In Other Worlds by Sherrilyn Kenyon

.
    Adron jerked the mask off. “I’m not a friggin’ eunuch.”
    â€œNo, you’re not. But that’s about the only part of you that didn’t get cut off and that still works the way God intended it to.” Theo put the mask back in place. “You need to remember you’re a man whose internal organs are barely fused together. Their functionality is minimal at best, and any strain on them can kill you. How many times do I have to tell you that you can’t put any pressure on your abdomen?”
    â€œWell, if I have to die, I’d rather go out with a good bang.”
    Theo curled his lip. “You’re not funny.”
    His throat tight, Adron closed his eyes. An image of Livia drifted through his mind, and he cursed it.
    Theo checked his IV. “If you’d wear your chest brace like you’re—”
    â€œIt’s hot and it chafes. I can’t even move in it.”
    Sighing, Theo set his electronic chart aside. “Like it or not, Adron, one misplaced fall and you could break something and kill yourself. Your body is as fragile as a roshuna flower.”
    Yeah, there was something an assassin really wanted to be compared to. He, the baddest of the bad—the man who’d once made the worst scum in the universe piss in fear—was now a goddamn delicate flower.
    I wish I were dead.
    Adron removed the mask again. “I don’t care. I’m not going to wear that monstrosity. It makes me look like a freak.” Which he was, but by the gods, he had no intention of letting everyone know just how damaged he really was.
    He did have some pride left.
    Theo rolled his eyes. “One day, that stubbornness is going to get you killed.”
    Yeah, but obviously not soon enough.
    More roughly than before, Theo replaced the mask. “By the way, there’s a reason why I don’t give you medicine to completely numb your pain. You need to feel it to know the limitations of your damaged body. Tell your wife it was a nice thought, but in the future you better not let her help you. Not unless you want to become my permanent guest here at Hotel Hell. Now keep that damn mask in place or I’ll have your hands restrained.”
    In one last act of defiance, Adron made an obscene gesture.
    Letting out a sigh of supreme disgust, the good doctor walked away.
    Theo stopped at the door and turned back to face him. “And the next time you want to have sex, you better find some way to do it without putting any strain on your chest or abdomen. I’m not kidding, Adron. You do this to yourself one more time and I will geld you for it.”

    â€œHey, big brother.”
    Adron opened his eyes to see Zarina leaning into the room. He tried to muster a smile for her but couldn’t. The pain was just too much right now. Not to mention she wouldn’t be able to see it anyway for the mask covering his face.
    Still, he was glad to see her. No matter how bad he felt, Zarina and her offbeat sense of humor could always make him feel better.
    â€œTheo the Bad said it was okay to see you. How do you feel?” Zarina took a hesitant step inside his room, and it was then he saw Livia behind her and all thoughts scattered.
    His wife had her long brown hair braided down her back. The blue conservative pantsuit caused her pale skin to glow, and those large doe eyes held so much tenderness in them that it made him ache to be whole.
    To be able to love her like she deserved . . .
    Adron clenched his teeth as a wave of desire tore through him. He couldn’t stand to see her, knowing she belonged to him, and yet he could never again have her.
    It was the cruelest blow of all.
    I’m not even a man.
    He turned his head away from them so he wouldn’t be reminded of what an abomination he’d become. Wouldn’t remember the man who could have made love to her all night long without tiring.
    Now . . .
    He looked down at his bare, scarred arm that disgusted