He Waited She Wilted (Ottilie and Yorath) novel Chapter 78

Ottilie swung a leg over, straddling his lap. She hooked her arms around his neck and crashed her mouth against his.

The second their lips met, Yorath grabbed her jaw, instantly taking control of the kiss—only to taste the sharp, metallic tang of blood filling her mouth.

He yanked back instantly. Forcing her mouth open, he inspected the side where she'd been struck, finding one of her molars bleeding profusely from the gums.

His face went completely pale with rage. He hit the window button and roared into the night, "Soren! Hospital, now!"

Ottilie had never heard Yorath raise his voice like that before.

Soren materialized instantly from the shadows by the guardrail.

She tried to brush it off. "It's just a little scrape. I'm fine."

Yorath ignored her completely. He pried her mouth open again, shining his phone's flashlight inside.

He gently nudged the bleeding tooth. It wiggled visibly.

"Don't you feel any pain?"

"Yes."

When they reached the hospital, Yorath practically carried her into the lobby, where they ran straight into Elian Zouch.

Elian was still wearing his sweatpants, having just rolled out of bed at Yorath's frantic call.

He immediately escorted them to the dental wing, confirming that the tooth had been knocked loose from the impact.

Elian stood off to the side, looking utterly exhausted and thoroughly annoyed.

*Ottilie is a walking disaster zone,* he thought. *Whoever ends up marrying her is doomed.*

The dentist treated the inflammation and prescribed a round of antibiotics.

"Don't chew on that side for a few days. Keep up with the oral spray, finish the antibiotics, and the tooth will root itself back into place."

Yorath interrogated the doctor at length about dietary restrictions before finally taking her home.

At the hospital exit, he turned to Elian. "Pack a bag and crash at my place for a few days. You can leave once she's fully recovered."

By the time they finally got back, Ottilie was utterly drained. She collapsed onto her bed and blacked out instantly.

Nyssa took a ragged breath, tears welling in her eyes.

"This is my fault. I'm too weak. I can't protect my brother, and I still can't win Yorath's heart."

"You didn't do anything wrong. Ottilie is the villain here. She totally manipulated the situation, baiting you into hitting her! I heard Yorath dragged her straight to the ER. Come on, there's no way you hit her hard enough to knock a tooth loose! She wasn't bleeding at the precinct, but the second he shows up, suddenly there's blood everywhere?"

"I severely underestimated her. She isn't the same push-over she used to be. I have a terrible feeling this is just the beginning. Kendrick, you have to promise you'll stay by my side."

"Always. I'm your man until the very end. But don't panic—no matter how much Yorath pampers her, he will never put a ring on her finger. Mrs. Fordham has officially chosen you. Your future as his wife is completely secure."

The next morning.

Ottilie was still half-asleep when someone knocked on her bedroom door.

"Ms. Sewell," Soren's voice came through the wood. "Ms. Tarrant is here to see you. Shall I let her in?"

"Tell her to give me a minute." Ottilie groaned, sitting up and rubbing her eyes for a moment.

She finally hauled herself out of bed, freshened up, and headed downstairs.