“I’ll meet you there,” Xavier says, having heard. “I’ll stay on the phone with you until you get there.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, then realize it was a dumb thing to say.
“What happened?” Xavier asks.
“He was shot. With an arrow. They thought he was a vampire.”
“They? Who, Wren?”
“I…I…”
“Don’t,” he says, changing his mind. “Don’t say anything in front of anyone. Are you okay? Physically?”
“Yes. I’m not hurt.” My whole body trembles and I close my eyes. The scene flashes before my eyes again. “It happened so fast.” My teeth chatter when I talk as if I’m cold. “I...I couldn’t stop it.”
“It’s not your fault, Wren.”
“I could have de…deflected it. I didn’t.”
“It’s not your fault,” he repeats, gently.
I sniffle and wipe my nose with the back of my hand, incidentally smearing blood all over my face. Xavier does his best to keep me focused on what he’s saying, trying to calm me as much as possible.
We get to the hospital and I lower the phone from my ear as I scramble out of the ambulance. I can go into the hospital with them, but I know I won’t be able to follow them into the OR, where they’re rushing to.
I have to force myself to keep my eyes open when Devon is brought out of the back because I’m terrified he’s going to belifeless and gone. He’s hooked up to an IV and his eyes flutter open as they walk him past me.
“Devon,” I murmur.
“Wren,” he chokes out. “Don’t…don’t let them turn me.”
Chapter
Two
THEN…
“Aren’t you glad we found each other?” I link my fingers through Ryder’s and snuggle up closer to him. “Being on dating apps sucks.”
He chuckles and brings my hand to his mouth and kisses it. “I am so lucky to have you, Florence.”
“Don’t call me that,” I giggle.
“Why? It’s a pretty name.”
“It just sounds so formal.” I close my eyes for a few seconds, listening to his heart steadily beating. We’re lying under the stars on the cool sand along the Pacific Ocean, listening to the waves crash against the shore, seeking solace and some alone time after hunting scrapper demons for the last few days.
“Florence McAna,” Ryder says. “I think it has a nice ring to it.”
I lift my head off his chest and stare at him incredulously. “Oh really?”
“What?” He laughs and pulls me on top of him. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.”
“Thought about what?” I ask, just wanting to hear him say it out loud.
“Getting married. Being together—forever.”
My heart soars in my chest. It’s all I’ve ever wanted and everything I’ve feared I’d never have: someone to love me as much as I love them.
