. “I’m happy to be back.”
“I understand that you and Solomon made quite the discovery just prior to your kidnapping.”
Avery beams. “It’s true. I’m his agápe.”
“That’s wonderful news.” She pats Avery’s leg and then looks at me. “Are you staying or going while I examine her?”
I don’t know. What does a vampire do when his agápe is being seen by a doctor? “Do you want me to stay or do you prefer I step out?”
She shrugs. “I don’t mind you staying but I need to speak with Dr. Knight about some female issues so you might be uncomfortable.”
She wants to talk periods. And the lack of hers.
I don’t pick up on the scent signaling the menstrual cycle she should be having right now. It could be the result of the pregnancy I so strongly suspect or simply related to the stress or blood loss she experienced but I’m certain she wants Dr. Knight to confirm the cause. “Okay. I get it. This is girls only stuff so I’m out of here.” I kiss her forehead. “I’ll be in my office and I’ll return as soon as you’re finished.”
I pass the hallway leading to Curry and Chansey’s quarters as I’m on the way to my office. I want to stop by to check in on Chansey after her visit from Dr. Knight but I don’t. I think knowing she is well would put my mind at rest but I resist because I don’t want to disturb their family time with the babies. Or their agápe reunion.
I know nothing will stop mine with Avery once I know she’s well.
Chapter Seventeen
I’m sitting at my desk in my office staring at the paperwork that has accumulated over the past two weeks. I had a lot of business to catch up on now that Avery was home safely. I should use this time to get some of my work done but I’m useless because I know Dr. Knight is evaluating Avery’s health. And possible pregnancy.
I cheat because I’m anxious. I close my eyes and reach out to that place where only Avery and I exist. I’m inside for a brief moment before she knows I’m there and she pushes me away. That’s never happened before. How did she do that?
I hear the chime of the doorbell and I walk over to open the door. It’s Curry.
“Just checking in on you while Dr. Knight is with Avery. You doing okay?”
No, I’m not. “Avery just pushed me out of our connection.”
He laughs. “Chansey must have taught her that little trick. It’s annoying as hell, isn’t it?”
Right now I don’t find it annoying. It’s … hurtful. I want to be there with her–even if it’s not physically–when she learns if she’s pregnant or not. “How did she do that?”
“You close the invisible gate. It takes concentration and a lot of practice. I bet Chansey has been coaching her for the past two weeks.”
I don’t understand. “Why would she want to shut me out? Isn’t that why we are what we are? So we can know everything about one another inside and out?”
“Everyone needs a little privacy–even from the agápe bond. Trust me. It can cause problems when you know every little emotion. There’ll be times when you don’t want her to know how you feel and you’ll be glad there’s a way to turn it off.”
I don’t like this. At all. “It feels like she’s hiding something from me.”
“It’s not exactly hiding. Agápes don’t have the power to do that because you can’t keep secrets from one another. Think of it as withholding. Or postponing. The truth will always come out unless she never thinks of it again. If that happens then whatever it is must be of very little consequence and doesn’t matter anyway.”
Is it okay to ask about Chansey’s condition? Do I want to know? I’m guessing it must be good or Curry wouldn’t be here now. “Chansey is healthy?”
“She’s well enough to send me for a status on Avery. And maybe keep you occupied while she’s being examined,” he laughs. “Michaela suggested a sedative but she refused because she wants to nurse the babies. I was afraid her body might have stopped producing milk or the twins would be confused after having bottles for two weeks but everything is as if nothing happened.”
Dr. Knight seems to be taking much longer with Avery than Chansey. Is that a bad sign? “I didn’t think it would take so long.” I’m growing more and more worried by the minute.
Curry looks at his watch. “It hasn’t been as long as you think. Your fear and the fact that she’s cut you off makes it feel like longer.”
There’s a knock at the door and I hope to see the good doctor on the other side. I’m instantly there with my hand on the knob to open it and I’m pleased when I see Dr. Knight. “I’m finished with Avery’s exam. She’s asking for you.”
I’ve just learned that my agápe has the ability to hide from me so I can’t resist asking about her condition in case she plans to try to withhold information from me later. “Is she okay?”
She smiles and I’m relieved before she says a word. “Avery’s strong and healthy so she’ll make a full recovery. Her body is already working overtime to replace the loss of plasma. It’ll take longer for the red blood cells to regenerate so I want her taking a vitamin every day to help with that process.” She holds out a piece of paper. “She didn’t want a sedative but I’m leaving a prescription in case she changes her mind. I would be surprised if she didn’t have night terrors after the things she experienced.”
There were nights when I sensed horror and panic from Avery after she arrived at the compound. At the time, I thought it was related to her fear of me but I see now that wasn’t the case. She was having nightmares about Vincent. I wish I had known. I could have helped her through it.
“Avery thinks she’s okay but she’s going to need you more than she knows.”
I was up for the task. “I’ll be by her side every step of the way.”
“Good.” Michaela moves aside. “Get out of here. Go to your agápe.”
I thank Michaela but waste no time returning to Avery. I enter my quarters and smile when I find her sitting up in bed with several pillows propped behind her. Her skin is pale, which I’m certain will be the case for a few weeks but her hair is glossy. It’s an indication her health hasn’t been damaged to the severity it was when we found her months ago. The golden brown eyes staring at me are sparkling and her face is beaming with a smile that spreads from one side to the other.