A small smile tugged at Gabriel’s mouth. “You are very likely correct, Skyler, in your assessment of Francesca. She would think the best of a monster, but she also is very astute. In you she sees what I see. You need to begin to see yourself as we do. We are your guardians, and you must learn to trust and rely on us. If ever you wish, you may examine my mind and I will share my thoughts with you openly.”
“I wish to get out of this horrible place and go home with you and Francesca.”
“She was securing the doctor’s permission when we were interrupted.”
Skyler bit her lip, started to speak, and then dragged the stuffed animal to her face.
“Tell me, little one,” he encouraged softly. “In our home I will expect truth and respect to be given on both sides. If you wish to say something, I will listen and value what you have to say.”
“You won’t believe me, but I know I’m right.” She dug her fingers into the plush wolf in her nervousness.
Gabriel gently placed his hand over hers and sent her a small wave of warmth and reassurance. “If you know you are right, Skyler, I will believe you.”
She loved the sound of his voice, the accent she couldn’t place, the funny way he twisted his words. Mostly she loved the conviction in him, the way he made her believe him. “I don’t think the doctor is really good. Something’s wrong with him.”
Gabriel nodded. “He was very much in love with Francesca and he was not happy when I returned. You see, Francesca thought I was dead. I think the doctor is having difficulty overcoming his jealousy.”
Skyler stared at him a long while, then shook her head. “It is more than that. I feel it when he touches me.”
For a moment, the red flame of the monster danced in Gabriel’s eyes and inside him, claws unsheathed. He took a moment to breathe before he responded. “What do you mean, little one?” His voice was quieter and more beautiful than ever.
Skyler felt the air in the room grow still, as if the earth itself were waiting for her answer. Her long lashes swept down, concealing her expressive eyes. “When he comes in to examine me, he tries to hide it, but I know something’s wrong with him. He’s twisted. It’s more than jealousy, Gabriel.”
“I am going to secure your release for tomorrow evening. Francesca and I will need to set things up at home so we can give you adequate care while you recover. In the meantime, Francesca has hired a bodyguard for you. He is your guard, not a hospital employee, and he will ensure you are safe in our absence. If you feel threatened, you tell him to get you out of this place and take you to our home.” He pulled the key to the front door of Francesca’s house from his pocket. Taking a thin chain of gold from around his neck, he secured it. “This is the house key, little one.” He placed the chain around her neck. “If you need to come home, you have the key.”
He felt her relief. She was lifting the key, turning it over, and holding it to her as if he had given her something precious. Gabriel stood up, towering over her. “Your room is ready and Francesca has outdone herself.” He wrote the address on a slip of paper and tucked that into her hand also.
A small smile shaped Skyler’s soft mouth. “I knew she would go crazy.” The smile faded from her face, leaving her wan and pale. “Do you believe me about the doctor?”
There was an anxious note in her voice she couldn’t conceal.
Gabriel regarded her gravely, his black eyes serious. “I believe you, Skyler. I have felt the same uneasiness around him. Do not fear for Francesca. I will do all within my very considerable power to keep her safe.”
Skyler searched his face for a long while before her lashes drifted down and she subsided quietly in her bed, obviously satisfied with his reassurance.
Gabriel automatically scanned during his waking hours, and now he felt Brice entering the hospital. He glided away from the bed toward the door. A small gasp of alarm spun him around. “What is it?” he asked softly.