Chapter 46

**Artemis**


I have lost my mind once again. It seems a growing pattern over the last few days but I can’t seem to fight it. Once the stress of the program I’ve been slaving over for months was finished I suddenly realized how tired I am. When Rhea called me about Blue being attacked I knew that there was no way I could keep her here much longer. She is in constant danger and I can’t stand it. This time was too close. That man could have killed her if Bryant and Dane hadn’t intervened.

Normally I would be angry that they allowed that man to break into my house at all, but the fact they saved Blue has sated my anger…for now.

Once the x-rays are done, we are escorted back to her room by the nurse who smiles too much. What the hell is he so happy about? And why does he keep looking at my wife like he’s interested in her? Doesn’t he see the brand-new ring she’s wearing?

We finally reach the room and once again the guy moves to help Blue, but I step in before he can put a finger on her. I know I’m being crazy about this, but I can’t seem to stop the urge to want to cause any man who comes to close to Blue bodily harm. The guy doesn’t look the least bit offended by my very clear rudeness and keeps on smiling. Now I want to punch him for a whole other reason. When did I become so violent? I used to hack and tamper with people’s stuff when they pissed me off, but physical violence has never been my strength and I’ve never felt the urge like I have these few days.

“Just try to rest and the doctor will be in soon to discuss the results of the x-ray. Can I bring you anything?” The nurse man asks Blue.

She smiles sweetly at him. “Can I have a cup of water please?”

“Absolutely! Let me get that for you.” He gives me an odd look before leaving the room.

“Stop glaring at the door Artemis, he can’t see you.” Blue says as she pokes me in the cheek.

I jolt away and glare at her. She laughs and then winces and all my annoyance over the male nurse is replaced with both worry and anger.

“How bad does it hurt?” I ask her.

“Sort of like a really bad sore throat. I don’t like the way my voice sounds like an old alcoholic man.” Her shoulders shake like she’s laughing but no sound comes out of her mouth.

“You don’t sound like an alcoholic man, you sound like you but with a sore throat.”

She smiles and reaches out to me. I look down at her hand and then back up at her face.

“I need your hand.” She tells me and I move quickly to do as she asks.

She slides her hand under mine and starts to play with my fingers. “I can’t believe we’re married.”

“That was always going to be the end result.” I point out and sit down on the bed next to her legs.

“I know but I guess it still didn’t feel real. I never thought I would ever get married. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to, but I didn’t think I would be in any position to. Why would anyone want to marry a homeless blue haired girl? They would have to be crazy.” She smirks and glances up at me.

“My mental state had nothing to do with my decision.” I say but I can’t deny it now that what I did was a whole lot crazy.

“Keep telling yourself that, but acceptance is the next step. You’ll get there.”

I’m not sure what she means, but she seems amused by it so I don’t say anything. Not that it matters since the door to her room opens and a man with a doctor’s coat walks in.

“That was fast!” Blue says.

The doctor chuckles and smiles at her. What is with the men here and smiling at my wife?
“You are a VIP patient. The good news is that your x-rays were clear. You didn’t have any other injuries besides the one on your neck. I’m prescribing some pain meds, but it may take some time for the soreness to lessen. Rest as much as you can and let yourself heal. Okay?”

“Of course. Thank you doctor. Does that mean I can leave?” Blue asks sounding hopeful.

“Yes ma’am. I’ll have the nurse get the discharge papers going and the prescription.” He says before patting her on the leg and leaving.

“I don’t like him.” I say without thinking.

Blue shakes her head and threads our fingers together. “You can’t hate every man who talks to me Artemis, you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to.”

“Well according to you I’m already crazy.” I raise a brow at her, but she just shakes her head.

It doesn’t take long for a different nurse, who thankfully is a woman, to bring the discharge papers and prescription for Blue’s medication.

“You’re all set. You can get dressed and leave whenever you’re ready Mrs. Rhodes.” The nurse leaves and Blue narrows her eyes at me.

“You changed my check in name to Rhodes? Seriously Artemis you are a pretentious prick.” I can’t help but laugh.

“Is that any way for a wife to talk to her husband?” I tease.

“Yeah, well husband turn around so that I can change.” She says but I won’t be doing that.

“Why? We’re married now, and I’ve seen you in lingerie before. How is this any different?”

She sighs and turns so her back is facing me. “You make a good point. Can you help me untie this thing? I don’t have any clothes though! Maybe I should leave it on.”

“Don’t be stupid. Rhea brought some clothes for you.”

She groans. “Not more of that fancy pants stuff right?”

I chuckle. “No, it looked a lot like the weird clothes she was wearing.”

“Thank God. You can’t pay me enough to dress in those fancy pan suit things ever again.”

“What about when we go to events? You’ll have to wear dresses to those.” I point out.

“That’s different. Those dresses are usually gorgeous and fun to get dressed up for, but those office worker clothes are not me. It makes me feel fake.”

I finish untying all the strings on the back of the hospital gown and am tempted to touch her bare skin like I did when she was trying on wedding dresses, but she’s hurt. A man attacked her today and I don’t want to provoke any bad memories right now.

“All done.” I turn and grab the pile of clothes Rhea left and turn in time to see Blue pulling the gown off.

She’s wearing a matching pair of underwear and a bra, but I smile when I see what’s on them.

“Are those…cats?” I ask her.

The underwear has a face of a cat on the front and the bra has little cat drawings all over it. She looks down at herself and holds her head up proudly.

“I like cats. Sue me.”
“We are not buying a cat Blue. I mean it.” I can see her asking for one, and that won’t be happening.

She gasps. “What? Why not?”

“Because they get hair everywhere and crawl all over you. No.” I hand her the clothes and cross my arms to show her how serious I am.

“Oh, come on. They’re sweet and I’m going to need a friend. Plus, cats basically take care of themselves. As long as they have food and water, they don’t need much else. Not like dogs who have to be walked and all that stuff.”

“No. There is now way.”

Even to my ears I can hear the small bit of authority lacking. Fuck, she’s going to convince me to buy a cat. I hate how weak I am for her already. It’s disgusting and too much like how Max is with Rhea, which also makes me uncomfortable.

“We’ll see.” Blue says looking smug.

“Blue don’t push me.” I warn her but she smirks at me.

She walks toward me slowly, and I swallow nervously. Since when did a scantily dressed woman make me nervous?

“Artemis?” She says in the husky voice she has going.

“Yeah?”

She leans in so close that I think she might kiss me but then I feel her pull the clothes in my hand away and moves away.

“Thanks!” She sets down the shirt and starts to pull on the pants.

This woman…

My pants feel a little tighter and I turn away from her to adjust myself so she doesn’t see what she did to me. Since when can I not control my libido?

“Okay! Now, how are we going to get out of this place or are we heading out into the chaos?” When I turn around she looks like a shorter version of my sister, but she looks…cute.

“Unfortunately there is no back way out of this place, so we will have to go out front. Just pull the hood up and keep your head low. Since you’re being discharged early, we’ll head right to the airport.”

“You still aren’t going to tell me where we’re going?”

I slip my hand into hers and smirk down at her. “Not a chance wife.”