Arielle Immortal Struggle (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 7) (21 page)

“How are you?” Eva asked, reaching up to give him a hug. “You do look like hell, dazzle boy,” she added, trying to ease the tension around them.

His eyebrows went up, keeping his face pokerfaced. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“Your clothes,” Gabrielle said as she came up to give him a hug. She didn’t have to elaborate; she just waved her arm up and down his body.

Sebastian stared down at himself, and even though he was not in a joking mood, he understood that his friends were trying to make him feel better. “I think I look great!” he said, composedly.

“You just seem emotionally drained,” interjected Isabella, who took her turn in hugging Sebastian.

“I know…” he murmured and nodded in agreement. “But I’m staying here tonight. There is no place that I would rather be. I need to be with Arielle,” he said bitterly. “It’s my fault that she’s here,” he added and grimaced, running his hand through his hair.

“Sebastian, it’s not your fault,” Eva said. She hesitated for a short moment before she reached out, and clasping his hand, she pressed it warmly.

“Thank you, Eva, but I don’t feel that way,” he murmured. He took a shuddering breath and shut his eyes.

“What did the doctor say?” Isabella asked.

“He said that she would recover with time.” He heard the deep relief coming from Eva, Gabrielle, and Isabella. He then strode toward Troy, Ian, and Christian. “I don’t know how to thank you guys,” he said, and reaching out, he shook their hands. “You’re great friends.”

“We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Troy declared firmly.

“Ian, did you talk to the police? Did they come to see you?” Sebastian asked.

“Yes, two detectives showed up and talked to the doctors first. Then they came to me and asked me for my side of the story. I told them exactly what you told me to say,” he stated.

“And what did they say?”

“They wanted to know where I found her, and I told them. I was sure that you cleaned up after your mess,” he said, glancing between Troy, Christian, and Sebastian, his lips curving up to a half a smile. “I also told them that I didn’t know anything more and that they would have to talk to Arielle when she came to.”

“And?” Sebastian pressed on.

“Well, they said they would come back to speak with her.”

Sebastian seemed to ponder his words. He then turned to his friends and smiled, thankfully. “Guys, go home. Tomorrow you’ll be able to see her. She will be here for a couple of days, if not more.”

“Sebastian, Arielle needs to know the story before the cops come to see her tomorrow,” Ian said, anxiously.

“Don’t worry, Ian. I’ll talk with her as soon as she wakes up. Thanks again,” he mumbled.

“Okay, we’re heading out,” Troy said and patted Sebastian on the back. “See you tomorrow.”

The girls hugged him once more before the six of them walked out holding hands. Sebastian followed them out of the room and stood unmoved, watching their backs until he couldn’t see them any longer.

Slowly, he turned and went back to Arielle’s room. She was still asleep. Pushing the door closed, he scanned the room. Moonlight filtered through the window blinds and the room was bleak. Sebastian sank down onto the chair next to her bed quietly, and clasping her hand in his, laid his head on her bed and closed his eyes.

He grasped the quiet moment to think.

Centuries were spent on this earth, but nothing seemed to be as long and as painful as the few days spent in hospital rooms after each attack on Arielle, and all because of him. Repressing a grimace, he sucked a ragged breath. There was no doubt that he was going to kill every single person involved with the assignment that landed Arielle in this hospital. A burning volcano of fury was sweltering deep inside and it would erupt as soon as they located the rest of the assassins.

Chapter 15

HE SHIFTED HIS CHAIR
closer to the bed and, lifting Arielle’s hand, he brought it to his lips. He could sense the warmth sweltering from her soft skin and a shiver coursed along his nerves from the sudden sensation. He kept his lips pressed on her hand and closed his eyes and he groaned inwardly. He felt tired…angry…and worried.

He was jolted awake by a soft voice. His eyes sprang wide open and, pushing back, he swung to face the person standing behind him. He was utterly disoriented.

“Sebastian dear, you are exhausted!” Danielle Lloyd’s soft gaze met his.

Sebastian blinked and coughed to clear his throat. Slanting a glance toward the bed, his gaze dropped to Arielle. She was still sleeping. He coughed again. “Did you come alone?” he asked, his voice throaty.

“No, James is getting a cup of tea,” she replied, her expression composed.

“Oh…” It was all he said. His body felt numb. He stood and stretched his limbs, trying to start the blood flowing through his veins again.

“Sebastian, why don’t you go home for a while, dear? I know you’ll feel a lot better after a warm shower and some fresh clothes,” Danielle said.

He nodded in agreement. It was already morning and the early light was slipping through the window blinds.

His eyes shifted to the bed once again and noticed Arielle moving a little.

“Sebastian,” she murmured drowsily.

“Good morning, baby, I’m here…I’m right here,” he murmured, leaning over her bed and pressing his lips on her forehead. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“I hurt, and I still can’t open my eyes…” she whimpered.

“Soon, love, soon…” he assured her and pressed a feather kiss on her lips.

“I love you, Sebastian,” she murmured, searching for his hand.

“I adore you,” he said against her lips and intertwined his fingers with hers. “Your lips are better today,” he said softly.

“Oh, what about my face?”

“A bit swollen, but better than yesterday,” he chuckled softly.

“I wouldn’t win a beauty contest then, would I?” she joked.

“Yes, you would. You’re still gorgeous,” he said joyfully. He was happy she was up to joking this morning. “Your parents are here, baby.”

“Mummy!” she said quietly.

“Yes, dear, I’m right here. Daddy is getting some tea. He’ll be right in.”

“Sebastian, did you stay all night?” she asked.

“Yes, he did,” her mother, interjected. “He appears exhausted. You need to make him go home to shower and put some fresh clothes on.”

“Yes, Sebastian, please do that for me.”

“But I want to stay with you,” he replied.

“Please…go. My mum and dad are here now.”

“Yes, go, Sebastian,” her mother insisted. “Miss Walker is on her way in to give Arielle a little sponge bath.”

Sebastian sighed. “Okay then. I’ll go and I’ll come right back. Don’t go anywhere until I return,” he chuckled against her ear. He ran his lips across her cheek, over her jaw line, and back up to her lips, pressing a soft kiss there and lingering for a short moment. “God, I love you, Arielle,” he murmured.

Arielle made a poor attempt at smiling. This was the voice that hit the core of her soul like a sublime note from a great composer.

“Hurry back…” her voice trailed.

Sebastian’s brows lifted in amusement. “Ah, you sound eager, are you?” he purred.

She smiled softly, but didn’t make another remark. Sebastian turned to gaze at her mother; her expression would yield nothing. Sebastian held her eyes for a short moment.

“I take it you all want me out of here,” he chuckled. “However, as I said before, I’ll be back soon,” he added, his tone meaningful. He turned and strode out of the room. Stepping outside the revolving doors, he took a deep breath of the cool morning breeze.

It wasn’t until he walked into the house that he realized he never had a chance to speak with Arielle about what story to use with the authorities. Blinking aside his frustration, he cursed inwardly. A frown covered his face. He was not ready to acknowledge that he messed up. Swallowing, he decided that he would have to go back to Arielle’s side before the authorities did.

He showered in a nanosecond, but he couldn’t show up in the hospital this soon. Her parents were there and he didn’t want to make them suspicious. He lay across the bed and closed his eyes, mulling over in his head all that had taken place the day before. If he could only turn back time and change the outcome, he would do it in a second. His body relaxed, and before he knew it, he was fast asleep.

His eyes snapped open; an uncanny feeling washed over him, bringing him to his senses. Slanting his unfocused eyes toward the digital clock, he blinked. He did a double take and swallowed a curse. “Christ!” he screamed. “I’m bloody late!” He had slept through the morning. He jumped out of bed and, grabbing a pair of jeans and shirt, he moved around the room like a tornado. Sebastian was in his car and on his way in no time at all.

Back at the hospital, Arielle was becoming more aware of her surroundings. Her vision was still blocked by her swollen eyes and the pain resonated from her head to her toes.

“Mum, how long have I been here?” Arielle asked apprehensively.

“Ian brought you here yesterday afternoon, dear.”

“Am I going home today?”

“No, I don’t think it’ll be today, darling. The doctor is coming this morning to examine you. He’ll then let us know when you can go home,” her mother said and applied a cold compress over her eyes.

The door opened, and Miss Walker stepped inside. Approaching the bed, she spoke softly. “Good morning, Arielle. I’m Miss Walker, your nurse, I’m going to raise your bed to a sitting position,” she said and, reaching out, she patted her hand.

“Good morning,” Arielle murmured.

“I’m going to take your temperature, dear, and then I’ll give you a pain shot. As soon as the pain subsides, I’ll give you a sponge bath. How does that sound?” she asked brightly.

“I…I guess fine,” she replied, unexcitedly.

James Lloyd walked in, holding two cups of tea in his hands.

“Good morning, Miss Walker,” he said and approached his daughter’s bed.

“How are you this morning, Pumpkin?”

“Hi, Daddy!” Arielle mumbled.

He set the teacups on the side table and, leaning over his daughter, he pressed a kiss on her forehead. “You sure look better this morning!” he said softly.

“Liar!” Arielle muttered.

Her father chuckled and gave her another kiss on the cheek.

“James, I’m afraid we’ll have to drink that tea in the waiting room. Miss Walker is getting ready to give Arielle a sponge bath. Let’s go, dear,” she said, and taking one of the cups, she headed for the door.

“We’ll come back, pumpkin,” her father said and fell in step beside his wife.

“Okay…” She let her voice fade. She hated been in the dark, but what was the point of complaining about that, over and over again? All anyone could do about that was put cold compresses and wait… She repressed a sigh and, laying her head against her pillow, she tried to wipe every thought out of her mind.

Sebastian came to an abrupt halt as six pairs of eyes pinned him as soon as he entered the hospital room. Arielle’s parents seemed to be in exactly the same place he had left them earlier that morning. Two police officers were standing next to Arielle’s bed. Their expressions were clearly surprised and their eyes widened at the sight of Sebastian. But Sebastian’s expression was poised. Inwardly, he cursed, and a muscle in his jaw clenched. He wondered how much Arielle had told them, and if any of that fell within the story he and his friends had laid out to make sure nothing became complicated.

He strode into the room unhurriedly and smiled gently to the Lloyds.

“This is Arielle’s fiancé, Sebastian Gaulle,” James Lloyd said, stepping forward and making the introductions. “Sebastian, my boy, these two officers are here for some information from Arielle,” he said.

Sebastian didn’t say anything; he just nodded and approached Arielle’s bed. Leaning down, he placed a loving kiss on Arielle’s forehead. His hand clasped hers and squeezed it gently. “Hi, baby, how are you feeling?” he whispered.

“Better now that you’re here,” she murmured, and her lips curved slightly up. She did seem much better, and the swelling was down. The puffiness in her eyes had diminished, but the blue and yellow bruising appeared ghastly.

He then took a seat next to her bed, still clasping Arielle’s hand in his. He gazed over at the two officers and waited.

They seemed completely stunned, and Sebastian knew that his immortal appearance threw them off a bit. He watched them swallow hard and cough to clear their throat. The younger officer looked in his early thirties, while his partner was an elderly gentleman. The officers knew very well who Sebastian Gaulle was. He was well known in London and around most of the world for being one of the richest bachelors and successful businessmen.

The younger office stared at Sebastian, and said firmly, “Mr. Gaulle, do you know if there is someone that may want to harm your fiancée because of you? By that I mean, do you think there maybe someone who wants something from you and your company, or maybe someone who is jealous of you?”

Sebastian shrugged, totally unruffled. “I operate a very successful company. I can’t honestly rule out the possibility of ransom. Dylan Jamison, the head of Interpol Intelligence, has all the details on the case,” he stated clearly. The young officer’s eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t say anything further; he just made a note in his notepad.