Darling groaned out loud as Syn touched a tender spot. “That’s attached, you know?”

Syn didn’t say anything as he kept going with his examination.

While he worked, Darling’s thoughts went to what concerned him most. “When will the bandages come off?”

“I’d like to leave them on until the morning. Since I used a Prillion and Prinum combination, you should be as good as you’re going to get by then.”

Darling’s stomach clenched hard at the thought of what they might find once he was unwrapped. Please let this work.

He couldn’t stand the thought of going through the rest of his life with Pip’s name carved into his face. I just want a chance to be normal.

Just once.

Between the fight with Ryn and his torture, he couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t flinched at his own reflection. A time when people hadn’t stared at him in distaste.

Don’t think about it.

The surgery was done. Either he was better or he wasn’t. There was nothing any of them could do about it now. It was what it was. All too soon, he’d have the answer…

“How long was I out of it?” he asked Syn.

“Not quite seventy hours.”

Damn. He was getting tired of being unconscious. “How much of that was spent in surgery?”

“Let’s just say if I’m ever on that table that long, I hope I have a few tag team doctors for it. You’re lucky I’m used to not sleeping.”

That was an understatement. Syn and Nykyrian were the only ones he knew who could stay awake longer and more alert than he could. Truly impressive. “Remind me, I need to send Shahara flowers for letting me keep you away from her for so long.”

Syn placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You owe her more than that. She and Kiara have been taking shifts keeping your woman and sister from climbing the walls. But at least Lise took a nap. Zarya hasn’t slept since you’ve been here. She’s refused to close her eyes for anything more than a blink. Maris either, for that matter. They’re both about to collapse.”

Darling wasn’t sure if he should be angry, flattered, or disturbed by that news. While he never wanted them to deprive themselves for anything, even him, a part of him was thrilled that they cared that much. It was selfish—probably wrong—but his heart swelled with the love he had for the two of them. They were his life.

He felt Syn move away from the bed. “Do you want me to let everyone in or keep them out?”

“Can you send in Ryn, Zarya, and Maris first?” He needed to speak with them away from the rest of the group.

“Sure.” Syn’s steps drifted away.

“Hey, Syn?” Darling called, hoping he caught him before he left the room.

“Yeah?”

Darling hesitated. He owed the Ritadarion a debt that couldn’t be repaid. Over the years, Syn had patched him up and pieced him back together more times than he could count. And while Syn never said the words, he knew that Syn couldn’t stand to see someone he cared about suffer. It was a “weakness” Syn’s father had ruthlessly used against him when he’d been a kid. It was why Syn had become a doctor. Having seen his own sister die, he’d wanted to have the ability to heal anyone he loved.