The Darkness Calls (The Transfigured Ones 1)

All in all, considering Colette’s strength, she’d been incredibly lucky. Lilly had managed to sever an artery in her neck during the fight. It had taken several minutes for Colette to fully heal. That, alone, had probably saved her life.

He’d been confused at first when Daniel had found him on the casino floor. The poor man had been out of breath. As soon as he’d been able to explain, Talan left him standing there. He was glad that Colette hadn’t locked the door. He would have torn the door from its hinges if necessary, but it might have been too late.

He picked up the can of synthetic blood from his desk and walked back into the bedroom.

Lilly had managed to sit up on her own and now rested against a large bank of pillows. He smiled and asked, “Did you want a pain pill?”

He could tell by the lines on her forehead that she was hurting. She was the most stubborn person he’d ever met. He’d caught her trying to walk to the bathroom yesterday. It had only been a week and she was trying to walk on a broken ankle!

She took a bite of the cream of mushroom soup in front of her and said, “Maybe.”

“Please,” he all but begged. “I can see the pain in your face. You can ease it, sleep, and let your body heal.”

“Fine,” she huffed. “I’ll take the damned pill. I hate feeling so groggy though.”

He frowned and said, “I’m sorry, love. It’s necessary though. You don’t have to worry about work or school. Just take a nap if you’re groggy.”

Lilly made a face, but said no more on the subject. Instead, she said, “I was relieved to hear about school. I don’t know how I could have gone to class. It’s a shame I’m going to miss the semester, but racing across campus would have been nearly impossible.”

“Agreed. It was nice of them to let you take the leave from school without it impacting your grades. You’re getting pretty close to being done anyway. Right?”

“Three semesters,” Lilly said. “So close.”

He’d been toying with an idea over the last few days. He knew he’d need to be careful when he broached the subject. His voice stoic, he said, “I’m pretty sure I’m going to close the Sports Bar.”

As he imagined she would, she frowned and said, “Bummer.”

“Obviously, all of you would be placed in different roles until the remodelled place reopens.”

“What are you going to put in its place?” she asked, after she’d finished chewing.

He took a long sip from his drink and said, “Well. That all depends on you.”

Confusion swept across her features. “How do you mean?”

“I’ll be frank with you. I really liked your idea about the whisky bar. I’d love to do something like that if you wouldn’t mind.”

She shrugged, looking a little baffled. “I guess not.”

“Would you be willing to consult on it?”

“Why would you need me to consult?” she questioned. “It’s your bar.”

This is where it would get tricky, he realized. “Not exactly. It would be yours.”

Her mouth dropped open, then quickly snapped closed. “Mine? What do you mean it would be mine?”

“I’d like very much to help you build your dream. Inside my casino. I’d like you to own and operate the whisky bar,” he explained.

She let out a little huff of confusion and asked, “Why would you do this?”

“I believe in you. I believe in your dream. I know it would be an exceedingly good investment. You’re a smart woman with so much fire and determination that I know it will be a success. That means we both benefit.”

“But...” she said, trailing off.

“I love you, Lilly. I want you with m

e always. For however long that may be. I want to do everything within my power to make you happy. Personally and professionally.”