Page 67 of A Raven Repents

“Giles. Giles.” She couldn’t seem to say anything else.

Gwen simply nodded and held her close. “Ash will see he has everything he needs.”

She hadn’t told him she loved him. Sobs overcame her and she collapsed to the floor in a heap. What if she never got the chance now?

No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. She gasped, praying to whoever would listen to keep him safe. He would be. Ash would make sure he was safe. Wouldn’t he?

Numbness grew in her lips, and slowly crept through the rest of her, forming a wall between her and everything around her.

Gwen helped her up off the floor, and eventually, her wailing eased. Her body progressed from trembling to jerking sporadically, and her breathing was uneven and fitful. All she could hear was the sound of Giles screaming inside her head. She didn’t see the room around her. She only saw Giles. And blood.

Gwen ushered her into a small sitting room and offered her some tea, but Christina could only shake her head. She sat on the sofa and rocked forward and back. Please. She couldn’t lose him now.

It felt like days passed before Ash finally came through the door. She jumped to her feet, but couldn’t speak.

“He’s alright.”

“Oh, thank God.” She threw her arms around Ash, renewed sobs racking her body. It was a moment before she realized she was hugging a virtual stranger. But he only held her.

“I’m sorry,” she said, taking a step back and wiping her tears.

“Shhh.” Gwen wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “That’s what we’re here for.”

“Where is he?” Her body still twitched as she tried to calm herself.

“He’s in a bed downstairs. He’s sedated right now, but he’s going to be alright. I’ll take you to him if you’d like.”

“Yes, please.”

When they reached his room, she rushed to the side of the bed. His chest rose and fell steadily as he breathed, but bandages circled his head and covered the whole left side of his face, including his eye.

“I love you, Giles,” she bawled, throwing herself across his chest. “I’m sorry I didn’t say it before.”

He didn’t move or speak. “I love you,” she whispered again.

He was warm and soft beneath her. Not stiff like a suit jacket would have been. They’d changed him into pajamas.

“Are you sure he’s going to recover?”

“Yes,” Ash said with a nod. “The doctor is keeping him sedated right now for his own comfort. He won’t be awake until at least tomorrow. Perhaps longer. But he’s not in any danger now.”

“Thank you. Thank you for helping him.”

Ash merely nodded.

“What happened to the man who attacked him?”

“You don’t need to worry about any of that. I assure you he’ll never hurt you or Giles again.”

She wasn’t so naive to not grasp the meaning behind those words. When Giles had spoken of the protection provided by his family she hadn’t fully understood how far that went until now. The man who attacked him was either dead, or soon would be. But why had he attacked Giles? Was it really just a random robbery?

“I’m going to head over to the Den and make sure everything is still running smoothly. It’ll be closing time soon.” Ash pressed a kiss against Gwen’s forehead.

“He’ll be alright, Christina,” he assured her. “And so will you.”

After a few minutes, she slumped into the chair. Now that the danger had passed, uncompromising exhaustion swept over her, sapping her strength.

Gwen crouched beside her. “There’s a room across the hall you may sleep in.”