Page 144 of Devilish Ink

“Yeah.”

I swallowed down the knot in my throat, let the tiny ball of hope settle in my chest.

“Yeah,” I said. “I think I’d like that.”

RY

Iwoke up and for a moment I was back there, tied to that bed. My heart rate soared as that familiar sick fear gripped me.

“No.” I gasped for air, lashing out with my hands as an alarm sounded through my fog.

I felt a small hand on my shoulder.

“Ry, Ry,” a soft voice said near my ear. “You’re okay. You’re in the hospital. You’re safe.”

Peeling my heavy eyelids back, I blinked slowly at the tubes winding along my arm. I studied the monitor beside me with foggy thoughts. I turned to the figure at my bedside.

“Liam?” I croaked.

Aurnia smiled sweetly and said, “I’m afraid not.”

She massaged my shoulder to comfort me.

I tried to get up.

But two more sets of gentle hands guided me back down to the propped-up pillows. Rachel brushed my damp hair from my forehead and Eithne brushed down the sheets.

“Liam,” I said again, still feeling the effects of the drugs.

I was vaguely aware of glances exchanged above me. I stillwasn’t entirely sure whether I was even awake or not. So I couldn’t be certain. And the ache all over my body took what little concentration I had.

Aurnia lifted a cup of juice with a straw to my lips. “Drink.”

The sweet liquid soothed my throat. I sank back after drinking, once again exhausted.

From the doorway, I heard a deep familiar voice ask, “How is she?”

Was that…Conor?

At first none of the girls answered.

“She’s going to be alright,” Rachel said finally.

I shifted my head on the pillow to see Mason and Conor standing on either side of the door like tattooed guards, their expressions tight.

I met Conor’s eyes. His usual stern, gruff expression softened. Then broke.

Mason wiped at his eyes and said, “Damn straight she’s going to be alright.”

The crack in his voice made me want to cry all over again.

I glanced around the hospital room for a bassinet, for a light blue or pink blanket, for any sign of… I felt the pain of those stomach cramps and the heat of the blood on my thighs all over again. I was almost too afraid to ask.

But I had to know.

“My baby?”

I looked between Aurnia and Rachel, who were staring at each other.

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