Page 61 of His Retribution

"Havok!" I jolt awake mid scream, my heart hammering against my ribs. I immediately check my throat, my hand, check everywhere for blood.

"Little one, you are safe."

I scramble back toward the headboard of a bed that is far too big to be mine in a room I don't recognize.

My heart is going to beat so hard it stops, just explodes out of my chest in a mess of pieces, so I search for a weapon, anything I can use to defend myself from the man with the soulless eyes.

"Shh, little one, you are safe. No harm will come to you here."

My mind struggles to focus, eyes no better, but when a familiar weight scoots up against me and a cold wet nose presses against my cheek I begin to relax.

Samson whines, nudges my face, then gives me a kiss and that's when I see him.

Henrich.

He's sitting at my bedside, his expression calm, eyes full of hope.

"There she is.” He smiles. "Are you alright, little one?"

I swallow hard, my mouth dry like I've been eating sandpaper. "Where… where am I?"

Henrich turns to a machine, something that I'm seemingly hooked up to. "You are in Havok's cabin, little one. He brought you here three days ago after you blacked out in front of him."

I blink.

Once, twice, three times.

"What?"

“Yes." He jots down my vitals, taps the bag of fluids that hangs on a stand. "Apparently the two of you were having a conversation about..." He clears his throat. "About something significant and you blacked out, dropped down to the ground and hit your head on the way. You've been in a coma-like state for about seventy-three hours."

"No way… I'd remember that, I always remember when I..." I lift my hand and find a nasty bump in my hair. "I hit my head."

Henrich smirks. "Rather hard, apparently. I thought Havok was going to have a stroke when he came rushing into the mansion carrying you, your faithful companion right on his heels."

Samson rests his head on my shoulder as I try to make sense of what's going on.

I had another episode of losing consciousness.

Fell.

Hit my head and wound up here.

But I can't remember what...

"Havok!" I jump and scoot toward the edge of the bed. "Where is he? Where's Havok?"

"Just rest, little one. He will return shortly. He and Andrej have gone to retrieve your truck and home, they will—"

"He was crying!" I shriek for no real reason. "I need to see him, need to know why, to know he's ok."

Henrich reaches out to try to steady me. "He will be back soon, Cora. Just rest. Rest and wait for him."

Ignoring the fact that Henrich used my real name, I grab the IV in my hand and yank, then get to my feet. My bare feet underneath bare legs underneath an absolutely gigantic t-shirt.

"Please, I don't think it is wise—"

"And I don't give a shit what you think!" I sway a little as I search for something to pull on over my underwear. "No offense, but I need to see Havok, he was crying and now… I just, something is off. I need to see him. I need—"