Kit and I turn to stare at him, as the shock flares in my chest. “What?”
“She kept it,” he says slowly. “Angelica took it from Dad’s bedside table. She must have… she got it back. Somehow.”
He sounds as though there’s not enough air in the room.
And then he leans down. And he slides the ring onto her finger.
“It fits,” I say softly. His eyes are wet when he looks at me.
“Like it was made for her.”
42 – Stasi
“I’m not going to a fucking ball.”
Rafe sounds outraged. Slowly, I open my eyes. “You’re still here.”
“Stasi.” His voice is full of relief, and he presses his lips against my hand.
And then I’m surrounded. Silas, Kit and Rafe, all three of them around my bed. Silas leans forward, picking up my other hand. “How do you feel? You’ve been out for a few days.”
I frown. “I feel… I feel okay. Was it bad?”
“You nearly died,” Rafe says quietly. He looks terrible. “Kit and Silas had to resuscitate you. Twice.”
My eyes open wider, taking them all in. None of them look like they’ve slept for days, and I jerk my head to the side. “Ellen – where’s Ellen?”
“Ellen is fine,” Kit says gently. “Thanks to you. We’re all fine because of you, Stasi.”
They’re all watching me with warmth in their eyes. Rafe presses his forehead against my hand. “I’m sorry.”
I blink. And my lips tilt up. “You did say that while you were unconscious. Quite a few times.”
Green eyes watch me.
“I’m serious,” Rafe says softly. Kit and Silas step away from the bed, giving us privacy as Rafe leans in. His hand cups my cheek. “I thought I’d lost you. You were dying in front of me, Stasi. And I realized that I’d been an idiot.”
“Only then?” I choke out. Rafe helps me sit up, holding a glass of water to my mouth that I finish before I look back at him.
“You were an idiot,” I say quietly. He looks down. “But so were Silas and Kit, Rafe. Well. Mostly Silas.”
There’s a cough from across the room, and I have to smile.
“If you haven’t worked it out by now,” I say gently, “I’m a little bit lost for you, Rafael Tate. For all of you. Even though you absolutelyarean idiot. And you have a lot of making up to do.”
The smile slowly creeps across his face. “I’m in need of a partner in crime. Care to fill the spot?”
I take a breath. “Can’t fill a spot that was already filled. And I took that place years ago, Rafe.”
His laugh is low. “You did.”
I reach out for his hand, but my eyes drop to my own.
I freeze, staring down at the ring.
Silas appears next to me. He takes my hand in his, tracing my fingers. “You kept it. All this time.”
I can’t stop staring at it. I’ve never put it on. But it fits me perfectly. And then I look up at him.
