Gem gave her a quizzical look.“Do you know your origins?”
For some sketchy superstitious reasons, Aurora’s peoplerarely spoke about their ancient history, preferring to concentrate on theirhistory since the rebellion that had gained them freedom and life among humans.Aurora had always thought the reluctance to discuss their origins wasridiculous, but then, she’d long ago adopted a human lifestyle and left behindWytch lore, customs and, especially, mating rituals.
“According to lore,” she said, trying to sound like shewasn’t mentally rolling her eyes, “we were created when a Charnel Apostlesorcerer mated male human witches with a breed of succubus that’s now extinct.”
“Huh.”One of Gem’s dark eyebrows climbed up her forehead.“Sowhat kinds of abilities do you possess?”
Startled by a question Wytches considered rude, Aurorastiffened.“I’m sorry, but I’d like to keep that information to myself.”
Gem smiled, apparently not offended by Aurora’s sharp tone.“That’s your right, and I absolutely understand.Now, let’s take a closer lookat this leg.”
The doctor approved of the way the wound was healing, butall Aurora could do when she looked at the mess on her thigh was remember thepain of the knife and orgasmic gleam in Drayger’s eyes as she bled andscreamed.
“Hey,” Gem said softly, and Aurora realized she wastrembling.“It’s okay.You’re safe here.No one will hurt you.I promise.”Shetook Aurora’s hand and gave it a comforting squeeze, but her fingers weren’tnear the area on Aurora’s palm that would allow her to absorb the doctor’senergy.If she could shift just a little to the left, she could replenish herpowers...“We took care of the injuries we could see, but did your captor hurtyou...in other ways?”
Rape.She was talking about rape.Forgetting the need tosteal a little of Gem’s magic-giving energy, Aurora shuddered.
“No.He cut off my clothes, but...no.”
The memory of it, the fear as he stripped her, brought awave of fresh anxiety.He’d led her to believe he was going to sexually assaulther, but his taunts turned out to be just another way to terrorize her.In theend, he was too disgusted by what she was to be turned on.
“Good,” Gem said crisply.“And I hope he’s too dead to hurtanyone else.”
Ditto.Bigditto.“Who...who brought me here?”
“Hawkyn.”The doctor released her and reached for a box ofbandages.“He’s the one who rescued you.”
“Why?How did he find me?How did he survive what I did tohim?”
Gem eyed her.“What did you do to him?”She shook her head,making her perky pigtails swing around her jawline.“You know what?Never mind.All I know is that he brought you in and demanded the best medical teamavailable.”She let out a sigh as she loosely covered the wound with a freshgauze pad.“Typical angel.”
It took a second for Aurora to process Gem’s words, but eventhen, they didn’t make sense.“Did...did you say he’s anangel?”
“Oh, shit.”Swearing again, Gem settled the sheet andblanketover Aurora’s legs.“I thought you knew.He’s sortof an angel...I’ll let him fill you in on the details since I wasn’t supposedto say anything in the first place.”She glanced at her watch.“I’ve got anappointment, but I’ll have a nurse come clean your wound and apply another coatof salve.You should be able to go home tonight, and you’ll be fully healed bymorning.”She brought the tray of food over and settled it on the bed’s tableattachment.“Want me to send Hawkyn back in?”
Aurora’s breath caught.She associated him with the worstfew days of her life, but at the same time, it appeared that she owed him thatsame life.Plus, she’d hurt him that night when he was, according to Drayger,trying to help her.
“Please,” she told Gem.“I have a lot of questions for him.”
“I’m sure you do.”Gem reached for the door handle.“I don’tknow him well, but his sister works here and is part of my family, so for whatit’s worth, I think you can trust him.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
Nodding, Gem left.Before the door whispered closed, Hawkyncaught it, stepped inside, and the air rushed out of Aurora’s lungs.But thistime, her physical response wasn’t the result of trauma or fear.This time itwas pure female appreciation.And maybe a bit of awe that the tall,devastatingly handsome male was an angel.An actual angel.
Gods, she had so many questions.
“Hi,” he said, flashing a smile that would have dropped herpanties in any other situation.Not even the fangs that peeked between his fulllips would have given her pause.Except, maybe, to ask why an angel would havefangs.“How are you feeling?”
“I’m not in pain, if that’s what you mean.”She opened thelittle bottle of orange juice and took a sip.“The doctor said you’re an angel.Was she joking?”Because angels didn’t wear ass-hugging jeans and untucked blueplaid button-downs, right?They wore robes and sandals or something.
“She wasn’t joking.”
Oh, wow.She exhaled slowly, needing a little time to gatherher thoughts.Why would an angel have been in the parking lot that night, andwhy would he rescue her?Unless...“Are you my guardian angel?”
He moved closer, his boots silent on the gleaming blackfloor.“Long story, but no.”He looked down, his long bangs falling across hisface and obscuring his eyes.“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you from him.”Hedidn’t have to say who “him” was.“I failed.”
“Are you kidding me?I blasted you with silver fire.Ithought you were with that bastard who abducted me.”The sound of his bodyhitting the lamp post reverberated in her ears as if it had happened onlyseconds ago.“Later, when he said you were a Good Samaritan, I was afraid I’dkilled you.”
