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Apparently, tough love worked on her this time.
“It was you guys. Hiro, Roman, Crew, Layne, and you that told me for days that I was useless, trash, unattractive, horrible, awful things for hours on end,” she admitted around another soft sob.
The thought of her having to hear that was awful, but from our mouths? Unforgivable.
“It wasn’t us,” Drake promised. “If I have to fuck you here and now to prove it, I will. I bet Roman would join right in.”
“I would if you weren’t too weak for that,” I argued. But the laugh it pulled from her had my fury draining right away.
Monty let out a growl but it was halfhearted. We were all just relieved she was awake now.
“Eat,” Drake ordered as he reached for the sandwich and pushed it into her hands. Her nose wrinkled as she forced it up to her mouth and took a bite, but the moment she chewed, she finished the rest in less than a minute, eating so fast I knew she’d regret it. I slid the tray away so that her stomach could settle, instead massaging her foot that was hanging off of Drake’s lap to distract her.
“What did I miss?” she asked as she leaned against Drake’s chest. She looked so settled between us now. I wished more than anything that I could purr for her right now.
“Us losing our minds,” I explained with a rough laugh. “We looked everywhere for you after Drake checked solitary and didn’t find you.”
“Where was I?” she gasped. “I thought it was solitary.”
“No, it was a secret wing off of the faculty hall. Fifth floor. And you weren’t the only patient there. I’m going to get that taken care of when you’re better, though.”
“I knew you were a good guy,” she teased around a yawn.
“Take your medicine before you sleep,” Ivar said. He came over and dropped something in her mouth before I grabbed her drink and held the straw to her lips. She took them without protest.
“I’m not a good guy, Harlow. I’m a half breed that feeds just like a demon and more than that, I liked hurting Vane. I’d have killed him, if Hel had allowed it.”
“She keeps getting us confused with good men,” Ivar added with a small laugh.
“I’d say you view yourself a bit too harshly,” I told Drake. “Without you, she’d still be there.”
We fell silent as Harlow slipped into a deep sleep. Drake settled her on the bed while I filled in the journal and Ivar disappeared again.
It was going to be a long night, but I hoped when she woke up tomorrow, she’d know that whatever image of us she’d been subjected to was fake.
That we’d never hurt her. We were her mates.
Even the demons she saw the good in were wrapped around her finger.
She’d changed Dark Haven forever the moment she walked through the door, and I had a strong feeling our biggest battles were yet to come.
Harlow
Monday Late Afternoon
Courtyard
The fresh air had enough of a chill that I shivered and tucked myself into Hiro’s side. He didn’t complain as he wrapped an arm around me.
The last week of recovering from Vane’s torture wasn’t easy. The med drop, then change left my brain mush and my body a mess. I was falling behind in classes at this point, but so far, other than Nurse Drew giving me my daily meds, no one had come to call me out on it.
The fact I even made it out here was a huge step. But how could I resist Hiro when he asked so sweetly.
He’d been walking and reading about Helheim, trying to learn and understand everything he could. Not only to keep us safe but to know what we’re up against.
I doubted Vane would be letting this go. Whatever he’d offered the demons on his side, it had to be big.
This wasn’t going to just go away.
