Once, I Stole A Crown

Monsters

I woke up in a small bed surrounded by pale blue walls, a faint beeping sound, and cords attached to my skin. Luca was talking to a woman at the foot of the bed. I struggled to sit up, and they both rushed to my side.

"Scissera, you're awake!" Luca said, his voice filled with relief.

"What happened? Where am I? Where's Lily?" I asked. My mind was foggy, and I struggled to put the pieces from the carriage ride together.

"Don't worry, Lily is with Delilah and my mother. She's just fine," he assured me.

The woman fiddled with something behind my head, and the back of the bed raised itself so that I could lean against it while sitting up.

"Scissera, this is Danielle. She's our healer. You're in a med-room at the Brightling Pack House. We're home," he explained. "What do you remember?" Every word he spoke was saturated in concern. His worry was so strong I couldn't tell his emotions from my own.

I tried to think, but it caused a pounding in my head, and I pressed the heel of my palm to my forehead in an attempt to stop it.

"I can't think. It hurts."

"Can you give her something for the pain?" Luca asked.

"I'm sorry, Alpha, I can't do that. In fact, I strongly urge you to take her to Sam. She needs a doctor and hospital resources." Luca nodded in agreement, and Danielle continued listing off things I needed that she couldn't provide. "She's going to need x-rays, scans, fluids, and Luca... you'll need to get her a full blood panel as well."

"A blood panel?" he asked.

Danielle sighed. "Listen. I have a very strong suspicion that she's been poisoned, or at least drugged. That's why I'm uncomfortable giving her anything. I can't test for those kinds of things here."

Luca balked at her. "Who would do such a thing? Who would do any of this?" he demanded. His concern was being strained by anger, and the smell of it had me on edge. Anxiety turned my breathing shallow, and I fought to control it. Luca held my hand in both of his.

"What happened? What's wrong?"

Danielle cleared her throat, and Luca turned his attention to her. "Forgive me, Sir, but I think you're making her nervous. If her current state is anything to go by, she's likely suffered a lifetime of similar abuse."

A look of utter shock and dismay settled over Luca's features. I couldn't help that, though, as I was trying to focus. Finally, I regained control and a sense of calm settled over the room in time for Luca to ask again, "Scissera, I need to know who did this to you." His tone was much gentler the second time.

I could tell he already knew the answer, but he needed to hear it. Checking that my control over the emotion in the room was solidly in place, I answered. "Who else could have done it but my father?"

Luca's face contorted in pain. "I'll kill him," he swore.

"You can't touch him, and you know it," I said. "Any one of those warriors would fall on a sword at the snap of his fingers if he gave the order, and the warriors he traded to you would betray you in an instant for him. You can't confront him. Not yet. Besides, even a whiff of retaliation will put my girls in danger. I cannot let that happen. Their safety is as much my priority as Delilah's is to you."

Luca sighed in defeat. "We'll need to consult my father."

"Ah-ah!" Danielle interrupted. "Hospital first! The little one should go too."

"Luca," I said, putting a hand on his arm. "What's a hospital?"

"You're joking," Danielle said.

Luca turned to address her. "The Shadow Pack lives rather primitively." He turned back to me. "It's a place where humans go for more advanced medical treatment; more advanced healing."

"You want to take me to a place meant for humans?" I asked, unsure of his plan.

"Sam is a doctor there. He's treated many of our kind. I promise you, it's safe."

I nodded. "I want to see Lily now. Please?"

"Of course. Anything you want, you'll have. Don't worry about a thing, Scissera." He kissed the top of my head, and I caught myself leaning into him. "You're home now. He'll never touch you again."

"I know you'll protect me, but he will continue to hurt my girls. I have to get them back, Luca."

"I understand, and I agree. That monster needs to be brought to justice. We'll find a way, but you're no good to them injured. One thing at a time, okay?"

I nodded. "You're right. Thank you."

Luca left the room to bring Lily to me while Danielle asked me questions and took notes about my health and the treatment I'd endured. I answered what I was able to, but eventually, she dropped her pen in frustration.

"I don't understand how you've survived this long without access to a doctor."

"I'm sorry to tell you, because you seem truly bothered, but our pack doesn't even have healers."

Her brows furrowed in an attempt to understand my words.

"In Shadow Pack," I explained, "You heal, or you die. Needing help is a weakness, and weakness is not tolerated."

"That is completely barbaric!"

I shrugged. "He demands perfection. It's how he maintains control."

She scoffed. "I'm impressed you survived at all."

"I had no choice."

"Right. You had people to protect, right? Your sisters and cousins?" I nodded, and she closed her eyes. "No one should have to live like that."

I got the sense that she'd experienced abuse for herself. "You know more about that than you let on, don't you?"

She smiled sadly. "My ex-husband."

This confused me. "Mates can't hurt each other." It was a known fact that mates felt each other's pain and that causing that pain was to feel it ten-fold.

"I'm human," she clarified. "Humans are not bound by such laws."

"I guess monsters hide everywhere."

"Yes, they do. But at least people like the Brightlings exist. There are a lot of humans here that Luca has saved." She laughed. "Mae says he's been bringing home strays since he was a small boy."

"So," I stretched. "My mate has a kind heart. That will take some getting used to."

"I do hope it's a nice change of pace, at least." Luca said as he entered the room with Lily at his side.

"I'm sure it will be." I smiled and held my arms out to Lily. She didn't hesitate to jump up on the bed and attach herself to me.

"Are you okay, Scissy?"

"I'm sure I'll be just fine," I said.

"Sam has agreed to stay late tonight to see us," Luca told Danielle. "I'd appreciate it if you would come with us in case we need an extra pair of hands."

"Of course, Sir."

"Good. The sun will set soon. We should leave now."

Danielle nodded, and the room filled with commotion as Danielle gathered her notes and Luca helped me to my feet.

"I have to apologize, Love," Luca said. "Your transition into a modern world may be a rocky one."

"I'm sure it will be fine. As I'm sure you've noticed, I'm a tough girl." I grinned.

Luca groaned. "It's far too soon for jokes, Scissera. Strength should be chosen, not forced."

Whatever reassurance I was about to offer was cut short by the sight of what Luca called an SUV. It was the size of a carriage but sleek and shiny, and not pulled by horses, though it did run off of horsepower. None of it made any sense to me. Were the horses invisible?

"You were asleep the last time you were in this," he said. "We switched from the carriages once we got closer to the human population."

"I see." I said in awe of the machine.

The ride to the hospital was smoother than I'd imagined it could be, and much of the ride was spent with Lily and me staring out of the windows as Luca pointed out buildings and bridges. I was surprised to see just how far the modern world had outpaced Shadow Pack. Taking it all in, my hopes of getting the girls to safety and taking my father out were renewed.