Free Christmas Healing by Jasmine Bowen, Morris Fenris Page B

mind.”
    “Of course not . I shouldn’t have kept you out this long.”
    He took her back to her room as if she might expire before he got there. What they were greeted with however, was a tall blond gentleman standing there, looking around.
    “Can I help you?” Arthur asked, and the gentleman turned. Annalise’s eyes widened in surprise.
    “Dr. Hever.”
    “ Annalise,” he said, his gaze softening. “I was wondering where you had gotten to.”
    “ Arthur and I were just doing some Christmas shopping,” she said, showing him the bags. “I taught him all about Christmas lists, and presents.””
    “It has become quite commercialized, hasn’t it? My children have been following your lesso n plan at home, but their lists I’m finding are quite silly. It is nice to meet you, Arthur, I’ve heard quite a lot about you.”
    He held out a hand, and Arthur shook it hesitantly.
    “Can I help you?” He repeated again, and Dr. Hever met his eyes with a sad smile.
    “Have you enjoyed Annalise’s help? I understand that’s she’s been of great assistance to you, as she is in our own home.”
    “Yes,” Arthur nodded stoically. “Although there is still so much to learn.”
    “Ah well,” Dr. Hever nodded. “I understand that the Delaney’s have a wonderful culture teacher that I’m sure they wouldn’t mind lending to you to finish off your education.”
    “What?” Annalise and Arthur asked, at the same time. Her hand went to his and they clasped them together, a gesture the doctor didn’t miss. He gave them both a sad smile.
    “ Annalise needs more care than she can be given here, Arthur. I am her doctor and I know the most about her case, as does her team at the hospital at home. I made this deal with your brother under certain circumstances, and those circumstances have come to pass. I have come to take her home. Her duty here is done.”
    By the look on their faces, he wasn’t sure who he had wounded more by saying that. But he knew one thing, one thing that Gregory had hinted at, although it surprised him anyways. He wasn’t just taking apart teacher and student, or even two good friends who had come to support each other. No, by ripping apart Annalise and Arthur, he was breaking their hearts, hearts that were already fragile to begin with. Hearts that might never mend.
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
    When Annalise awoke, she wasn’t quite sure where she was. She rolled over and almost fell out of the bed, before she remembered. She wasn’t in her king size bed at the Bugresson house. She was in the double bed in the downstairs of the Hever’s health clinic, just off from the living room where everyone tended to gather. On either side of her, there were monitors, although they were off. 
    As soon as she sat up, a knock came at her door. Dr. Hever, having clearly heard that she was awake, was coming to check on her.
    Two months of living with the Guard had made her forget about vampires. She could actually hear every single movement and breath a human made. All she had to do was cough in the middle of the night and someone would be at her side.
    “How did you sleep?” he asked her, gently. She sat up a bit more, leaning her head against the headboard and adjusting her pillows. She felt like she had been lying down forever. As soon as she could transported, she was released from one hospital and brought to another. And then, when she was finally discharged, probably sooner than she should be, she was brought to the Hever’s house and set up with enough equipment that she might as well have been in the hospital.
    Dr. Hever was a wonderful doctor, she admitted that. He obviously had years of experience, of trial and error, and she wouldn’t want anyone else treating her. He knew that throughout the years, ginger worked better than anything on the market. He knew that listening to a patient’s body was much more important than following textbook guidelines in terms of minimum doses. Annalise was supposed