Chapter Twenty

Chapter 20

E MTs from all over the city converged on the hotel, treating the wounded and sedating the hysterical. Gryph left the hotel in the back of the ambulance with Selene, her sisters promising to wrap things up and meet him at the hospital.

All the way to the trauma center Gryph had too much time to think and imagine the worst. Selene had slipped into unconsciousness and had yet to wake up. She'd been injured worse than he first thought. The bite had ripped several veins and she was bleeding tremendously. Her loss of so much blood scared Gryph more than anything he'd encountered in his entire life. Gryph pressed Selene's hand to his cheek, praying to every god he'd ever had need to pray to that Selene would live. She had saved him from the river and captured his heart with her warmth and understanding of his family in the Lair. She aroused in him a desire so rare and beautiful he could not imagine living life without her in it. And as soon as she awakened, he'd tell her. If she'd have him, he'd do his best to quell his beast and be gentle with her the rest of their lives.

The EMTs unloaded the gurney at the hospital and wheeled Selene into a room. When Gryph followed, a nurse blocked his path. "You'll need to stay in the waiting room."

He wanted to roar and tell the woman to get the hell out of his way.

But she smiled and laid a hand on his arm. "Trust us and let us do our jobs. She's in good hands."

Gryph backed into the waiting room and paced.

Within minutes, the rest of the Chattox sisters arrived, explaining that Cal had remained behind to help sort through the mess of guests and shifters, identifying those who'd changed back into their human form before they mixed with the guests and could escape.

"How's our girl?" Brigid asked, peering through the window of the swinging door leading to the back.

"I don't know. She wasn't conscious going in." Gryph spun and walked to the end of the room and back. "I should have done more. I should have seen it, suspected him. I should have known it was Lucas."

"We heard the black wolf was your brother." Aurai laid a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry."

Gryph shook her hand off and closed his eyes, the image of Lucas lying against the wall not nearly as painful as Selene slipping away in his arms. "He might have killed her."

"The doctors will save her," Deme said.

"We have to believe." Gina took Deme's hand and held her hand out to Brigid. The sisters came together in a circle, each holding a hand.

Gryph stood on the outside, wishing he could add to their power to save their sister.

Aurai broke the chain and extended her hand to him. "Come."

Gryph took it, and Brigid's, and stood with them as they chanted:

"Feel the power.

Free our hearts.

Save our sister.

Bring her home.

With the strength of the earth,

With the rising of the wind,

With the calm of the water,

With the intensity of fire,

With the freedom of spirit,

The goddess is within us.

She is power.

We are her.

We are one

Blessed be."

Something swelled inside him, lifting his spirit, giving him the confidence to face what would be, and the whole-hearted belief that Selene would be all right.

After a moment of silence, they dropped hands and stepped back.

Gryph walked toward the exit and out into the hallway and almost ran into Balthazar.

He gripped the man's arms, his heart squeezing so hard in his chest he could barely breathe. "Father, I'm sorry."

Balthazar raised his hand. "I know. Word travels fast in the underground. Lucas is dead." For a moment his lips pressed into a tight line, his eyes filling with weary tears. "I'm sorry it came to this. I knew I was losing him, I just didn't realize how badly."

Gryph hugged the man who'd raised him his entire life, who'd shown him more love and care than most biological fathers ever did. This man had opened his home and his heart equally to Lucas.

Gryph stood back from his adoptive father. "What I don't understand is why he was so angry with me. Why he thought I was the favored son."

"Probably because he knew you weren't abandoned like he was. You see, his mother didn't love him. Wanted nothing to do with him."

"So? My mother didn't want me, either."

"No, that isn't true. I told you long ago that your mother brought you to me when you were an infant. She loved you and didn't want you to be exposed to the ridicule and hatred of living your life among humans who wouldn't understand when you shifted to lion and back. And in the early years, you did, without warning. Even as an infant.

"When your mother was raped, her parents threatened to cut her off if she didn't abort you. She told her parents she had, but hid her pregnancy from them. When she gave birth in her apartment, she knew the moment you came out, your condition would be impossible to hide.

"She loved you, but to ensure you lived a happier life, she gave you to me, knowing I could raise you better than she could and in a place that would accept you for who and what you were."

"Why didn't she come to live among us?"

"She wanted to, but she was prone to depression and living in the tunnels wouldn't have been conducive to a happy life for her."

"But she never came to visit."

"We thought it best that you not be tempted by the surface until you had your beast under control."

"And when I did attain that goal?" Gryph prompted, trying to grasp what his father was saying.

Balthazar shrugged. "It was just easier."

"Is she—"

"Still alive?" Balthazar nodded. "And she'd like very much to meet you."

Gryph's stomach churned, his palms were sweaty and his beast surged, threatening to unfurl. "When?"

Balthazar patted his arm. "Soon. In the meantime, we need to make sure no harm comes to your little witch."

"She's not mine."

"Then convince her."

"How?"

"Trust your instincts."

"I'm dangerous. I can't control my beast when I'm with her."

"Give her the choice," Balthazar said softly.

Footsteps rang out in the hallway and Gryph turned.

A man in blue scrubs pushed a surgical mask down from his face. "Are you all with Miss Chattox?"

The sisters filed out of the waiting room to join Gryph and Balthazar.

"We're her sisters," Deme said. "How is she?"

"She'll live. It was a nasty wound, severing several veins, but we were able to stop the flow of blood and stitch her back together. You can go in to see her once she's settled in her room. She should be ready to go home tomorrow, if she has someone who'll stay with her."

"She does," Deme assured the doctor. Once he'd left, she held out her hands to her sisters and they gathered in a tight hug, opening their family embrace to Gryph and Balthazar, who gladly accepted.

A nurse found them in the waiting room and led them to the floor and room where they'd moved Selene.

They gathered around Selene's sleeping form, hooked up to monitors and an IV.

Gryph's chest hurt and the scent of antiseptic made him want to vomit. Selene looked so small and helpless against the clean white sheets.

"She probably won't wake until morning," the nurse was saying. "You all might as well get some rest."

"I'm staying," Gryph informed her.

The nurse's gaze ran his length. "Someone put your tux through a blender, sir? You might want to go home, shower and change. You don't want to frighten our patient."

For the first time since he'd left the hotel, Gryph glanced down at his tattered clothing. It didn't matter. "I'm staying."

Her nose wrinkled and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you family?"

Deme, Brigid, Aurai and Gina all answered as one, "Yes!"

The nurse relaxed. "Then I guess you're staying. I'll get a spare pillow and blanket and see if I can't find a shirt."

"That won't be necessary," Gryph assured her.

The woman shook her head. "If I want the nurses to do their jobs and not duck in every five minutes to stare, I'll be finding you a shirt and you will by golly wear it!"

Gryph smiled. "Thank you."

The woman snorted. "That's more like it."

"I'm for that shower and fresh clothing the nurse suggested," Deme said. She touched a hand to Selene's pale cheek. "Be safe, sister." Then she pressed a kiss to her sister's forehead.

The others followed suit.

Deme stopped in front of Gryph. "I'll only be gone for an hour. Call me if she wakes or if you need anything."

"I will."

Brigid faced Gryph. "You're all right for a shifter." She glanced back at her sister lying in the bed. "Selene could do worse," she said, her voice gruff. She touched his arm. "Point is, I trust you to look out for her."

"Thank you."

Gina and Aurai both kissed Selene and turned to leave.

Aurai was at the door when she spun and ran back to Gryph, throwing her arms around him. "Thanks for saving her. We couldn't live without Selene."

Acceptance from the tight-knit family of sisters warmed Gryph's insides, making his chest swell. He hoped he could live up to their expectations and protect their sister from any threats. He'd almost lost her this time. If she gave him a chance, he'd sure as hell do a better job the next time.

Balthazar was the last to leave, laying a hand on Gryph's shoulder. "She's special."

"Yes, she is."

"And so are you. You're as human as anyone, where it counts." His father pressed a hand to his chest.

Gryph nodded. Animals came in all forms, both physical and mental. He prayed he could be the man and beast Selene deserved.

When everyone left but him, he settled in the chair beside Selene and held her hand through the night, praying the bite of the wolf didn't impact her and if it had, that she'd be up for the challenge.

No matter the outcome, he'd accept her for who she was. Because he loved her.