Page 96 of Love Heals
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jared woke up to the sight of a canary sitting on top of the curtain rail that went around his hospital bed. "Silas?" he asked. His lips felt cracked and dry and he moistened them with his tongue while the bird swooped down to land on the edge of his bed. The canary puffed his chest out as if he was especially proud. Or happy. Yes, maybe happy fit better with the way he flapped his wings demonstratively in the low light of the room. It must be night, still.
Jared sat up and moved the curtain a little so he could survey the rest of the room. There was only one other person here. An old man, who seemed fast asleep. He let the curtain swing back, then turned to Silas again. "Coast is clear. You can shift."
Silas did without further prompting, and then he fell straight into Jared's arms, his silvery blond hair tickling Jared's chin. His words left him in a rush. "I was so worried about you."
"I'm okay. They gave me some blood, now they're keeping me for observation. I'll be good to go in the morning."
Silas exhaled audibly. "I'm glad. What about the others?"
"Collin and Elena are being kept overnight too, but they should be okay.Remy..." Jared paused, gathering his thoughts. He really only knew what Luke had told him, but while Luke had sounded optimistic enough, Jared couldn't get the image of his brother's burned face out of his head. "He'll be okay eventually."
Hehadto be.
"I hope you're right." Silas nuzzled closer to Jared, and Jared dropped a kiss on the top of his head.
"How did you get in here?"
"Luke cracked the window for me."
Jared made a mental note to thank his youngest brother later as he held Silas close to him, breathing in the scent of his hair. A faint wisp of smoke clung to it, a sharp reminder of the fire that made him squeeze the vampire in his arms a little more tightly. He'd come too close to losing Silas too often. "Please don't ever run into a burning building again."
"I had to—"
"I know, and I'm eternally grateful that you saved my sister, but I don't want you to risk yourself for me." It should have been Jared. He should have run into that house, not Silas.
"I didn't do it for you." Silas drew back an inch so he could look into Jared's eyes. "I did it for my coven."
Any words Jared could think to say in response to that got lost between his throat and his lips.
"You're my coven now." A small smile formed on Silas's lips. "It's a much better coven than I used to have too." He licked his lips. "I realized that I could choose my own family when you did."
"When I did?"
"You sacrificed your memories of your biological family to help your new family."
"It's not as simple as that," Jared argued.
"Maybe not." Silas dropped his gaze, his fingers drawing circles on the fabric of Jared's hospital gown. "It made me remember, though, that I'm not tied to the family that I'm born—or reborn—into, you know?" He raised his head again and a faint blush crept into his pale cheeks. "Families should be about love."
"That's true." Jared took Silas's hand in his own to encourage him to go on.
Silas licked his lips again, then looked straight at Jared, a renewed sense of confidence replacing any hint of embarrassment he'd shown before. "I love you. I want to be part of your family."
Jared responded by kissing the vampire.Hisvampire. No one would ever take Silas from him again. No vampire lady, no fire, nothing. He growled low in his throat before deepening the kiss, claiming Silas for himself, the way he knew Silas wanted to be claimed too. When they broke for air, he rested his forehead against Silas's, staring into his eyes. "You already are."
Silas gave him another smile. The expression made him so beautiful Jared had to call on every ounce of self-control he possessed to keep himself from tearing the vampire's clothes off him, even though he knew this wasn't the time or place.
Hell, he didn't even know if Silas was ready for that if thiswasthe time and place. He'd made a lot of progress, but enough to undo all the damage his sire had done to him? Doubtful. And Jared had learned his lesson. He wasn't going to push again.
Silas's smile grew wider. It was only then that Jared realized the vampire knew exactly what was going on in his head. Of course he did. He had that damn sixth sense. "Caspar said they're preparing another house for us," Silas said. "It won't be as big, or as well-guarded, but it'll be secret, at least. I guess we'll have to share a room... and a bed...." His breath puffed against Jared's skin as he spoke, tempting Jared to kiss him again and forget all reason.
"You're always welcome in my bed."
Silas brushed their lips together, just briefly. "I'll share more than your bed."
"Silas..."
"Shush." Silas laid a finger on his lips. "I'll make it work. I promise you."
Jared wanted to tell him that he didn't have to do anything, but Silas hadn't shushed him for no reason. He didn't want Jared to remind him that he didn't need to feel pressured, he wanted Jared to share his confidence, so instead of speaking, Jared nodded.Give him some damn credit, Aldrich had said. Jared was going to do exactly that.
Silas rewarded him with another kiss, settling against his chest. Jared held him there and closed his eyes. Disregarding everything else that was going on in his life, this was perfect.
He used to think that his family would be better off without vampires, but he knew now how wrong that had been. Collin wouldn't have his son. Luke wouldn't have gotten his friend back. And Silas...
No, his family wouldn't have been safe, because his family encompassed so much more than just his siblings now. They weren't just a family anymore. It was like Silas had said. They were a coven now.
Jared wouldn't have changed that for the world.
