To the Edge and Back [The Royal Wolves] (Siren Publishing Allure) (30 page)

She needed to be looked after because each breath cost her, she was more than a little sick to her stomach, and needed desperately to be clean again. She could smell the other man on her and it really, really was not what she wanted. “Come on, take us home please, Janos?”

Pulling her to him, he kissed her head lightly. “I love you, baby,” he whispered against her hair. Pulling her with him, he led her through the shop to the street. Unlocking the car, he let her slide into the seat. “We’re going to the hospital, Mina,” he told her as he got Katherine to let him go and convinced her to sit in the back seat. “I want a doctor to look at your throat. Besides, you might need something for the swelling, love,” he said when she turned in protest to him.

Her eyes narrowed on him and she hoped she was giving him a dirty look, but she was also relieved. Pain medication and something for the swelling might be very good indeed. “All right,” she muttered even as Katherine got settled into her seat and buckled in. “But only if you will promise to ensure that our child has a full wardrobe from the skin out by nightfall. We will get her everything from panties and girly things to heavy overcoats and shoes.”

Lifting a brow, he grinned. “Done,” he told her. “Wonder which of us is going to whine the most,” he teased her softly. Leaning in, he kissed her gently. “I love you, baby. Thank you for agreeing to this,” he murmured, lightly touching her cheek. “I really am worried about you, but thank you for not making me do something I’d have really, really regretted later.”

She smiled and closed her eyes. Leaning against the headrest, she waited for them to be on the move before she slipped off into a very light sleep, the only way to combat the pain she was in.

Katherine saw what was happening and said, “You don have ta get me nuffin, Daddy Janos.” She was squeezing and wringing her hands. “I don’t need nuffin.” She needed everything but she refused to ask for anything.

Turning in his seat, he looked to her and frowned. “Honey, I know I don’t have to. I want to, all right?” he asked her, softly reaching out to touch her hands. Catching one, he lightly rubbed his thumb back and forth over her knuckles. “I don’t do anything without wanting to, Katherine. You’ll learn in time.” He winked at her with a grin. “I only do what I want. I want to get you things and we will do that while Mina gets looked after without ever having to leave her side,” he said, already planning.

“How are we supposed to do that?” Katherine asked softly as she watched. “But okay, if you you wanna I cen do fat.” She smiled at him and then looked to Mina. “Is Mommy Mina gonna be okay?” She was worried about Mina, just as Janos was.

Smiling, he squeezed her fingers gently and then turned around. “Yeah, baby, she’s going to be just fine. We’re going to get her some medical help and then we’re going to take her home to take care of her.”

Starting the car, he headed for the hospital, his eyes moving over to his mate, constantly reassuring himself that she was alive and well. It took some time, but he got them there and soon enough had her in a room waiting for the doctor.

Sitting with Katherine on his knee, Janos pulled out his phone and got onto an online ordering site. “All right, now then, what do you want, darling? Or rather, what do you need so that Mina doesn’t string me up for going overboard?” he asked as he scrolled through the clothing line. “Dresses, pants, tops,” he started listing the little girls’ items as he came across them.

“I don’t got nuffin,” Katherine whispered honestly. “I gots what I gots on now and is all.” Her socks had holes in the toes and her panties had no elastic in the waistband, but she didn’t complain, didn’t argue. “So whatever you wanna get for me, Daddy Janos.”

“All right, what about colors?” he asked, moving through the various color choices. “Are you one that prefers pink, yellow, green, white, blue, or purple maybe? Or did you want something with a print, like this cat line, whatever that is or that,” he said with a frown, staring at it. “What on earth is that?” he asked, showing the image to her.

She looked at the image and shrugged. “I dunno, but I don’t like the cat one so can we get some pinks?” she asked hopefully. “It’s my favorite color and I would wike to have wots of pinks, pweeze?”

“All right, lots and lots of pink.” He grinned at her. Humming softly, he looked up as the doctor came in and Janos gave him a once over carefully, knowing he was human.

Keeping one eye on the doctor as he began his exam, Janos began to order items online. He was guessing a little at her size. She was fairly tiny for her age, but that was likely due to her current diet and living arrangements. In time she’d fill in and grow normally, so he went with his gut on sizes and got her a little of everything and a lot of some things.

“All right, next items, do you want anything in here for your room at home?” he asked her softly, his eyes tracking the doctor as he let her look at the items on the screen.

She looked at the screen, her eyes on the doctor as well, and nodded. “I would wike to have that bed and that dresser,” she said and pointed to the princess bedroom set. “Since I’m a gonna be a princwess, I needs that, don’t I?”

“Yup, you most definitely do need all that if you are going to be a princess,” he said smiling, wondering what she’d think if she knew it was truth if he could actually adopt her.

Mina simply smiled as she watched them and accepted the painkillers that the doctor offered her. “Thank you,” she whispered and closed her eyes again as he began to clean the wounds, wincing only a couple of times.

Frowning, Janos pointed to the dressing table. “Do want that as well?” he asked her, already having placed the order for the bed and dresser. At her nod, he grinned and ordered it as well before putting in his card number and placing the order to be delivered. Seeing the total, he e-mailed his receipt to his e-mail at home and then shut his phone. “Look at that, all done before Mina’s even finished.”

Katherine grinned and looked up adoringly at Janos and smiled. “I fink we need to take mommy to home a cause she’s a going to sweep now.” She looked at Mina who was already more than half asleep.

The doctor looked at Janos. “May I speak with you a moment in the hall, Mr. Farkas?”

“I agree, baby,” he said, looking at the doctor and nodding. “Why don’t you sit with her and hold her hand while I talk to the doctor,” he suggested as he moved with her to the bed. Sitting her on the edge, he kissed her hair lightly. “Keep an eye on her,” he said softly before he moved to the door with the doctor and out into the hall.

Katherine nodded and petted Mina’s hand gently as she watched the doctor and Janos exit.

The doctor looked at Janos and said, “Her windpipe was not fully crushed but was squeezed enough that it’s hard for her to breathe right now. I have given her something for the pain and to lessen the swelling, and she will need to take it every four hours. She’s not pregnant, is she?” he asked, knowing how Wolves were, with their ability to procreate higher than humans.

“No, not at this time,” he said to the doctor. “We’re waiting for a time,” he added, looking to the door. “Is she going to suffer any effects from this?” he asked in concern, shifting his eyes back to the doctor as he waited to hear just what his mate would likely suffer.

“She will likely be prone to sore throats from time to time, most likely be unable to talk after an hour or so.” He sighed and rocked back on his heels. “Try to keep her from talking if at all possible, Mr. Farkas. Watch over her.” He paused. “And tell me you killed the son of a bitch that did that to her.”

“Considering I let my claws out into his heart as I squeezed it in his chest,” Janos said with a shrug. “Even without a medical degree I know that’s dead,” he told him. “I’ll see what I can do about keeping her quiet. Somehow I see it as not being the easiest thing in the world to achieve,” he muttered, knowing his mate well enough.

The doctor laughed and nodded. “She is a strong and fierce woman.” He looked at Janos. “She is perfect for you.” He looked into the room. “And even better as mother to that child. Thank you for opening your heart to one such as her in need, young man.”

“We take the care of our young seriously. To have had her parents taken as they were from her will leave scars, but hopefully we can help her heal,” he murmured softly. “She’ll never be without love,” he said. “So, can I take my chatty mate home with me?” he asked.

The doctor moved back and grinned. “Go ahead. Do you need me to get you a wheelchair or are you going to be carrying your mate out, young man?” He had a feeling the Wolf would be carrying the young Mina. He could see that he wanted to have her close, touching her as much as possible. “I will have the pharmacy deliver the prescriptions to your place, or do you want to have someone pick them up from the local pharmacy?”

“I’ll have my brother pick them up on his way home,” Janos paused and decided he’d get Ben to do it. “Benedek will be the one picking them up. His bookstore isn’t far from a pharmacy. I’ll have him call you with the name of the place,” he added before shaking the doctor’s hand and then, after signing some papers, went to collect his mate. Bundling her back up, he got her and Katherine to the car, and they were soon on their way home.

Mina was more than a little asleep and reached out with a shaky hand, missing Janos completely as she whimpered and her eyes closed. “Love you,” she whispered before allowing sleep to consume and take her away. They were home and safe. All was right in her world.

Katherine giggled. “Mommy Mina’s tired, isn’t she, Daddy ’Anos?”

Sighing, he nodded as he reached out to take Mina’s hand. “Yeah, she’s tired,” he murmured softly. Pulling into the drive, he parked in the garage and got out, letting her hand rest on her thigh. Going around, he picked her up carefully. “Can you shut the door, Kat?” he asked as he stepped back to let the little girl out.

Katherine shut the door and followed them both, running ahead of Janos and opening the front door. “You won’t knowd I there but cen I stay wif you two tonight?” she whispered softly, the sound of a child fearing for her life.

Stepping through, Janos waited for her as he watched her. “Of course you can, sweetheart,” he said softly. “Come on, honey, I’ll give you the tour in the morning. For now why don’t we lay Mina down. We’ll get you a hot bath with some bubbles if you want, a snack, and then we’ll join her. I think we all need a good long sleep. It’s been a tough day,” he murmured as he elbowed on a couple of lights here and there so Katherine could see where she was going.

Katherine nodded and moved through to the bathroom. “Can I do it a by mysef?” There was fear there in her little eyes. She trusted Janos, but she had been hurt far too many times to trust too far yet.

“I won’t make no mess,” she promised as she shifted from foot to foot, the sign of her agitation. “I don’t gots nuffing to wear to bed either.” She frowned at that thought and tried to work out how she would take care of that issue.

Laying Mina down on the bed, he went to her and crouched down. “Course you can, honey. I’ll get you some bubbles and then you can have the bathroom all to yourself. When you’re ready I’ll have a shirt waiting for you. It’ll be a little on the big side. I don’t have anything pint size, sorry, sweets.” Getting to his feet, he dug out the bubbles and then went to the tub to plug it for her.

“Why don’t you start the water up while I grab you towels and the shirt and then you can sit and just relax?” He smiled at her. “If you want to wash your hair, feel free to use any of the shampoo in here, all right?” he asked as he moved past her, knowing she was afraid, the smell a sharp tang in the air.

Katherine nodded and backed into the bedroom. When he was gone, she quickly started the water running and surreptitiously added a small amount of bubbles, grinning as she watched the mountain building.

Mina’s head turned when Janos walked past her. Her hand reached out and clasped his lightly. “I will take those back to her,” she whispered, because anything more simply hurt too much. “She needs a mother right now, darling, and as wonderful as you are, you don’t have the equipment.” She was battling sleep, but for their new guest Mina would do anything.

Making a face at her, Janos helped her to her feet. “I want you sitting the whole time, Mina,” he said quietly. Touching her cheek, he felt his eyes shift as he looked at her throat, a reaction he couldn’t help, nor did he particularly want to. “I’m sorry, love,” he murmured, letting his fingers ghost over her skin, not really touching the painful flesh. “I should have been faster.”

“Don’t apologize, darling.” She swallowed and touched his cheek. “I love you, Janos. I promise I will sit the whole time. Just don’t be surprised if you have to come and haul me up and back to my feet, all right, sweetheart?” She looked toward the bathroom. “Let’s go so that our little one can get all cleaned up and curled up in our bed, shall we?”

“I promised her a shirt,” he said as he stepped back and waited. Once she seemed balanced, he went to the closet and grabbed up one of his as well as a pair of boxers that had shrunk. “I have no idea if she’ll even need these, but…” Shrugging, he passed them to his mate. “Come on, love.” He took her arm and led her to the bath, gently knocking before he moved inside, eyes closed. “Is it safe to look?” he asked no one in particular.

Katherine looked up from beside the bathtub. “Yes, Daddy ’Anos, you can come in.” She was itching to get into the bathtub, really wanted to be in there, but she couldn’t get undressed until she was sure that she was able to get in, until they told her she could get in.

Peeking through the lashes of one eye, he scoped out the room and then opened his eyes completely. Smiling at her, he led Mina over to the tub and, dragging the stool over, had her sit. Laying the clothing on her other side, away from the water, Janos dropped a couple towels on top.

Then he did the last thing before he was officially banished from the bathroom and checked the water temperature. “Good deal, kiddo.” He winked at Katherine. “Call if you need me, otherwise I’ll be in the kitchen making a light snack for everyone for when you’re all squeaky clean,” he told her, touching her hair lightly. Stepping back, he pulled the door closed and, for a moment, he waited until he heard clothing shuffling and then left his womenfolk to their business.