Page 82

Story: Cinder & Secrets

“Of course.” She nods, following the doctor out.

I drop down into the chair behind me, scrubbing my hands over my face. I’m so physically exhausted I think I could sleep right here, but mentally, I’ve never been more awake.

One minute passes. Two. I glance at my watch.

“I’m sure it’s fine.” Kai’s gaze is locked on me. “Though I can imagine how I’d feel if it were Lyric lying in a hospital bed.” He shakes his head like he can’t even stomach the thought.

“You really love her.” It’s not a question. Anyone with eyes can see that he’s crazy for my sister.

“More than anything.” He tips his chin in a nod.

“She’s lucky to have you.” I lean back, resting my head on the wall behind me.

“You’re wrong there, brother. I’mthe lucky one.” A half-smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Though it seems like maybe I’m not the only one who’s garnered the love of a woman he doesn’t feel like he deserves.”

“Fuck.” I blow out a breath. “I don’t even know how it happened. I just...”

“Woke up one day and realized you couldn’t live without her?” He guesses.

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Been there.” He chuckles.

This is the first time I’ve ever spoken to Kai so casually, and I have to admit, it’s not nearly as awkward as I thought it would be.

Our gazes both flash back to the door as Lyric steps through, her expression soft, hesitant, like there’s something she has to say and she really doesn’t want to say it. I know my sister well enough to be able to read that much from her demeanor.

“Well?” I sit up straighter, my heart suddenly beating against my ribs like it’s been injected with a high dose of adrenaline.

“She collapsed because her blood sugar was low and she was also a little dehydrated. And it appears as though she’s experiencing a miscarriage, which could have also played a factor.”

“Wait, what?” My jaw goes slack, sure that I’ve heard her wrong.

“They have her on IV fluids and want her to stay for a couple more hours for observation, just to make sure there are no further complications.”

“Did you say...”

“Miscarriage,” she confirms.

I stare at my sister for a long moment, sure that she’s said something else, but the ringing in my ears is suddenly so loud I can’t make out what or why, all of a sudden, both she and Kai are looking at me with the strangest expressions. Like they’ve pieced together what I have yet to.

Miscarriage?

As in, Charlotte was pregnant?

With my child?

Suddenly, the realization slaps me in the face, and I glance down to find my hands trembling where they’re fisted in my lap.

And now she’snotpregnant?

My thoughts scramble together, confusion and unease settling into my gut.

I don’t know whether to be relieved or devastated.

Honestly, I feel a little bit of both.

“Are you okay?” I think my sister says and someone touches my arm.