“Raymond! What are you doing out of bed?” My mother rounded the corner. She stopped short, her eyes dropping to my bare feet and the red stain blooming on my bandage. Her initial relief vanished into immediate anger.
“Mother, not now,” I bit out, trying to walk past her. “I have work to finish.”
“You are severely injured and half your blood missing!” She planted herself in front of me. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Downstairs,” I replied, keeping my tone flat.
“Elena is not in her clinic, she is in the west office,” she countered, reading my expression instantly. “And you are in no shape to walk these halls. Back to your room. Now!”
“I am fine—”
“You are being stubborn,” she interrupted, her voice echoing through the corridor. “If you take another step, I will call the Council
