Free The Fledgling by AE Jones Page A

over to a high counter. A gray-haired nurse sat behind it, filling out information on a clipboard.
    “Excuse me. A young, pregnant woman was just brought in here by ambulance. Can you tell me where they took her?”
    The nurse didn’t look up from the desk. “Are you family?”
    “No.”
    “Then I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you anything.”
    “Please. I’m her friend. Can’t I be with her?”
    The nurse finally looked up at him, and he was able to make out her name tag. “Please, Nancy.” He smiled his best smile.
    She shook her head slightly. “You use that smile and blue eyes to get what you want, don’t you?” She flipped through the list of names on the clipboard. “What is her name?”
    “Deanna.”
    She sighed. “Deanna what?”
    “Um…”
    Her brown eyes narrowed on him as she looked above the reading glasses perched on her nose. She smirked. “You’re a friend and you don’t know her last name?”
    “No, but…”
    Her arm straightened, and her index finger pointed stiffly to the waiting room. If she had been a demon, he would have half expected flames to shoot across the room. “Sit.”
    He opened his mouth to argue, and she glared at him. “Don’t make me call security, big guy.”
    It was Misha’s turn to sigh. This nurse reminded him of his grandmother. Now there was a female who tolerated no lip from her son or her three grandsons. Of course, it didn’t hurt that she had the ability to throw heavy objects with her mind.
    Misha sat.
    The elderly woman zeroed in on him and made her move, crossing the room. Before she could reach him, Nurse Nancy hollered from her perch. “Myrtle Davis! The doctor will see you now.”
    The woman stopped and actually stuck out her bottom lip like a pouty child. But after wavering for a second or two, she sighed and went through the swinging door to the exam rooms. Too bad Jean Luc wasn’t here. He would have been amused to see Misha had an admirer. On second thought, Misha was glad he wasn’t present. He hoped Jean Luc was busy with Talia. Misha could only do so much matchmaking. Those two would have to take the final steps on their own.
    He would make it a point to stay away from the house all night. If he were a betting demon, he would place his wager on Talia to make the first move. Jean Luc was pig-headed and too noble for his own good. He needed a shakeup in the ladies department.
    Misha ran his hand over his face. Heck, he needed a shakeup in the ladies department. But that was a thought for another day. Today he had a part to play. He wasn’t Misha, a Shamat demon from Russia. He was Michael, a human from down south. Before he could throw off the role, he first must make sure Deanna was okay.
    He decided to chance a glare from Nurse Nancy, stood up, and walked over to the payphones along the wall. He punched in Jean Luc’s private number and waited patiently as the phone rang three times.
    “Hello.”
    Misha hesitated. “Talia?”
    “Yes. How’s Deanna?”
    He smiled. “She’s still being checked over by the doctors. I was calling to see how you and Jean Luc are doing and to let you know I will not be home any time soon.”
    “Okay. Take your time. We’re fine…and don’t worry, I’ll take care of Jean Luc.”
    Misha chuckled. “I’m sure you will. I’m glad to see you have taken my advice and shown some initiative . I’ll talk to you later.”
    He hung up and turned as the exam doors swung open and a young nurse pushed Deanna into the waiting room in a wheelchair. She was dressed in a hospital gown and wrapped in a blanket. Misha rushed over to her.
    Deanna’s eyes widened. “Michael, you came.”
    “Of course. I wanted to make sure you were all right.”
    The young nurse smiled. “She’s fine. Just a few scratches. But to be safe, we’re taking her up to OB to have them check her over as well.”
    Nancy interrupted, “You need to hurry back, Melissa. We’ve received report of a bus accident, and the victims are on