Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter 21

S elene pulled herself out of the gray fog clouding her brain and opened her eyes to sunshine streaming through the open curtain. She blinked and stared around at the sterile walls and surroundings before she realized she was in a hospital.

"About time you woke up." Deme leaned over the bed and brushed a strand of hair out of her face.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Just through the night. The doctor was pleased with your recovery and is sending a nurse by to brief you on your release."

"Oh." Selene glanced around the room.

"If you're looking for the others, Gina and Aurai are bringing the rental car around. Brigid is at the station with Cal filling out the mountain of paperwork that comes from an all-out attack by paranorms at a downtown grand hotel."

Selene grimaced. "How many were hurt?"

"A couple dozen, but only one death."

"Lucas?"

Deme nodded.

Selene's chest tightened. Gryph must have been devastated by his brother's betrayal. She glanced toward the door, wondering where he was.

"Gryph's not here."

"Oh."

Deme smiled. "He was here all night. I ran him home to get a shower and some presentable clothes. He was scaring the staff."

Selene's heart skipped several beats. "He was here."

"Honey, he didn't leave your side all night. The rest of us went to bed. He didn't. Looked like hell this morning."

Selene sat up, a little light-headed, and her neck and arm were sore. She stared down at the bandages and stiffened, remembering Lucas's teeth tearing into her flesh. She touched the bandages. "He bit me."

"Yes." Deme ran a brush through Selene's hair, smoothing the tangles. "The good news is that I did a little checking with the local coven. Apparently, witches are immune to werewolf bites, and it takes more than a mere scratch or bite to change a human to a wolf."

Selene let go of the tension knotting her muscles, the steady brushstrokes calming. "It's bad enough being a witch, but a shifter witch?" When Deme finished, Selene leaned back, shaking her head. "At least D'na Ileana's view of the future didn't come to pass."

"No, it didn't." Gryph's deep voice sounded from the doorway. "Her prediction didn't take into account the power of love and family."

Selene's pulse quickened, her cheeks heating. She lifted a hand to her face, wishing she'd had time to shower and apply some makeup before seeing him.

He carried a vase of red and white roses and set them on the table beside the bed. "You've got some color back in your cheeks."

"It's warm in here," she said.

"I brought you a visitor."

"Really? I'm not even dressed."

"She won't care."

"She?" Selene straightened the sheet in her lap and tugged at the hospital gown.

He turned toward door. "Dr. Richardson?"

An older woman with salt-and-pepper hair, wearing a tasteful business suit, entered the room, her steps hesitant. "Hi."

A spark of recognition teetered on the edge of Selene's memory. She stared from the woman to Gryph. "Don't I know you?"

She nodded. "I'm the president of Colyer-Fenton College, where your sister Aurai studied."

"Oh, yes. I remember now." Not only was she the president during the struggle to free Aurai, but this woman had also been a student at the college when the Chimera had first struck over thirty years ago.

Her frown deepening, Selene's glance shifted to Gryph. What had Balthazar said? Gryph's mother had been attacked by a monster.

Could she be? Her gaze swung back to Dr. Richardson. "Are you—"

"Gryphon's mother?" She held out her hand to her son.

He took it, nodding. "She is. Balthazar introduced us this morning. I wanted her to meet you."

"It's my pleasure." She held out a hand to Selene. "I regret that I wasn't strong enough to raise Gryph on my own. However, Balthazar knew what he was doing. My son is a good man."

Selene squeezed the woman's hand. "Yes, he is."

"Well, I don't want to wear you out and I have to get back to work. I just wanted to meet the woman who captured my son's heart." With tears shimmering in her eyes, she bent and gave Selene a hug. "Grab for love and hold as tightly as you can," she whispered into Selene's ear. Then she was gone, leaving Selene alone with Gryph.

Suddenly shy and at a definite disadvantage, Selene shifted in the sheets, refusing to look at Gryph, afraid she wouldn't see what she wanted to see in his expression. They'd been off again, on again and frankly, she didn't know where they stood anymore or where they were heading.

"I heard what Dr. Richardson said to you." Gryph finally broke the silence, striding across the room.

"You did?" Heat suffused Selene's cheeks and spread down her neck and onto her chest. "And?"

"I agree."

Selene's eyes narrowed. "Just so we're both on the same page...she said grab for love and hold on as tightly as you can. Is that what you heard?"

He nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Question is, do you agree?"

Afraid of more rejection and too tired to fight about it, Selene gazed up at the man she was growing to love more with each day they were together. "Are you going to push me away again? Because I'm not sure I can handle it. A girl can only handle so much rejection before—"

He gathered her in his arms, his lips crashing down over hers.

She melted against him, recognizing this as the place she wanted to be. In his arms, with his lips on hers.

Several long, delicious minutes later, he came up for air. "I don't ever want to hurt you."

"Then don't give up on me or what we have together."

"I can't always control my beast."

"I'll help you." She smoothed a strand of his tawny hair from his forehead. "Are you sure you want to be with a witch?"

"One who can read minds and manipulate people at will?" He nodded. "I told you, I can recognize when you're doing it to me. I won't do anything I don't want to."

"Promise?"

He raised a hand. "Promise."

"Then there's only one thing left to do?" she said.

"What's that?" His arms tightened around her.

"Kiss me."

And he did.

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