I woke hours later in the infirmary’s extra bedroom. Searching, I found the doctor bustling about the infirmary, tending the others wounded in the fight.
“Go back to bed, Ella,” he ordered.
I didn’t bother to correct him. Trella, Ella or Sadie—at this point I didn’t care. Instead I said, “Every bed is full. You’ll need my help.”
He scanned the room. “Nothing serious, thank air. And only a few Pop Cops were recycled. You need your rest. Once things settle down, it’s going to be…interesting around here.”
I shuffled back to my room, thinking my task was complete and I’d leave the others to figure out the rest.
The second time I woke, Riley sat on the edge of my bed. He beamed as if he knew something I didn’t.
“What?” I asked.
“You look much better.” He smoothed a strand of hair from my face.
“I’m sure you didn’t come here to tell me that.”
“No, but it’s nice to see. Especially after…you know…Vinco.”
I shuddered at the memory of his wicked knife. Touching the tender area on my throat, I remembered how it could have been worse. “Thanks for saving me.”
“Anytime.” He flashed me another overly-bright smile.
I pushed to a sitting position. “Okay, Riley tell me what’s going on.”
“I found my brother.”
“Wonderful. How—no let me guess. You went to the lower levels with Mama Sheepy and found the man who still had Dada Sheepy.”
“Yep. The Sheepy family is whole again. His name is Blake and he works in the kitchen.” He beamed.
I squinted. “You have more news.”
This time, he shot me a nervous smile. “I was hoping…” He pulled a necklace from his pocket. “We could make a commitment.”
A brief pulse of fear shot through me. “You mean be mates?”
“No. At least, not yet. Our tradition is to give a gift as the first step. Sort of a symbol that we plan to see how well we get along.” He laid the necklace in my palm.
A silver pendant swung from a thin chain. “A sheep?” I asked.
“I thought it appropriate, considering what has happened.”
So much had happened, and Inside would no longer be the same. But the thought of Riley by my side sent a comforting pulse through my body.
“How do I accept?” I asked.
“You wear the necklace.”
I marveled at the detail of the sheep. “Are you sure? You don’t know everything about me?—”
“I do know I felt as if Vinco shredded my heart with his knife when I found you in our storeroom, unconscious and bleeding. And leaving you with him in the holding cells was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me close. “We can take it slow. We have plenty of time.”
He kissed me. A sizzle traveled through me that didn’t stop when he drew back. My mouth tingled.
“Your answer?” he asked.
I kissed him, enjoying the sensation of happiness blooming inside me for the first time. Too soon, we parted.
