Willow rushed after Julian to the car parked outside. He was already inside when she caught up.

She opened the door and slid into the passenger seat, hearing him say, “I’ll drive you home.”

“Julian, we need to go to the hospital first. Your back—what if it gets infected?”

“It’s fine,” he muttered dismissively.

His eyes were closed, a sheen of sweat forming on the bridge of his nose. The strain etched across his face ...