The pain at first was just a small, manageable dull ache, but it rapidly intensified into a full-blown pain, relentless, that made Ivy scream the whole drive to the hospital. Zack could do nothing but sigh in frustration, occasionally telling her it was going to be okay, she should hold on, but it got to the point that Ivy could no longer stand the sound of his voice. Any sound was like a jagged shard of glass scraping against her raw nerves. Even the leather seat of the limo could no longer contain her.

The moment the car screeched to a halt in the hospital's emergency bay, Ivy clawed at...