Chapter 27

Aria’s POV

Aria knew enough about Caleb, the war hero, to know that this group were his children and their spouses. I’d never interacted with them. They’d always kept a wide berth from me, but we’d seen each other at parties. Granted, it was from across the room, but we still recognized each other.

Caleb, I’d only met once, when Lucian visited him in his own home three years ago. Even then, the man had been too frail to rise from his own bed.

“I’ve lived a good life,” he had told Lucian then. “But I’m ready for the next one.”

“Hopefully we have many more years with you, my friend,” Lucian had said kindly.

“My friends are waiting,” Caleb had said, lightly shaking his head. “My mate… she’s already there.”

I’d been expecting this inevitability for some time now. No one cheated death, not even a war hero. Especially one who was ready to leave this life for the next.

Yet, with the dour looks on the faces of Caleb’s children, I was convinced they weren’t here to ask Dr. A to help ease their father’s transition.

“She has the power to save him,” the oldest son – Montgomery – said. “She has the medicine that extends life. If she gave it to him, he could live.”

When I had met Caleb the first time, I had considered it then, but I’d stepped away from being Dr. A at that time, largely in part because of that medicine and how much trouble it brought me.

Besides, Caleb had seemed so sure, so determined to step into the next life and be with his wife again. I had thought, at that time, if I had asked him if he wanted the medicine, he would have turned me down.

Three years was a long time though, and death was never easy to face. Perhaps he had changed his mind.

“Has he been brought here?” I asked. “I’m sure the doctor would like to inspect him. If he desires the medicine, surely he can advocate for himself.”

“He can’t,” Cathy said. “He’s been in the coma ward for three months.”

Ah. That did make things more difficult, then.

“The Healers stabilized him for a time, but his health has taken a turn as of late,” said one of the daughters, Christie. Dangling diamond earrings hung from her ears, sparkling in the fluorescent hospital lights overhead. She seemed exceedingly out of place here. Those earrings alone could have paid for most of the treatments the commoners on the first floor were being denied right at this moment.

“His Healers say, without this treatment, he doesn’t have long for this world,” Montgomery added.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“There need not be any sympathy if Dr. A does her job and administers the medicine that extends life,” Christie continued, casting a glare at Piper disguised as Dr. A in the back of the room.

The poor girl hadn’t signed up for this.

Somedays I wished I had never discovered the medicine that could extend life. It might have been a medical marvel, but the personal costs had been startling. People were willing to kill for this medicine. No price was too high.

Everyone wanted to play at being a god, extending lives here and there. But there wasn’t enough for everyone. The ingredients were so rare, that a vial took months to concoct. No one had the patience to wait, not when they were on the edge of death’s door.

This led to resentment and even hate to Dr. A. In those last years before my disappearance, I’d received many death threats in the form of letters and phone calls. Some even threatened Cathy, as my friend, since they did not know my identity.

Those had been dark days, and the reason I had given up on my dreams of being a Healer, even an anonymous one. Because of that break, however, I was able to meet and fall in love with Lucian.

Maybe that was just one more mistake I’d made.

“If you will excuse me, I would like to speak to Dr. A privately about this. Jasper,” I said, remembering him at my side. “Please stay here.”

“But –”

“This is a private matter.”

He huffed like a petulant child but agreed, “Fine.”

“Thank you,” I said. “Please excuse me.”

Leaving the family and Jasper in the waiting area, I walked to my personal office, gesturing Piper and Cathy to join me. My desire to keep Jasper in the waiting area was two-fold. Yes, I wanted to protect my identity from him, but I also knew he’d keep a close eye on the family.

If someone tried to snoop around, Jasper would speak up. At the very least, he would tell me afterwards. He might have been a playboy, but he was not a bad man. He wouldn’t let someone get away with doing something as illegal and dishonorable as snooping around a Healer’s offices.

The minute the door was closed to the private office, Piper removed the mask she’d been wearing and started to cry.

“Where is Dr. A?” she said. She’d been under so much stress that she was starting to break now. She was still too young. I never should have put this responsibility on her. But I genuinely didn’t think a case like this would come marching through the door.

“She’s here,” I said.

Piper looked up.

Cathy glanced at me in nervous question, but I was confident that Piper was trustworthy. She’d earned it, after dealing with all this tonight.

“…Luna?”

“I trust you can keep a secret,” I said.

“Of course,” she said, perking up at once, as if being clued in had given her a burst of needed energy and hope. “Thank the gods you’re here. They barged in and started making so many demands…”

“I know. Thank you for holding the fort, Piper.”

“My pleasure,” she said. Softer, she added, “I can see why you want to keep your identity secret now. Any time you need me to cover in the future…”

I was loathe to put her in this position again. “Let’s figure out our present troubles first.”

“You heard their case,” Cathy said. “What are you thinking?”

“I want to see Caleb for myself, and talk to his Healers. But I’m… hesitant. I’ve spoken to Caleb before and he seemed ready for the end. I don’t believe that this medicine should be used to extend an unconscious man’s life for the sake of his family’s benefit, especially if he’s in pain. I’m unwilling to make a decision yet, however.”

“Then you need to get down there to see him,” Cathy said.

I did. There was just one major problem with this. Jasper.

Jasper’s POV

Caleb’s family seemed nervous by my presence, constantly glancing at me. That was all well and good, I couldn’t care less either way. What was on my mind, and what I couldn’t seem to get off of it, was why Aria would care about any of this?

Sure, Caleb was a war hero, but Aria was on her way to divorcing the Alpha King. She didn’t need to put in time like this anymore, caring about things that had nothing to do with her.

I’d spoken to Cathy on the phone, when she was desperate to get a hold of Aria to give her the message about Piper.

So where was Piper now? Was Piper… Dr. A?

Why would Dr. A need Aria’s help?

None of this made sense.

And then, suddenly, like the last piece of a puzzle slipping into place, everything clicked.

It still didn’t make sense. But it was the only reasonable explanation…

Could Aria be the real Dr. A?