Page 110 of The Echo of Forever

“Lex is going to wait at the compound to check her out,” Oliver said, making himself known. “I had Joel send a car for you two. It’s best you take Forever there until she comes down. Staying in the mix isn’t feeling like the move right now.”

I thought about his suggestion while stroking the back of Forever’s neck. She was beginning to fall asleep, and I wasn’t sure if I should let her.

“Everything is set for Quinn. He never notices when she goes missing, but I’ll call Eliel after you two leave with Forever,” Carmen said as she entered the room. “We need to keep them away from one another until after the marriage alliance is dissolved. Also, I’m almost positive she gave her Ativan. They have access to it, and she’s done this before.”

I lifted Forever bridal style and turned.

“Not that you weren’t already aware,” she added, a mischievous smile pulling at her lips.

Oliver tugged her back as I walked Forever to the door. Both followed, staying close but maintaining enough distance to respect the bubble I’d created around us.

The driver already had the door open and was waiting for me. I laid Forever on the back seat and closed her inside.

“You good, brother?” Oliver asked, following me around to the other side.

The concern in his voice made me pause. Was I good? My wife had been drugged by her own mother, learned about our lost child, and still couldn’t remember most of our life together. I had no idea what the fuck I was.

“When I figure it out, I’ll let you know,” I told him, pulling the door open and sliding inside. “Check in after you finish here.”

He nodded and shut the door, while I adjusted Forever’s head against my leg.

The ride went longer than expected with traffic, and I watched her closely the entire way, looking for signs of distress or discomfort.

“Pretty dragonfly,” I murmured, stroking her cheek as the car pulled through the compound gates.

Her eyes fluttered, but she was barely able to get them open. I carried her from the car and into the on-site clinic, where Lex was already waiting.

“Put her on the exam bed,” he instructed, pulling on gloves. “Do you know what she was given?”

He was checking her vitals by the time I got the words out.

“Ativan, I think. Can’t be sure.”

Lex frowned.

“Her pulse is steady but slow. Respiratory rate is normal. She’s just heavily sedated.”

I followed his every move as he checked her pupils, then her blood pressure.

“Her blood pressure is a little low, but she’s going to be fine,” he said, looking over at me. “I’ll start an IV to help flush her system and draw blood for a tox screen, but otherwise, she just needs to sleep it off.”

I nodded and pulled the knit blanket at the end of the bed over her body before dropping down in the chair beside it.

“How long until she’s back to normal?” I asked, pulling the seat closer.

“Six to eight hours, depending on the dosage…” He hung the IV bag and cut his eyes at me. “Once the bag is empty, I’ll check her vitals again, and then you can take her back to your place until morning.”

He went to leave, but stopped as expected.

Lex had never been much of a talker unless it had to do with medicine or his wife.

“Alyssa wouldn’t go into detail about earlier,” he said, always careful not to overstep. “But I hope you and Forever won’t hold it against her long-term.”

The thing I loved most about Forever was her ability to remove her feelings from most matters. Her anger had nothing to do with Alyssa, and eventually she’d tell her that.

“Ain’t no hard feelings,” I told him, leaning back with my eyes closed. “Lyss only did what she thought was right.”

He didn’t reply, and after a while, I heard a door shut and knew he was in his office.