Page 17 of Shiny Things

Something was wrong.

Why had I let them schedule me for an early meeting this morning?

I should have been there instead.

I wanted to take her as my mate and yet I’d failed her today by not being there to protect her from this.

Some mate I’d make.

Even knowing it would be best if I just left her be, I couldn’t stop myself from parking and walking inside. I had to know for myself and see with my own eyes that she was okay.

“Elias, can I help you with something?” Chelsea Dean asked as I approached.

She was a cousin on my mother’s side somewhere down the line. Sweet girl around my age. We’d gone to school together. We were both a bit of outsiders, though she’d grown up and gotten a respectable job in nursing while, as my mother constantly reminded me, I had not.

What would she think if she knew the truth about why I suddenly agreed to fall in line and take a “respectable” job?

The only reason I’d agreed to start working with the Council was for Kim. If I was going to give her the kind of life she truly deserved, then I needed to start acting the part. At a certain level within the Congress, a person could get away with nearly anything, even turning a Grimes into a lady of power within our kind—and that was exactly what I intended to do.

“An ambulance came in a few minutes ago.”

“Oh, the diner fire? Don’t worry. It wasn’t Gia. Just some waitress.”

I snarled at her causing her eyes to widen.

“Down the hall, third door on the left.”

Even a sweet girl like Chelsea had her prejudices. It was ridiculous and infuriated me. She was right to hold her tongue and tell me where Kim was because I felt like a ticking time bomb ready to explode at any second.

Just give me an excuse, any excuse.

My fists balled up at my thighs, and I took a deep breath and forced them open before barging into the exam room they’d put her in.

The doctor was already there checking her over.

“Wrong room, Elias. Gia and David haven’t arrived yet.”

I ignored him and looked down at Kim, certain she could see the full range of my emotions swirling within my green eyes.

Kim huffed. “I’m fine, Elias. Really. I just overused my powers.”

“But she saved your sister’s diner in the process. A real hero, this one,” the doctor praised.

Her lips pursed as she shook her head. “It really wasn’t a big deal, and I’m fine,” she repeated.

I went to her bedside as some commotion in the hallway alerted us all to my sister’s arrival.

“I need to check on that. Kim you’re going to be just fine. Take it easy today, let the IV finish its course, and then you’re good to go. Keep pushing those fluids today. If you have any more dizziness, come back in and we’ll run a few tests. But I think you’ll be alright.”

“Thanks,” she muttered.

He left the door open behind him, but I immediately closed it.

“E . . .”

I cut her off.

“Stop. You could have been seriously hurt today. Why didn’t you just get out?”

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