Dark Steel

by Fable Gray

  “Royal,” Declan growled, pushing past the paramedic to lean into my window once more.

  “Sir, I’m going to need you to stand to the side,” the policeman said.

  “It’s okay,” I told the policeman with a smile. “He’s my boyfriend. I love him.”

  Declan’s gaze snapped to mine, his eyes full of wonder. His lips were parted slightly like he couldn’t believe what he had just heard. And then his eyes narrowed as he scanned my features and my head, where I could feel a trickle of blood coming down.

  Crap. He probably thought I was babbling because of my injuries.

  The world swam around me again, and I became acutely aware of the pain in my chest and my left arm. Aware of the rain pouring through the window and the soft groans Randy kept giving from up front.

  Then nausea crept up, and I told the policeman, “I don’t feel so good.”

  Declan’s anxious face swam in and out of focus, and then I passed out.

  #

  I woke to the beep of machines in a dim room under a pile of blankets. Warm. That was the first thing I noticed, that it was warm.

  I wasn’t in the rain anymore. I wasn’t even outside anymore.

  My eyelids flickered and the room came into focus. I moaned softly. Crap. I was in a hospital room.

  “Royal?”

  I turned my head slightly and saw Declan sitting next to me, his eyes anxious. He looked so beautiful, it was almost surreal. Especially here, under the harsh hospital lighting. He should look like the rest of us. Like humans. But he wasn’t entirely human. And no matter where he was, he always looked beautiful.

  I lifted my hand to touch his cheek, but he caught my fingers in his own before I could reach him. “That’s not fair,” I told him.

  He leaned in to hear me better. “Fair? What’s not fair?”

  “That you look so perfect, and I look…” My voice trailed off. I could only imagine. The last thing I remembered, I was getting wet in the rain, crushed against the door of a broken vehicle, bruised and bleeding. “Why did you let them bring me here?”

  His jaw clenched. I was sure he knew how much I didn’t like hospitals after what my father had gone through. “You were hurt, sweetheart,” he said. “I needed to make sure you were okay.”

  I frowned and shifted under the blankets, trying to assess the damage. My ribs ached dully and my arm was in a soft sling. But other than that, I could only feel relief that there didn’t seem to be anything permanent wrong with me.

  “Are you in pain?” Declan asked, his touch feather-light on my hand.

  I shook my head and fought back a grimace at the wave of pain that traveled through my body. The last thing I wanted was for them to make me stay here any longer than necessary.

  “No,” I breathed. “I’m fine.”

  Declan sighed. “Royal, please. You don’t have to pretend.”

  “Pretend? I’m not pretending anything. I’m fine. I’d like to go now.”

  “What? You can’t leave—”

  “I’m fine,” I said again and squeezed his hand. “Here, help me.”

  “Royal. Stop for a minute. You can’t go anywhere—”

  “Please.” I looked up at him. “Declan, I don’t want to be here.”

  Understanding flickered in his gaze. He reached out and brushed my hair gently from my cheek. “Sweetheart,” he murmured. “I know you don’t want to be here. You probably hate hospitals after…” He shook his head. “Listen, it won't be long. They just need to make sure everything is okay.”

  It was the first time I’d seen him look like a normal human. Like someone who could be affected by life and stress and pain and suffering. I didn’t need to add to that by trying to get him to spring me free.

  His gaze lowered before coming back up to mine. “You dislocated your shoulder, bruised your ribs, and hit your head. A mild concussion. It’s…” He cleared his throat and tried a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes before lowering his gaze again. “I’m so sorry, Royal.”

  “It isn’t your fault.” When he lowered his head to press his cheek against my hand on the blankets, a wave of tenderness moved through me. “Declan…”

  His voice came out hoarse and he didn’t even lift his head to look at me this time. “I thought… I was afraid that I might have lost you. All this—this whole mess—is because of me. I should have told you that Johnson was threatening to come after you.” He glanced up. “That was who kept calling me. He said if I didn’t do what he wanted, he’d hurt you. I…”

  Realization dawned on me. Cole Johnson had been behind this the whole time. He’d threatened Declan, used me against him.

  “He said if I told you anything else, he might hurt you,” Declan whispered. He lifted his gaze to meet mine. “I’m so sorry—I should have said something, but—”

  “It’s okay. You did what you had to do.” Guild squeezed my heart. “I don’t blame you—I shouldn’t have in the first place—”

  “You’re hurt because of me,” he said, eyes full of anguish.

  “It was an accident. I’m okay, I promise.”

  He nodded, but he still looked miserable.

  I pulled my hand from his so I could touch his cheek. “This isn't your fault. You hear me? Tell me you understand what I’m saying.”

  He swallowed hard. “I understand what you’re saying. But I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”

  I gave a soft laugh and then grimaced when pain shot through my chest. “I can handle that. And no more secrets.”

  “No more secrets,” he agreed.

  The door opened, and the once quiet room was suddenly filled with voices. My dad came in, and when he saw that I was awake, hurried to my bed and set aside the cup of coffee he had in his hands. A nurse followed closely behind him as well as Xander.

  “Royal,” my dad said, looking nearly as ragged as Declan. “How are you?”

  “Could be worse,” I told him, making Declan frown.

  Any hope for a few more quiet moments alone with Declan was whisked away by the suddenly full room. He stepped back to let the nurse check my vitals, and I missed the warmth of his fingers around mine.

  When the nurse asked if I felt any pain, Declan spoke up before I had the chance.

  “She does and don’t let her lie to you and tell you anything different.”

  I frowned at him, but the nurse only laughed and nodded.

  “No worries,” she said cheerfully. “I have just the thing. You just relax for now and the doctor will be in later. You’re a lucky girl.”

  She said she’d be right back, and I nodded. I was lucky. Nothing serious had happened, and I was with my family and friends. Even if I’d rather be with them at home. Or at Declan’s cabin. I figured I’d probably be able to convince him to get me out of here after the doctor stopped in.

  “I thought it was your dad,” I told Declan. “In the other car. I thought he was the one coming after me.”

  Declan sat by my side again and took my hand, his lips turning down in a frown. “I know. I thought so, too, at first. But when we checked the GPS, I saw that the one following you wasn’t one of ours.”

  “But then why was he acting like that in your office? Why did he want me to go with him?”

  Declan sighed. “I think he was trying to protect you. I spoke with my father and he said he suspected Johnson was up to something.”

  “Do you believe him?”

  He started to respond, but the nurse came back into the room.

  Xander gave me an amused smile. “Good drugs.”

  I gritted my teeth. “I’d rather go home.”

  The nurse patted my hand. “Once you’ve rested and the doctor’s been in again, you might be able to.”

  Xander continued to grin. “In a minute, you’re going to be feeling really good and you won’t care anymore.”

  I chuckled softly and then pointed at him when my lungs protested. “Don’t make me laugh, it hurts.”

  He pressed
his lips together in a thin line. “I apologize. But you were saying all sorts of things when they first brought you in here, and it was really funny.”

  “What things?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

  And suddenly, I remembered something else I had said. Something I’d told the policeman back at the car.

  I love him. That’s what I had said, and I knew Declan heard it. I’d meant it too.

  “All right,” the nurse said. “We should probably let the patient rest for a little bit.”

  My father nodded. He reached out and patted my hand. “We’ll be here, waiting until you wake up again.”

  “So you can spring me free from this place,” I asked him.

  “We’ll see. We do give this place good business, don’t we?”

  I swallowed. “We do.”

  But I knew it could have been worse. My dad could have been killed. I could have been killed too. But instead, we were both here and safe, and I had Declan.

  We knew the truth—well, most of it. I’d get the rest from Declan when I felt better. But now, as the drugs kicked into my system and I got warm and relaxed again, I realized how lucky I was, just like the nurse said.

  “Get me something from the gift shop,” I told Xander.

  “You got it.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Declan told the nurse.

  She only gave him a look to say she didn’t have the energy to fight with him, and they all left. Everyone except for Declan.

  “You can go,” I told him. “You probably have things to do.”

  He seated himself next to me again and took my hand.

  “Like I told the nurse, I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Is Randy okay?”

  Declan nodded. “I went to check on him. He’s fine. He broke his arm but seemed pretty cheerful about it considering. He and his wife kept saying what great insurance they had, so they might as well test it out.”

  I laughed again, and then pressed a hand to my chest as pain bloomed there. “I bet. Was his son there?”

  Declan nodded again and moved to brush his fingers on my cheek. “He’s a smart young man. Royal…”

  My eyes drooped but I forced them open. “Yes?”

  “Never mind, it’s fine. Rest for now.”

  “No, I’m good. Talk to me. Tell me… all the things.”

  He chuckled softly. “Please tell me you’re okay. Please tell me this didn't ruin things between us.”

  His words surprised me, but I was too relaxed to show any kind of emotion. “Not ruined. I promise.”

  He swallowed and rested his cheek on my hand again. “Okay.”

  I wished I could reassure him more, but I could barely get the words out. Sleep sucked at me, trying to take away this moment with him. But there was still one more thing I had to say before I fell asleep again.

  “Declan?” I asked.

  He lifted his head and looked at me. “Yes?”

  “You’re going to think this is the drugs talking, but I swear it’s not. I love you.”

  His eyes filled with wonder and hope, losing the haunted look he had before. “I love you too Royal.”

  I gave him a sleepy smile. “Good.”

  And then I went to sleep again.

  Chapter 36

  “I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Declan said as the black Bentley pulled onto the dirt turn-off we’d visited not too long ago.

  “You know you needed to get out as badly as I did.”

  Declan glanced around before opening the door. “Yeah, but somewhere…” He shrugged and then pointed to the seat. “Stay there I’ll come around and get your door.”

  I did as he said, but only because he’d compromised with me this morning and I was actually finally getting out of the house for a little bit.

  But I knew what else he wasn’t saying. He wanted us to go somewhere that involved less moving and more sitting. I figured he was thinking more like a movie or a quiet lunch, not a hike.

  I didn’t know how far I’d make it, but for now, I was feeling good. My arm was almost back to normal as long as I didn’t try to lift anything heavy, and my ribs only ached when I overdid it.

  So, I would just go slow and enjoy the beautiful day with the man I loved.

  Declan opened my door and held his hand out for me. I took it, stepped out, and then lifted on my toes to kiss him.

  His body responded the same way it had for the last three weeks. First, with immediate capitulation. And then with tension. Then, he pulled back and shook his head.

  His fingers tightened gently on my arms before he released me and stepped back. “Royal,” he chided me.

  “Declan,” I said in response, exasperated.

  Before I could assure him that I was perfectly capable of kissing him and probably doing plenty of other things we had been abstaining from these last few weeks, he turned to Davis, who’d gotten out of the car.

  Dammit. I thought I had him this time. Three weeks. It had been an entire three weeks since he’d done anything more than hold my hand or give me chaste kisses that teased me but never went any further than that.

  Now I knew how my father felt when I was trying to get him to stay safe at home.

  With a sigh, I let Declan and Davis talk while I reached into the car to grab the backpack.

  Declan glanced over and then frowned at me. He held out his hand for the backpack, and I dutifully passed it over.

  “I can carry a backpack,” I mumbled, but he just turned his attention back to Davis.

  With a sigh, I walked several feet toward the trail, letting the air fill my lungs. It wasn’t worth an argument. Not today. It was summertime, and the sky was beautiful, beckoning me.

  With a glance back I saw Declan making gestures, and then Davis nodded. Declan was still being cautious, even though everything had been silent and peaceful. We hadn’t heard a word from Cole Johnson. He was probably recuperating at home just like I had been. Since then, Christopher Dark had also assured us that Cole wouldn’t be interfering in our lives anymore.

  But that didn’t mean Declan had relaxed his guard entirely. He’d been extra cautious, on top of worrying about how I was healing. Which meant no going anywhere, and pretty much no doing anything.

  We’d been staying at his cabin and he hadn’t even been going into work. He’d work from his office while I relaxed in various places around his house. Declan ventured out about every thirty minutes to make sure I wasn’t trying to pick anything up or do anything more strenuous than take a short stroll from the living room to the kitchen.

  It had taken half of the morning, but I’d finally convinced him that I was up for a short hike. And, since he knew from experience there wasn’t usually a lot of people out here, and that he probably planned on carrying me halfway up the mountain and back down, he finally agreed. Reluctantly. And then grumbled about it practically the entire way here.

  My lips curved. It was actually kind of cute. I knew he was just trying to take care of me. The only problem was that in trying to take care of me, he hardly touched me either. He was afraid he’d hurt me.

  Today I planned on convincing him that wasn't going to happen.

  Declan appeared at my side and took my hand. “Ready?”

  I nodded and gave him a sweet smile. “I have been for a whole week.”

  He shot me a look I couldn’t read because he was wearing sunglasses. But he didn’t comment. I grinned. He was pretty good at not falling into my traps.

  We started walking together, and I kept it slow. I liked to tease Declan, but he was right. I still needed to take it easy if I wanted to heal enough to get back to normal life.

  “I talked with Xander again this morning,” Declan told me.

  “Oh? And was he convinced?”

  Declan squeezed my fingers. “Just about. I think him knowing that we need to up security at the building and him knowing that you’re going to be working there is helping to convince him. I made it clear he’d only be work
ing on a freelance basis. I understand he likes his freedom.”

  “He does. But it’s more about being comfortable in his environment.”

  “Absolutely. Which is why I offered him a corner office, away from everyone else so he’d have a decent amount of space and quiet. And, of course, he’ll have someone to drive him to and from work every day. Especially now that…”

  I glanced over when he didn’t continue. “Now that what?”

  He shrugged. “Now that you're staying with me fairly permanently.”

  His words hinted at something more, making curiosity flicker inside of me.

  “And?” I asked.

  He glanced over. “And what?”

  “It sounded like you were going to say something else.”

  “Are you doing okay? Getting sore?”

  I reached over and gently pushed his arm. “Stop trying to distract me and just tell me what you were going to say.”

  “I was going to say, you’ve been staying with me since the accident. And it seems to be working out pretty well. I like having you close by and waking up to you every morning.”

  I smiled at him. “Me too.”

  “So…” He blew out a breath. “I was thinking that we could make it permanent.”

  I blinked and stopped on the trail. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”

  “It makes sense, doesn’t it? Once we go back to the city, we can go into work together. And I…I love you so much, Royal. This is it for me. I don’t want to be with anyone else. I just want you for the rest of my life.”

  “I love you too,” I murmured, floored by the seriousness of his words. The rest of my life… That was definitely more permanent.

  Declan put his arms around me gently, and I lowered my head to his shoulder.

  “I’ll never get tired of hearing you say that,” he murmured in my ear.

  “And I’ll never get tired of saying it.”

  “So what do you think?”

  I looked up at him. “Yes. I think that would be a good idea.”