My gaze ran over River lying on top of me.Her hand was tucked beneath her head on my chest as she slept. I’dmarked her hard and taken her repeatedly. My bites wereunmistakable upon her neck, shoulders, breasts, and thighs.
My hands rested on her back when she stirredbut didn’t wake. I’d been too rough on her. She’d been exhaustedwhen she’d fallen asleep, but I hadn’t been able to stop myself.She had to understand how vital she was to my existence. And I hadcaused her to doubt that knowledge. She’d given herself to me, shelay within my arms again, but I sensed the damage lingering withinher.
Her mother had betrayed her, and in hermind, so had I to some degree. It didn’t matter that her mother wasa despicable bitch I’d gladly remove from the earth and that I’dbeen trying to protect her. It had been a betrayal.
“Kobal,” River murmured. Her lashesfluttered against my skin and her eyes danced behind her closedlids as she dreamt. I rested my hands on the small of her back,pulling her closer. My touch didn’t settle her as it usually did;she whimpered in her sleep.
“River,” I whispered, brushing the hair backfrom her delicate features. Her nails dug into my chest, tearinginto my skin as she continued to whimper. “Wake up,” I coaxed whilerunning my finger over her cheek.
She settled for a minute; then her eyes flewopen and she bolted upright so fast she tore free of my grasp. Tootired to have gotten dressed again, she was completely naked as shelaunched to her feet. Midnight blue sparks blazed to life sobrightly on her fingertips that I blinked against their brilliance.Her head tipped back, and her mouth parted as she gazed at theceiling.
“The angels,” she murmured beforecollapsing.
“River!” I bellowed. I leapt forward,catching her in my arms before she hit the ground. “River! Wake up,Mah Kush-la, you must wake now.”
My heart hammered in my chest, and my throatwent completely dry as I lightly slapped at her abnormally palecheeks to get her to wake. She remained unmoving in my arms, herbreath coming in shallow pants, and her pulse racing.
The door at the other end of the room flungopen. “What’s going on?” Corson demanded as he ran into the chamberwith his talons extended and his head swinging back and forth as hesearched for a threat.
I snagged the fur we’d been lying on fromthe floor and threw it over River as I spun her away from thecurious eyes of everyone who entered. I had no care for my nudity,but I would never allow them to see her.
I backed away from them with her. “I don’tknow.”
Corson’s talons retracted when he realizedthere was no enemy within. The others stopped approaching when Ibared my fangs at them.
“Did you hurt her?” Hawk demanded.
“Of course not,” I snarled at him.
He stared doubtfully between the two of usbefore he took another cautious step forward. Corson’s hand shotout to hold him back. “What happened?” Corson inquired.
I kept my body in between River and them asI told them what had occurred.
“What does that mean?” Bale inquired.
“I have no idea,” I admitted as I strokedRiver’s cheek again. Panic clawed at my insides as I willed her toopen her eyes.
She showed some reaction when she turnedinto my touch and murmured something unintelligible before settlingdown again. “Has anything like that ever happened before?” Magnusinquired, his silver eyes focused on her limp form.
“No,” I replied, turning her further awayfrom him. She may be fully covered, but I didn’t want anyone nearher while she was in such a vulnerable state.
He stepped away from the warning look I shothim and held his hands up in a conciliatory gesture. I cradledRiver closer against me, bending to kiss her forehead as sheremained unmoving. So frail in her mortality, yet so powerful andgrowing stronger every day.
I gazed down at her, taking in the sweepingblack lashes lying against her skin and the lovely features I knewso well. My finger traced the scar in her eyebrow. Her lashesfluttered open, her amethyst eyes burned into mine as she gazed atme.
“You’re awake,” I murmured.
She smiled at me, but when Corson and Hawktook a step forward, her eyes darted toward everyone else. “Why iseveryone in here?” she whispered.
“You don’t remember what happened?” Sheshook her head, and I proceeded to fill her in on the details ofwhat she’d done.
Her brow furrowed as she stared at the rocksoverhead. “I don’t remember doing that. Why would I say that?”
“Maybe the angels have finally decided toget in the game too and join our side,” Hawk suggested.
“The only angels who have left heaven werethe ones who were cast out. They definitely aren’t on our side,”Bale said.
“Can’t the ones who are still up there cutoff their wings and fall or something?” Hawk asked. “Isn’t thatsome kind of legend?”
