Page 94 of Dark Soul

“Dark?” she asked. Her voice sounded sleepy.

“Tell me, baby.”

“We need to make sure Nikolai is okay.”

“We will. I promise you.”

29

* * *

Alexia

Alexia pulled her feet up on the couch, under the blanket.

One of the blankets.

Dark and his friends—colleagues, she supposed—had been coddling her all afternoon, bringing her blankets, water, tea, crackers … you name it, it was probably on the table in front of her.

They’d also asked her about thirty times if she was sure she didn’t need to go to the hospital.

“Are you sure you don’t need anything, Alexia?” Rogue asked.

“I’d like to know what’s going on.”

“Yeah.” He smiled ruefully. “Maybe it’s better if you have that conversation with Dark.”

That was a good idea, except he seemed to have disappeared.

“Where is Dark?”

“He went to check on Nikolai.”

Alexia’s heart warmed. He’d done that for her, because he knew she was worried about the boy.

“Is he okay?”

“It turns out the mother was in Geneva already, visiting friends. She drove up in a car and is already home with the boy. He’s going to be okay.”

Alexia breathed a sigh of relief. That was good. She couldn’t bear the thought of Nikolai afraid and alone, and she knew how much he’d missed his mother.

A few minutes later, Slate and Ash came in, followed by Dark. Ash’s left arm was in a sling.

Alexia stood up quickly, almost falling over when the blanket tangled around her feet, but finding her purchase again.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in the hospital overnight?”

Ash raised his eyebrow. “I’m fine. It was just a scratch,” he said.

Slate’s laugh boomed. “A scratch with a 9mm bullet inside.”

“It’s not inside anymore. I’m fine,” Ash insisted. “I don’t like hospitals.”

“You saved my life,” Alexia said. “Thank you.”

Ash’s gruff expression softened as he looked at her. His lips curled into a small smile. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Dark walked over. The look in his blue eyes was turbulent.