“Clearly.”
“Then why won’t you let me sit up?”
“Maybe I just like having you horizontal in a bed.”
She laughed, but all too soon, it triggered a coughing spasm.
“Breathe, sparrow. Just breathe. You’ve probably still got fluid in your lungs, maybe even blood.” I pressed my hand flat against her sternum and continued stroking her hair, trying to calm her. When she finally caught her breath again, I cradled the back of her head and lifted the glass of water to her lips. “Just a few sips. Go slow.”
She managed to get some of it down, then gestured for the sandwich.
I helped her take a few bites, her color looking better and better with each one.
“Better?” I asked, setting the empty plate on the side table.
“Yeah, except…” Her face scrunched up again. “I need a shower. This is…ugh.”
“Just rest up for now, Haley. Worry about being clean later.”
“My skin feels like it’s crawling. Half of this is gargoyle blood. I want it off. So you can either help me or stand aside, because—wait. Why are you laughing?”
“No reason. Just… it’s good to have you back, sparrow. That’s all.”
* * *
I walked her to the bathroom and turned on the shower for her. “I’ll be right outside the door if you need anything.”
“Actually, I was hoping… Will you stay?”
“In here?”
“I don’t want to be alone. Not yet.” She let out a soft exhale. “Every time I close my eyes, I see the bones. I can still feel them on my skin, just… just clawing at me and tearing and…” A shudder wracked her body, head to toe.
The bones. The ghouls. The fucking moat. My heart broke just to think of her in that awful pit, and once again I wanted to murder someone.Multiplesomeones.
“Are you sure you wantmein here, though?” I asked, tempering my fury and meeting her eyes once more. “We could wait for Jax to get back, or Hudson—”
“No, Elian. Just you.” She held my gaze for a beat, then stripped out of the tattered clothing still clinging to her body. Blood, bruises, and welts decorated every inch of skin, but the blood was dried, her wounds healed. Eventually, the bruises and welts would fade and vanish, too.
Instinctively, I reached for her, but then pulled back just before my fingers brushed her shoulder. “Sorry,” I muttered. “I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t be weird, okay? It’s nothing you haven’t seen before. I just… I really need the company. Please?”
“I… right. No, it’s… it’s fine. I’m staying. I’m here, so… yeah. Carry on.”
Relief flooded her eyes, her smile making it all worth it.
I turned away as she stepped into the shower, my whole body a fucking inferno. The shower door was made of some kind of frosted glass that obscured all but a blurry shape, but I didn’t need to see her to clearly imagine those soft curves, the water sluicing over her shoulders and breasts, the blood and grime swirling down the drain and revealing fresh, pink skin.
I was already fucking hard for her, which was completely inappropriate given the circumstances, but hell. Nothing I could do about that. It’s not like I could actually touch her, anyway. Not like I could strip off my clothes, step into that shower, take her into my arms, and slowly reacquaint my hands and mouth with every sinfully hot, wet curve until she was singing for me again and I—
“Still with me?” she asked.
“Still with you, sparrow.”Fuck,my cock throbbed as if someone had kicked me. I shifted on my feet, trying to relieve the pressure, but that was a useless endeavor. Fucking woman was going to kill me even faster than the demon.
Still. Hers was a torture I’d happily endure. Especially knowing she was alive. Whole.
Nota fucking bloodsucker.
