“DNA DB?”Hawk stepped aside so the nurse could slip past.
“DNA Database,” she said as she cut through Aurora’sT-shirt.“We can run her DNA against all the logged species in our database tosee if we can find a match.”
“If not?”
“Then she’ll be listed as a new unknown species until sheregains consciousness and tells us.”She barked some orders laden with strangemedical terms at the remaining nurse and then turned back to Hawkyn.“Whathappened to her, and how are you involved?”
He blinked at the forcefulness of the question, and when hecaught the nurse staring at him it occurred to him that this could easilyappear to be a case of domestic violence.It kind of surprised him that demonswould givea crapabout such things.
“She was imprisoned and tortured by a serial killer.Irescued her.”He could have explained in more detail, but he figured it wasprobably best to keep the fact that he was an angel under wraps in a demonhospital.Yes, he’d had to reveal his identity when he was treated yesterday,and several staff members knew he was Idess’s brother, but she’d assured himthat no one would blab.Apparently, the doctor who ran the hospital was astickler for rules.
As if Aurora knew she was being discussed, she moaned.Hereyes flickered open and locked withhis, swirling withfear and confusion that heactually felt.Understood.Because hundreds of years ago at the age of eighteen, he’d been beaten,tortured, and caged while waiting for his turn at the chopping block.The onlyquestion was whether he’d lose one hand or two for stealing the bread he’d beendesperately hungry for.
Then he’d woken in a soft bed in a castle in Belgium,surrounded by strangers and confused as hell.Soheknew what Aurora was experiencing, and instinctively, he reached for her hand.
Blaspheme blocked him, and in that instant, he realized shewas no demon.Her energy, dancing on his skin like butterfly wings, wasangelic.
Blaspheme was an angel.Her heavenly vibe was weak, so shewasn’t a full-fledged Heavenly resident, but neither did she emit the shadowyvibe of an Unfallen, the evil vibe of a True Fallen, or the flat, stale vibe ofa fellow Memitim.Interesting.
“I need you to hang out in the waiting room,” she saidsternly, leaving no room for argument.“Or you can leave your contactinformationand I’ll update you when I can.”
As reluctant as he was to leave Aurora, he understood duty.
And it was a good thing, too, because if he didn’t, Draygerwould be dead by now.
Scalpels and bone saws.Grotesque scenes of goreand body parts.Bits of flesh and hair sticking to tarps.A handsome manreaching for her but unable to connect.Snarling monsters emerging from the fogin dark parking lots.The rattle of chains, the stench of burning blood.Theman was reaching for her again, but she was being dragged away by clawed hands.No!
Aurora woke to the sounds of screams.It was only after awarm hand closed over hers that she opened her eyes and realized that thescreams had come from her.As her blurry vision cleared, chains on the ceilingcame into sharp focus, and another scream lodged in her throat.
There are chains on the ceiling.
She lurched upright in bed, her heart pounding, her breathscoming in spastic gasps.Where was she?And who was the hot blond guy dressedin jeans and leather sitting next to her bed?He looked familiar...especiallythose piercing emerald eyes.
There are chains on the fucking ceiling!
A vision of him in a dark parking lot flashed in her mind,and she saw herself blasting him in the chest with every drop of power she’dbeen able to muster.
He was the man reaching for herover andover.
He was real.
Oh, God, the nightmares had been real.Not dreams, butmemories.
Her throatclosed upeven as herlungs tried to take in air.Everything closed in on her, turning her own bodyinto a prison.Or a coffin.Was this what claustrophobia felt like?She wantedto scream, to flail, but where would that get her?
Close your eyes.Calm down.Focus on breathing.Itwas what she told her tense clients at the spa.Breathe.In.Out.In.Out.
Open your eyes.Feel the peace.
There were still chains on the ceiling.
“Hey, it’s okay.”The man covered her cold hand with hiswarm one.“You’re safe now.”The stranger’s deep voice soothed her, which madeno sense, given that he was part of her nightmare.
You whacked some Good Samaritan who was probably tryingto help you.
Okay, yes, Drayger the Psychopath had claimed this guy wasinnocent, a potential rescuer.But Jason Drayger was also a twisted monster whocouldn’t be trusted.
She yanked her hand away.“Who are you?Where am I?”Hervoice was hoarse, her throat tender from screaming.
