Coira shook her head. “Let me finish up with her, and I’ll leave you two alone. The others are in the library.” She bent close and peered at Shay. “I’ll let them know you’re awake. They’ll be thrilled to see you. I’ve had to post guards at the door to keep them out of here.” Coira checked them both thoroughly. “Now climb back in bed, both of you. You’ve a ways to go before you can go tramping out of here.”
Cody leaned over Shay’s bed, pressing his face to her hair. “I thought I’d lost you, Shay.”
She gripped his shoulders and buried her nose in his T-shirt, breathing in his scent, feeling the muscle and warmth of his skin under the cotton. “How did Malek die?”
“The only thing I can figure is that we killed him together. You stabbed him through the heart at the same time I hit him with the light from my talisman. The timing must have been perfect.”
“I remember the flash of light. And then you calling to me, kissing me.”
“You were dead, Shay.” His voice was rough. “You weren’t breathing. We resuscitated you.”
Shay reached for Cody’s hand. “Hold me.”
He gave a wry smile. “Coira didn’t say which bed I was supposed to get in.” He eased in next to Shay. It was a tight fit, but she snuggled against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. She’d almost lost him. She ducked her head so he wouldn’t see her tears.
“Hey, now,” he said, tilting her chin. “No crying. We did it. We destroyed Malek.” Cody’s hand tightened on hers. “Everyone’s fine. Coira’s been letting them in here two at a time. I think the battle with Jamie probably weakened Malek, and Bree helped. She used Edward’s talisman to destroy Malek’s demons.”
“I didn’t think anyone could use another warrior’s talisman unless it had been reassigned.”
“They aren’t supposed to. At least that’s what we’ve been taught.”
“She can kill vampires too,” Shay said.
“I saw you both. I don’t understand it, but I saw it.”
Shay lay her head against Cody’s battle marks. She heard the faint whispers again, almost like music, soothing. “Malek said something strange. He said our child was destined to destroy him.”
Cody frowned. “Our child? So he was trying to kill you to stop you from having a child?”
“He even told me his name. Alexander. That’s what I named our baby.”
A look of sadness crossed Cody’s face. “Then he was assigned to kill Malek.”
“But Michael said it was me.”
“Malek must have been reassigned to you.”
Shay traced the battle marks with her finger. “How did Malek know who was assigned to kill him? That’s alarming.”
“It is, but the
“I think Alexander would have been a great warrior,” Shay said, her throat tight. “Like his father.”
Cody brushed a kiss over her hair. “And strong, like his mother.”
Shay blinked back tears and snuggled closer to Cody.
“I’d say they’re feeling better. What do you think?” Lachlan said from the doorway. Ronan stood behind him.
“I’d feel better if we had some privacy,” Cody joked as the warriors approached the bed. “Seriously, thank you. You saved our lives.”
Ronan looked at Shay and grinned. “Anytime she needs resuscitation, just let me know.”
“Jackass,” Cody said, lightly punching Ronan on the arm.
Voices sounded in the hallway. “The troupe descends,” Lachlan said. “Coira said everyone could come in for ten minutes.”
The room filled with people and the air swarmed with smiles and laughter and gratitude and a few jokes about Cody and Shay in the same hospital bed. When Shay grew tired, she closed her eyes, listening to the voices of her family and friends. She slid her hand into Cody’s and knew she had come home.
***
“Darling.” Nina hugged her as soon as Shay and Cody entered the library. Coira had made them rest for another day before releasing them, and a celebration had been planned. “He hasn’t left your side,” she whispered, glancing at Cody.
“I know.” Shay reached behind her, and Cody took her hand.
“I knew it would work out,” Matilda said. “I never doubted it once. When you’re feeling better, I’ll let you read my vampire book.”
“Don’t worry,” Cody whispered. “No one will believe it.”
They ate and talked, recounting the nightmare, Malek and vampires. They considered what to do with the blond vampire in the dungeon who wasn’t talking, and what it meant to the clan and the castle now that the demons and vampires knew of its location. There was hope that all who knew about the castle had been killed, but everyone was left with an uneasy feeling. They puzzled over how Cody and Shay managed to kill an ancient demon without being killed themselves, how Shay and Bree killed those vampires, and how Bree used Edward’s talisman. They all agreed that Shay and Bree must have acquired some kind of vampire-hunting skills from their father, although no one knew why he had them. Bree was going to look closer into Edward’s past, hoping to unravel the mystery. There
