“She was eating, and then she-”
“Her change has started. She’s fine,” I murmur with a sigh of relief after I lift her lids to see her eyes and their dark, almost black appearance.
“Already?” he gushes. “Is this my fault?”
“Not at all. It’s good you’re here for her. It’ll take her a couple of days to wake up, and then we’ll have to see what her gift is. I’ll be the one to provoke her, and I’ll use you to do it.”
“What if it provokes me? I could hurt you,” he murmurs with concern while walking into our apartment.
“You won’t hurt me. I promise. Right now, we just need to make sure she gets plenty of rest. It’ll take a few months for her to reach her full potential just like you still haven’t done. Your hearing is sad right now, but you’ll be stronger in every way soon enough. She will be too.”
“I don’t remember blacking out like that,” he murmurs in despair while kissing her forehead, and he finally lays her in the bed.
“It’s different for everyone. I blacked out just like her. It just depends on the person. I’ll sleep in here with her,” I say reassuringly.
“No. I’ll stay. I don’t want to leave her, and I doubt I’ll sleep anyways.”
“You have to sleep. Your weapons tests, strength test, and so many other tests start tomorrow. You’ll need to be on your game to be rated for the United. Believe me, you don’t want to be on guard detail. Your gift won’t matter if you can’t do anything else. Please tell me you can shoot and fight.”
“I can,” he murmurs softly while staring down at his sleeping beauty.
“I need to call Nicholas and tell him his daughter has started her change. He may want to come down here. Will that be okay?” I murmur while turning to face the distressed face of Hale.
“Of course,” he mutters. “I’ll make sure to have him a room ready. I’ll send Wendy to bring you anything you might need. Can I get you anything before I go?”
“No. I’m fine,” I huff.
I don’t want him to leave, and I feel so stupid. His hand is close to mine, and I take it while leaning against the wall.
“Thanks for the food,” I mumble, and he smiles before withdrawing from the contact.
“No problem,” he rigidly responds before dashing out.
I lean against the door, and then I walk over to inspect the sad boy and sleeping girl. I hear Hale’s door shut, and I sigh as his footsteps walk over to be close to the wall of my new bedroom.
“Please tell me she and I won’t end up like the two of you,” Grayson grumbles while kissing the top of her head.
“Don’t lie to her, and you won’t. As long as you want her, she’ll always want you,” I murmur softly, and I know Hale is listening.
“Do you still love him?” he asks, and I can feel Hale holding his breath.
“I’ll always love him,” I whisper, but I know he can still hear me.
His footsteps start walking away from the wall, and I smile lightly at Grayson before walking over to turn off the light.
“Go to sleep. She needs you to be at your best so the two of you can be in the same stature. It’ll take you forever to climb up the ladder if you fail your tests. She’s good. I’ve heard her father’s boasting, so do your best.”
“How can I focus with her like this?” he gripes.
“You just do it. I promise it’ll be okay, and the two of you will have hundreds and hundreds of years together before aging out. We still have to blood test to find out what hybrid you are.”
“What if she’s a short span hybrid?” he asks worriedly.
“I doubt it. Her father is a strong full blood. There are very few short span hybrids these days.”
“What if I’m a short span?” he whimpers. “I just found her. What if I have less than two hundred years with her?”
“The blood tests come first thing in the morning. We’ll find out then, and I want you to focus on nothing else but your physical tests between now and then. Sleep. She’s just resting.”
