She deliberately shifted her stare to the machine that had been used during her internal exam.
As the nurse blanched, Layla felt no joy at the leverage she used. But there was no regret, either.
The nurse bowed deeply and backed out of the room, leaving that ridiculous fabric on the shallow counter by the sink.
Layla had never considered her Chosen status as either burden or benefit. It simply was all she had known: her lot cast, the fate that she had been given made manifest through breath and consciousness. Others were clearly not so phlegmatic, however—especially down here.
And this was just the beginning.
Then again, she was losing the pregnancy, wasn’t she. So this was the end.
Reaching out, she took the white fabric and wrapped it around herself. She didn’t care about the physician’s delicate sensibilities, but if she covered herself up as they’d asked, maybe he would focus on her instead of what she was.
Almost immediately there was a knock on the door, and when Layla answered, Havers entered, looking like there was a gun to his head. Keeping his eyes on the floor, he only partially closed them in together before crossing his arms over his stethoscope. “If I had known your status, I would never have treated you.”
“I came to you willingly, a patient in need.”
He shook his head. “You are a holiness upon the earth. Who am I to intervene in such a sacred matter?”
“Please. Just put an end to my suffering, and tell me where I stand.”
He removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I cannot divulge that information to you.”
Layla opened her mouth. Shut it. “Excuse me?”
“You are not my patient. Your young and the Primale are—so I will speak to him when I can—”
“No! You mustn’t call him.”
The look he gave her suggested a disdain she imagined he usually reserved for prostitutes. And then he spoke in a low, vaguely threatening voice. “You are not in a position to demand a thing.”
Layla recoiled. “I have come here of my own volition, as an independent female—”
“You are a Chosen. Not only is it unlawful for me to harbor you, but I can be prosecuted for what I did to you earlier. A Chosen’s body is—”
“Her own!”
“—the Primale’s by law, as it should be. You are unimportant—naught but a receptacle for what you are given. How dare you come in here like this, pretending to be a simple female—you put my practice and my life at risk with such duplicity.”
Layla felt a wild rage tremble along every nerve ending in her body. “Whose heart beats within this chest?” She pounded on herself. “Whose breath is drawn here!”
Havers shook his head. “I will speak with the Primale, and only him—”
“You cannot be serious! I alone live within this flesh. No one else does—”
The physician’s face tightened in distaste. “As I said, you are but a vessel for the divine mystery in your womb—the very Primale is within your flesh. That is more important—and accordingly, I will hold you here until—”
“Against my will? I don’t think so.”
“You will stay here until the Primale comes to fetch you. I shall not be responsible for setting you loose upon the world.”
The two of them glared at each other.
With a curse, Layla threw off the draping. “Well, that’s a great plan as far as you’re concerned. But I’m getting naked right now—and I will be walking out like that if I must. Stay and watch if you like—or you could try to touch me, but I believe that would be considered another violation of some sort or another for you, wouldn’t it.”
The physician left so quickly, he stumbled out into the hall.
Layla didn’t waste a second, yanking on her clothes and rushing into the corridor. Although it was unlikely that there was only the one way in and out through the reception area—there had to be escape routes, in case of an attack—unfortunately, she had no clue about the layout of the facility.
So her only choice was to head up front. And she had to do it on foot—she was too pissed off to dematerialize.
Falling into a jog, Layla went in the direction she’d come from—and almost immediately, as if they had been instructed to do so, female nursing staff jumped in her way, choking the hall, making it impossible for her to pass.
“If anyone shall touch my person,” she hollered in the Old Language, “I shall regard it as a violation of my sacred sanctity.”
All of them froze.
Meeting each one in the eye, she came forward and forced them to part, a path forming among the still figures and then closing shut behind her. Out in the waiting area, she stopped in front of the reception desk and stared hard at the female who was sitting up in alarm.