Running and silently screaming through a pitch-black hallway that seemed to stretch on for?—
“Sarah,” a voice called through the darkness.
Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, gently shaking me.
“Sarah.”
My eyes flew open and I blinked against the brightness of the room.
I groaned as pain burned up my neck. Lifting my head, I startled at the sight of Aria, North, and Jared. Everything rushed back and I cried out, my head whipping toward Theo asfire flared up my neck with whiplash. I winced, disappointment settling over me at finding Theo’s eyes still closed.
I looked back at my cousin and North and Aria.
Jared pushed past them to pull me gently from the chair. He hugged me gingerly. “Oh God, Sarah, I’m so glad you’re all right. Fuck.”
I squeezed him hard, inhaling the familiar scent of grass and earth and spice. “I’m okay,” I promised. “Theo got to me in time.”
Jared pulled back to cup my face in his hands. “I suppose this means I have to like the bastard now?”
I laughed, but it quickly turned into a sob. Jared cursed under his breath and embraced me as I cried quietly against his shoulder. Aria and North were anxious to take their turns hugging me.
“How’s he doing?” North asked, concern creasing his brow as he studied Theo.
“The knife hit an artery. They repaired it. The surgeon said they’d have to run some tests when he wakes up to make sure there’s no nerve damage.”
North scrubbed a hand over his face. “Fuck.”
I watched as Aria wrapped a comforting arm around him. “He’ll be fine. Cavendish is made of stern stuff.”
“I’m never going to let him live this down,” North joked, a sheen of emotion in his eyes. “I always knew the prick was a hero underneath all his stiff upper lip shite.”
I chuckled as I leaned into Jared. “Hopefully, he’ll wake up soon so he can contest that himself. We know he will. All evidence to the contrary.”
“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” Aria asked.
Shaking my head, I winced as pain scored up my neck again. “Just a few aches and bruises.”
Her gaze flicked down my body and she blanched. Looking down, I saw the dark stains across my blue shirt. On close inspection, it was obviously blood. “Theo’s,” I explained hoarsely. “He lost a lot … he needed a transfusion.”
“Would you like me to get you a change of clothing and bring them back?” Aria offered.
“You don’t have to …”
“Please. Give me something to do. You know I need to have something to do.”
“Um …” I glanced around, looking for the purse Liz had brought out to me as they were loading Theo into the ambulance. I snatched it up and pulled out the keys to Theo’s apartment. “Theo’s flat is in Mayfair.” I held out the keys to Aria. “I have clothes in the wardrobe. I’ll text you the address.”
“I’ve been there,” North assured me as he guided Aria toward the door. “We’ll be back soon.”
“Thank you.”
Once they left, Jared rubbed my shoulder. “How are you really?”
I sighed heavily. “I don’t know how to feel. It was like some awful nightmare and it’s like I’m here, but I’m not.”
He nodded in understanding. “It’s the shock and the exhaustion. Why don’t I grab you a coffee?”
A coffee sounded pretty good. “I think there’s a machine on this ward somewhere.”
