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Garrick glared at Henry, who stood over his sister’s body. Blood pooled around her. The pen lay at Henry’s feet.
“You couldn’t decide,” Garrick said, fighting the urge to pick up the pen and take care of him too. “How could you not choose your daughter? We could have taken Ursa down after you got the antidote.” His blood boiled beneath his skin. A father should never hesitate when it comes to his children. Even a blink would have been too long to wait.
Henry lifted his gaze. “I, I was going to sign. I was.” His eyes flicked to Bastian. “I was, Bastian. I was.”
“I’m taking her home.” Bastian turned and carried her from the house. Garrick followed, ignoring Finn as he tried to plead his case to them. Finn was a betrayal that would be dealt with later. Right now, they needed to get Ariella home and taken care of. Once she was better, they would deal with Finn.
And her father.
CHAPTER32
Ariella
Ariella walked down the stairs to the first floor of Garrick’s house. Her head still felt heavy, and her mouth tasted of cotton balls, but she was alive. Days ago, she wouldn’t have thought it possible. She didn’t remember most of what happened after Finn gave her the aspirin, but she remembered how awful she felt.
And Garrick. She remembered him taking her, holding her, whispering that she would be all right over and over again. It sounded as though he were willing it to happen, hoping instead of believing.
“What are you doing up?” Garrick rushed up from the dining room table so quickly his chair flipped onto his back.
“I’m fine.” She put her hand up when he reached for her. “I’m fine.” She pushed his hand away when he continued to grab her arm.
“She looks all right, Garrick,” Bastian got up from his seat and rounded the table.
“She looks like her head still hurts,” Garrick grumbled.
“It does, but only a little. And I feel like I ate a bag of cotton balls, but other than that. I’m feeling so much better.” She looked at the table. They’d been sitting with untouched glasses of wine.
“I’ll get you something to drink,” Bastian poured her a glass of wine and brought it to her. “You want to sit?”
“No.” She laughed. “I’ve been lying down or sitting for days. I want to stand. I want to walk. I want to feel the sun on my face. What time is it?” She glanced around the dining room for the clock.
“It’s three in the afternoon.” Garrick took the glass from her once she had a healthy sip. The tartness of the red wine cut through the mothball flavor on her tongue.
“Can we go outside?”
“It’s raining.” Bastian frowned.
“All right.” She let Garrick lead her to a chair and sank into it. “You guys have to stop staring at me like that. I’m not going to shatter.”
“I’m going to have the doctor come around tonight.” Garrick pulled out his phone.
She rolled her eyes. “Seriously, relax. I’m fine. Much better.” She leaned back against the chair and took a breath. “I’m just so glad to be here.” She brought her chin up and looked at Garrick. “For now. I know we’ll probably be leaving soon.”
“Why would you be leaving soon?” Garrick demanded. “Who said you’re leaving?” He turned a glare on Bastian.
Bastian shrugged. “I don’t know where she got that idea.”
“Well, it’s all over with now, right? My aunt isn’t a danger anymore.” She paused a moment, still trying to grasp the memory of Garrick shoving that pen into Ursa’s throat. It was foggy at best, but she remembered it mostly. Though she couldn’t fully trust her memory from that day.
“What does that have to do with it?” Bastian leaned forward in his chair.
“Well,” she looked at Garrick. “We’re, at least I am, taking up room here. And I’m sure Garrick, and probably you too would like to get back to your normal life. Without…well, me in the middle.” Her heart ached, but she’d taken up enough space in Garrick’s life. She’d interrupted his life more than enough.
“Is she well enough to spank?” Garrick asked, keeping his glare settled on her.
“Garrick,” Bastian warned.
“I’m serious. She obviously needs some sense spanked back into her.” Garrick put his hands on his hips. That little tingle she got when his eyes bore into her was back, setting her insides on fire. And it wasn’t fair. She would have to walk away from this, from him, and it wasn’t fair that he should be able to look at her and make her feel like that.
