Page 79 of Mountain Impact

“See?” Jens said, his expression fierce. “I told you he was going to be okay.”

Isolde hugged Kat.

“I was so scared, Kat, I was―”

“I know,” Kat said.

“You probably think it’s stupid. It’s not like Drake and I―”

Kat’s large blue eyes fixed on hers. “I recognize love when I see it, Isolde. You’re in love with Drake. And I’ve known for a long time that he’s in love with you.”

“He thought he was dying when he said it,” Isolde said uncertainly. “We’ll have to see how he feels―”

“I know Drake, Isolde. That has nothing to do with it.”

Isolde looked up at Damien. “Do you want to wait for him in the room?” she asked, knowing how close Drake and Damien were.

“And disappoint him?” Damien shook his head. “You go on up, Isolde. Tell him we’ll be back to see him later today.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, amazed at how badly she needed this.

Damien nodded. “Of course. You’ll call us if there’s any change, or if you need anything?”

Isolde nodded, her expression serious.

“Thank you,” she told them. “I’ll let Drake know you were all here.”

A few minutes later, she found herself in room 212. The walls in this floor were the palest yellow, a color that somebody must have found cheerful years earlier but that hadn’t aged well. She walked past the empty space where the bed would go and opened the curtains before realizing it was night-time.

Nothing to see.

She allowed herself to collapse into the plasticky-looking armchair. Placing her hands on her knees to steady herself, she took a couple deep breaths to calm herself.

She’d told everyone she was okay, that she didn’t need to see a doctor―and it was true Blanchard hadn’t touched her. But, while she might physically be okay, the stress and fear of the last hours had taken a toll on her.

She thought back to the moment when her hand had touched Drake’s bloody back. She knew what it’d cost him to take them to safety―knew also that he would have given his life for her if necessary. Just like she would have done anything to save him.

She wasn’t sure whether it was minutes or hours later that the door opened and a nurse and an orderly wheeled in the bed carrying Drake. Drake’s eyes were closed, his normally golden skin pale against the crisp white bed clothes.

Isolde rose quickly, then stood around with nothing to do while the nurse positioned the bed in the right place.

“If he needs anything, press this button and I’ll come right over,” she told Isolde. The nurse’s shoes made no sound as she left the room, closing the door behind her.

Isolde was about to sit down again when Drake opened his eyes.

“You’re here,” he whispered.

“Drake.” Her eyes filled with tears.

“Hey. Why are you crying?” he asked.

“I’m not crying,” she said, wiping her hand over her eyes. “I’m just happy.”

Drake brought up the hand that wasn’t trapped by the IV.

“Come here.”

She pulled the arm chair closer to the bed and gave him her hand.