Page 79 of Shiny Things

“They took him.”

I shuddered. “I can’t say I’m glad even though I want to.”

“I know, babe. But I can. I hope that asshole rots in hell.”

“Maybe I should be asking you if you’re okay,” I teased while I yawned.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here to protect you. I never should have let you go.”

“No, don’t blame yourself. I took off, and I’d do it again. This was Joe’s fault. No one else’s. He’s a coward.”

“I know, but it’s my job to protect you and I failed.”

“I was going to run away and leave Ravenden so you didn’t have to decide between me and your family. But you came when I needed you. How am I supposed to walk away from that?”

My voice sounded far off in the distance even to my own ears as sleep pulled me in.

“I think I want to keep you. It’s selfish, but I don’t want to lose you.”

“I’m not going anywhere. And if you try, I’ll just follow you anywhere, anytime.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Everything around me faded to black once more. I had no idea how long I slept, but when I started to regain consciousness, I heard people talking.

“You don’t have to stay,” Elias told someone.

“But I do,” a woman said. “You could have lost her today, and it would have been all my fault.”

“Mom, no. You can’t put that on yourself. This is my fault. I should have left with her.”

“She looks pale, doesn’t she? I should call the doctor back to have him check on her again.”

He chuckled. “You did that an hour ago. She’s a little pale but no different than the last time he was here.”

“What is taking her so long to wake up? It’s been hours.”

“They drugged her. You know that. She took two tranquilizer bullets, one to each wing. She just needs to sleep it off. You should go home and get some sleep or at least lie down in the bed.”

“I will do neither. And you should have moved her to the bed hours ago.”

“I know, but she looks so peaceful.”

“She really is a beautiful woman.”

“Yes she is.”

“Well, if I had any doubts on you really being true mates, that was laid to rest watching you protect her today. You acted like a mating male.”

He chuckled. I loved that sound.

“I am a mating male.”

“When she wakes, we should move her up to the house. It’s protected and safer there.”

“I think she’d rather go home.”

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