Page 170 of Retribution

“They don’t hurt much,” Isolde lies. “I just want to soak in a tub. My body hurts more than my face does.”

“There’s a giant soaking tub in the room you’re sleeping in,” Duncan says. “Callum managed to get two big mattresses in there while we were gone too.”

“That’s amazing, thank you,” I say, surprised, watching as Duncan navigates the empty streets. It’s after midnight, and officially a new day.

“She shouldn’t be alone,” he says easily. “We should have done it earlier, but I didn’t think of it.”

“You’ve been amazing hosts,” I say. “Thank you for helping when you didn’t need to.”

“We did, though,” Duncan insists. Isolde’s eyes are heavy as she begins to fall asleep, and I let her. She has a few stubborn streaks of dried blood along her hairline and nose, but it’s a lot better than it was. “Ophelia is our problem, as are all of the auctions. They get dismantled and then pop up somewhere else. Now, at least Ophelia is permanently out of business.”

We’re all quiet the rest of the ride home, and all I can think about is how Avery is still out there.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Isolde

I’m naked in the tub when I next jerk awake.

“Sorry,” Lucas murmurs. “I wanted to get the rest of this blood off, so I figured a soak would help.”

Expecting to see blood in the water, I look around to see it’s surprisingly clear.

“Alesso helped me wash your body with a wash cloth, and we changed the water twice. You’re clean, so I figured the warm water would be good for any stiffness.”

Smiling slightly, I gaze up at him from where my head lays on his chest.

“This is really nice. Thank you,” I say. “I’m more tired than anything else.”

Experimentally shifting my hips from side to side, I grimace when I feel pain.

“And yes, I’m sore as fuck.”

“Your vagina is on time out for a bit,” he says. “The drugs in your system were the only reason Grant had sex with you. None of us want to hurt you. Instead, we’re going to pamper the shit out of you.”

“Ugh. Maybe don’t mention shit for a while,” I grumble. “Ophelia had very interesting techniques to get my body to process the forced heat medication.”

“The way it was absorbed into your body, she wouldn’t have been able to,” Lucas says. “That’s why it’s still working. Now, I have no idea what the lifespan of a full dose would be since I couldn’t do proper testing, and I gave you two doses.”

“Thank you,” I sigh. “It would have been so much worse if she’d been able to force my heat. I hated everything Ophelia did, and I can’t tell you how many things she fucking injected me with.”

“I’ve had lots of time to think while you’ve been sleeping,” Lucas admits. “I want to get a full physical done if you’re okay with it.”

“How full?” I ask, chewing on my bottom lip.

Lucas attempts to save my lip by pulling it gently away from my top teeth.

“I want to make sure that you’re not torn in any way from what they did on stage to you,” he says. “Omegas are made for knots, but not acrobatics the way you had to move, Isolde. I only know what happened on stage because Oli and Alesso told me through the bond. I didn’t see it first hand. Either way, no sex until you’re cleared by a medical professional and you decide you want it.”

Taking a deep breath, I think about that. I know that he’s right. The haze I was in from the drugs altered my sense of reality, but I do remember what happened. The bat also was one of the most unpleasant things I’ve ever experienced. May Urock rot in hell, while blind and on fucking fire.

My pettiness apparently has a dramatic flair.

Swallowing hard, I nod. I definitely need blood tests done as well because of all the shit she gave me.

“Okay,” I whisper. “Can I have a female doctor? It shouldn’t matter, but?—”

“Why doesn’t it matter? Because women can be just as cruel? This is completely different, darlin’. You get whatever you want,” Lucas growls. “Don’t apologize for what you need. We’ll bend over backward to get it for you. Call me crazy, I don’t really want men around you when you’re in a vulnerable position either.”