I wasn’t in the rain anymore. I wasn’t even outside anymore.
My eyelids flickered and the room came into focus. I moaned softly. Crap. I was in a hospital room.
“Royal?”
I turned my head slightly and saw Declan sitting next to me, his eyes anxious. He looked so beautiful, it was almost surreal. Especially here, under the harsh hospital lighting. He should look like the rest of us. Like humans. But he wasn’t entirely human. And no matter where he was, he always looked beautiful.
I lifted my hand to touch his cheek, but he caught my fingers in his own before I could reach him. “That’s not fair,” I told him.
He leaned in to hear me better. “Fair? What’s not fair?”
“That you look so perfect, and I look…” My voice trailed off. I could only imagine. The last thing I remembered, I was getting wet in the rain, crushed against the door of a broken vehicle, bruised and bleeding. “Why did you let them bring me here?”
His jaw clenched. I was sure he knew how much I didn’t like hospitals after what my father had gone through. “You were hurt, sweetheart,” he said. “I needed to make sure you were okay.”
I frowned and shifted under the blankets, trying to assess the damage. My ribs ached dully and my arm was in a soft sling. But other than that, I could only feel relief that there didn’t seem to be anything permanent wrong with me.
“Are you in pain?” Declan asked, his touch feather-light on my hand.
I shook my head and fought back a grimace at the wave of pain that traveled through my body. The last thing I wanted was for them to make me stay here any longer than necessary.
“No,” I breathed. “I’m fine.”
Declan sighed. “Royal, please. You don’t have to pretend.”
“Pretend? I’m not pretending anything. I’m fine. I’d like to go now.”
“What? You can’t leave—”
“I’m fine,” I said again and squeezed his hand. “Here, help me.”
“Royal. Stop for a minute. You can’t go anywhere—”
“Please.” I looked up at him. “Declan, I don’t want to be here.”
Understanding flickered in his gaze. He reached out and brushed my hair gently from my cheek. “Sweetheart,” he murmured. “I know you don’t want to be here. You probably hate hospitals after…” He shook his head. “Listen, it won't be long. They just need to make sure everything is okay.”
It was the first time I’d seen him look like a normal human. Like someone who could be affected by life and stress and pain and suffering. I didn’t need to add to that by trying to get him to spring me free.
His gaze lowered before coming back up to mine. “You dislocated your shoulder, bruised your ribs, and hit your head. A mild concussion. It’s…” He cleared his throat and tried a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes before lowering his gaze again. “I’m so sorry, Royal.”
“It isn’t your fault.” When he lowered his head to press his cheek against my hand on the blankets, a wave of tenderness moved through me. “Declan…”
His voice came out hoarse and he didn’t even lift his head to look at me this time. “I thought… I was afraid that I might have lost you. All this—this whole mess—is because of me. I should have told you that Johnson was threatening to come after you.” He glanced up. “That was who kept calling me. He said if I didn’t do what he wanted, he’d hurt you. I…”
Realization dawned on me. Cole Johnson had been behind this the whole time. He’d threatened Declan, used me against him.
“He said if I told you anything else, he might hurt you,” Declan whispered. He lifted his gaze to meet mine. “I’m so sorry—I should have said something, but—”
“It’s okay. You did what you had to do.” Guild squeezed my heart. “I don’t blame you—I shouldn’t have in the first place—”
“You’re hurt because of me,” he said, eyes full of anguish.
“It was an accident. I’m okay, I promise.”
He nodded, but he still looked miserable.
I pulled my hand from his so I could touch his cheek. “This isn't your fault. You hear me? Tell me you understand what I’m saying.”
He swallowed hard. “I understand what you’re saying. But I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
I gave a soft laugh and then grimaced when pain shot through my chest. “I can handle that. And no more secrets.”
“No more secrets,” he agreed.
The door opened, and the once quiet room was suddenly filled with voices. My dad came in, and when he saw that I was awake, hurried to my bed and set aside the cup of coffee he had in his hands. A nurse followed closely behind him as well as Xander.
“Royal,” my dad said, looking nearly as ragged as Declan. “How are you?”
“Could be worse,” I told him, making Declan frown.
Any hope for a few more quiet moments alone with Declan was whisked away by the suddenly full room. He stepped back to let the nurse check my vitals, and I missed the warmth of his fingers around mine.
When the nurse asked if I felt any pain, Declan spoke up before I had the chance.
“She does and don’t let her lie to you and tell you anything different.”
I frowned at him, but the nurse only laughed and nodded.
“No worries,” she said cheerfully. “I have just the thing. You just relax for now and the doctor will be in later. You’re a lucky girl.”
She said she’d be right back, and I nodded. I was lucky. Nothing serious had happened, and I was with my family and friends. Even if I’d rather be with them at home. Or at Declan’s cabin. I
