Chapter 17

Alanna slowly walked into the room, and Faolán shifted in bed. She approached him and saw how pale he was. Alanna sat in the armchair beside the bed and touched Faolán's hand. The expression on his face seemed to soothe. A knock on the bedroom door made Alanna look its way to see who was there.

"Good afternoon. I am Doctor Hannibal." The doctor approached her and reached out his hand to her.

"Good afternoon. I'm Alanna Doyle." She said, while shaking his hand, and then sat back down, after the doctor motioned for her to do so. 'Curious name,' Alanna thought, remembering the fictional character who ate human flesh.

"Miss Doyle, may I ask what your relationship to the patient is?" the doctor asked. He knew Alanna was Faolán's mate, as Zander had informed him.

"I'm a friend." Alanna replied, a little unsure what to say.

"Oh, I see." the doctor said. He tried his best not to let on that he knew more than she thought.