It was two weeks before Piers made contact, and he and Roz arrived later that same day. Ash had hardly left Faith’s side. And sometimes Tara would join him. He would tell her stories about her mother, how they had met. What she’d been like.
Faith remained unchanged.
There was no sign of retribution as yet, though Lucifer had sent a message that he’d been ordered to hand Ash over.
“Since when did those bastards think they can give me orders?”
It was probably only a matter of time. But Ash couldn’t get worked up about it. He’d deal with the problem when it occurred.
He did leave her to go down to the courtyard when Piers and Roz arrived.
Roz was glowing; the break had done her good. Piers looked the same. “I hear we missed some fun.”
Roz stepped up to him, rested her hand on his arm. “Thank you. I heard what you did.”
“You’ll try and save her?”
“Of course.”
“Now.”
She nodded. Ash didn’t wait for anything else, just picked her up, and flew her to his rooms. She sat on the edge of the bed and studied Faith for a long time. “She looks so well.”
“She’s been the same since I brought her back.”
Roz glanced at him. “On the other hand, you look like shit. You know, I always wanted you brought down, but not like this.”
“Just help her.”
She shifted so she could rest both her hands against Faith’s forehead. A white light glowed from within, moving down her arms, pulsating with life. It left the tips of her fingers and transferred into Faith.
They remained unmoving for long minutes. Ash glanced at Roz, her face was rigid with tension.
Finally, the light faded. She shook her head and sat back.
“I’ve healed the damage from the broken blood vessel, but I can’t reach her. She’s far away. Maybe it’s been too long. I don’t know.” She shrugged helplessly. “I’ll try again later. Don’t give up hope.”
But he’d put all his hopes on this and now despair gripped him in its tight hold. He nodded and waited until she let herself out.
Then he sank onto the bed and dragged Faith into his arms, pressing a kiss to her closed lips. “Faith, wake up. Just wake up, and I’ll be whatever you want me to be.”
Roz came the next day and the one after that, but there was no change. She paused at the door as she was leaving. “Ash…?”
He glanced up from the bed, where he sat with Faith held tight against his side, her hand curled limply on his chest.
“Maybe you need to get out of here for a while. I’m not saying give up but…”
“You think she won’t wake?” he growled. “You’re wrong.”
He hated the look she gave him; he didn’t need pity. When the door closed behind her, he sat staring out through the window into the twilight. Absently, he picked up a brush from the table and stroked it through the long, silky strands of her hair.
She stirred in his arms, and his heart stopped beating.
…
A light flickered in the darkness. Faith was warm, comfortable. Part of her didn’t want to move, but something was drawing her upward. She tried to concentrate, think where she was. She’d been in the room with Ryan, and she’d been dying.
But she wasn’t dead, at least she didn’t think so. In fact she was hungry, her insides hollow. She’d hardly be hungry if she were dead.
Someone was stroking her hair, and for a few seconds she reveled in the sensation. Only one person’s touch had the ability to make her feel that good.
Ash.
Slowly she became aware of her surroundings; she was lying in bed, held tight in a man’s arms, her hand splayed on his silk shirt, her leg pressed against smooth leather of his pants. Breathing in, she recognized the sharp, spicy scent of her favorite demon.
Her stomach rumbled as her eyes flicked open. She was back in the room high in the tower, and beneath her cheek, she could feel the solid thump of his heart. Ash shifted her in his arms, so she lay across him and could look up into his hard handsome face. With a trembling hand, she stroked the roughness of his cheek, just as her stomach grumbled again.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “I don’t suppose there’s a bacon sandwich anywhere close. Maybe two.”
For a few seconds his head rested back against the wall, his eyes closed. Then a chuckle resounded through his chest. “As many as you want.” He raised his head slightly and kissed her palm. “I love you.”
Maybe she shouldn’t feel this happy. Perhaps this was just a brief reprieve, and she was still going to die and she had no right to anyone’s love. All the same, she couldn’t prevent the smile curving her lips. “Good. Because I’ve decided I quite like the monsters.”
“Quite like?” He sounded offended.
“Well, one monster.” She struggled to sit up. “I thought I was dead, and it was too late, and I hadn’t told you I loved you. I’m glad you came back.”