Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Joe approved and gave him a nod. “Didn’t expect a different answer but thought I should ask. All right, Doctor, we’ll help you care for him.”
“I appreciate it.”
Speaking of, time to get back in there. Salem carried his coffee and joined Gregori, cozying up to his side. Gregori pushed most of the blankets over to Salem, which he appreciated, as it wasn’t exactly warm out here. He was still warming up his jacket.
Bodybuilder protested wordlessly.
“Ice dragon,” Salem reminded him. “This is like a balmy summer day for him. I’m the one freezing.”
“Oh. Right, I feel stupid for not realizing.”
Gregori finished off the last bite of pastila with a sigh. “Shawn, your grandmother sure can make a mean pastila.”
“Favorite snack from her,” Shawn the bodybuilder agreed cheerfully. “Want another slice?”
“Hmm, maybe later? I feel better. Like I can shift.”
Oh! Yes, yes, yes! Salem immediately put his coffee down and got up on his knees.
“Okay, c’mon, let’s do this.”
Gregori frowned as he handed the plate back to Shawn, then rolled onto his side. Everyone seemed to be metaphorically holding their breaths, praying he’d do it.
Come on…come on…dragon, come out and play, don’t be such a stubborn bastard.
Gregori was clearly struggling and failing, so Salem felt like some incentive would help. He leaned in to whisper against Gregori’s ear.
“Don’t you want to fly with me?”
Gregori’s eyes flew open wide before he abruptly shifted. It was as quick as a blink, much like crazy string exploding from a can. Salem actually flinched in surprise before melting with relief. Finally. Finally! He threw both arms around Gregori’s neck and hugged him.
“You did good. You did so good.”
A cheer went up from the neighbors, a few people even clapping. Salem smiled back at them. They really were invested in Gregori getting better and it was heartening to see.
Gregori sank into his hold before collapsing back on the pillow/blanket pile. Salem could tell in a glance Gregori had definitely exhausted his reserves. A rest was in order.
Salem didn’t push. He simply crawled back under the blankets before doing his own inspection. First, he texted Sora about Gregori finally shifting, then he went by the information Sora had already given him. He took Gregori’s pulse—easy to do, a dragon’s pulse was louder than a human’s—then he put his ear to Gregori’s chest to make sure his lungs were clear. Stroked his scales, mostly for the comfort. The scales looked dull, and he prayed it was just the cloudy day making them seem that way, but he knew better. Gregori’s heartbeat was a bit sluggish and slow for Salem’s liking.
Normally, Gregori would be making sexy doctor jokes right about now. Instead, he was wrapped around Salem again, eyes closed, perhaps dozing. Which was fine. Salem knew once Dimitri, Sam, and Sora were here, they’d help get Gregori back to rights. He’d done the one thing Sora had pressed for: Somehow convince Gregori to shift.
The phone buzzed next to him and he checked it automatically. Oh, Sora had texted back.
Good! the text read. Relieved to hear it. Makes our job easier when we arrive. ETA three hours. Just hang on.
Three more hours, eh? With half the apartment complex up here helping out, Salem felt like three hours was more than doable. So he sent back a quick OK without any qualms.
Now all they had to do was wait.
Gregori still felt in need of a fainting couch. He hadn’t felt this bad since the war ended. But on the other hand, Salem was decisively staying right next to him and arguing with anyone who tried to make him leave. It was incredibly heartwarming having his mate at his side. Wanting to be by his side. They’d come a long way since the first time they’d met.
He’d even acted as if they were in a true relationship earlier, which sparked joy. Gregori emotionally was ready to throw a party. A shame his body was not up for it.
Right now, though, his mate was too far away from him. Salem had been petting his scales and murmuring all kinds of sweet encouragement, but now his mate was on the other side of the roof, talking to the neighbors. He could hear his words of gratitude and reassurances as he let them know they didn’t need to wait in the cold with them. It was all very nice, but he wanted his mate back at his side.
Wincing slightly, he extended his tail across the roof and carefully wrapped it around Salem’s waist, so none of the sharp spines pricked him. A squawk erupted from Salem while the rest of their audience laughed as Gregori picked up Salem and placed him back down in the center of where he was curled.
With Salem snuggled against his stomach and his tail wrapped protectively around both of them, Gregori shifted his head closer to Salem and shut his eyes. There. His mate was next to him and safe, which was all that mattered.