Page 113 of Knight’s Dominion

His cheeks were sunken in, worse than when she’d last seen him. But he was here, for his brother. She didn’t reply, couldn’t. She didn’t try to pull away either because she needed someone to hold her up. If he let her go, she thought she might free-fall into nothing.

So she stayed where she was, collapsed against Rocco’s chest, his strong arms stopping her from falling.

Finally, Jack stood back, wiping his blood-stained hands on a towel. “I’ve got the bleeding under control. He’ll live, but he’ll be out for a while. He needs to regenerate the blood he lost, and his body will already be working overtime to heal his other injuries. I’ll line up the broken bones in his wings so they’ll heal straight, but that’s all I can do.” He looked up, his eyes meeting Grace’s. “Time is what he needs. Having his mate close will help.” He shrugged. “In my experience, with any beings, it always does.”

“He can have my blood,” Grace rasped.

“It doesn’t work that way, unfortunately. Besides, your blood wouldn’t be strong enough. The only option is to wait.”

Rocco finally released her, and Grace rushed to Chaos’s side. She had to touch him, to reassure herself that he was actually there, that he hadn’t left her. She gently cupped his face, his bearded jaw scraping against her hand. “I’m here,” she whispered. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me; do you hear me? I’m staying right here.”

He’d fought, had been prepared to give his life for this war, to keep the demi and humans safe in this city, and he almost had. He’d almost died.

How could she have ever doubted him?

Lazarus and Eve came up beside her, and Grace looked up at the male. Eve was plastered to his side. She gave Grace’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze, but her focus was on her mate and the pain he was obviously feeling.

Laz looked down at Chaos like he was willing him to open his eyes. But that wasn’t the only thing causing him pain. What happened with Tobias in the warehouse had cut them all deeply, but especially Lazarus. The exchange between them before he was sent to Hell had made that clear.

“He’ll be okay,” Laz said gruffly to her. “Lazy fucker just needs to sleep it off.”

Eve squeezed her shoulder again. “I’m here if you need me, for anything, any time of the day or night, okay?”

Grace nodded but didn’t take her eyes off Chaos. She was almost too scared to look away from him.

Laz and Eve left and she was aware when Rocco, Kryos, and Zenon followed. Mia and Meredith leaving with them after they gave Grace a tight hug.

“Can I clean the blood and dirt off him?” Grace asked Jack as he packed up his things.

“Of course. He’ll feel you close, your touch. It’ll help him, knowing you’re with him.”

He left a short time later, and Grace reluctantly left Chaos’s side to get what she needed. She filled a bowl with warm water, grabbed the soap, a towel, and several face cloths.

“Let’s get you clean,” she murmured as she sat on the side of the bed and dipped the cloth in the water.

She leaned over him and, careful of his wings, started on his shoulders and chest, so broad and strong, so powerful. God, he was beautiful. Every part of him. And not just the outside. He was stubborn and surly, could be short-tempered and blunt, but it was because he cared. Because he lived and breathed the fight.

Not sure what to say, Grace hummed softly as she rinsed the cloth, then gently slid it over the bruised skin on his pecs and down over his ridged abdominal muscles, careful of the white gauze dressings he had on his stomach and thighs.

Jack had thrown a sheet across his lap when everyone had crowded the bedroom, and she removed it so she could get every bit of blood. Her hands shook as she stroked the cloth across his skin. She couldn’t bear to see one trace of his blood smeared on his perfect body. She worked her way down his thick, muscular thighs and long legs, cleaning his feet as well.

Using the towel, she ran it gently over his body, drying him off. Her gaze moved to his wings, dove-gray feathers that were streaked with dirt from the warehouse floor, some parts blood-soaked, making some feathers so deep a crimson they were almost black.

Her heart clenched as what had happened in that warehouse replayed in her head. The snapping of the monster’s jaws, the sound of Chaos’s body breaking as he was flung across the warehouse. It echoed through her mind, stealing her breath.

She couldn’t leave his beautiful wings like that.

Grace replaced the water, grabbed another cloth, and climbed onto the bed beside him. She’d never really touched his wings. When he’d picked her up and carried her, when they’d flown through the skies, her fingers had only brushed them when she’d wrapped her arms around his neck.

They looked like velvet.

She brushed the tips of her fingers over the long, wide feathers. They felt like velvet.

Working her way over the one that was most damaged first, she brushed the cloth over it, with barely there strokes, removing as much of the blood and dirt as she could. She was terrified she’d hurt him.

She moved to the other side and started again. Getting it as clean as she could. This side was basically undamaged, besides some missing or broken feathers. The wing arched high, and she slid her hand along it with the gentlest of touches.

Goose bumps broke out all over Chaos’s skin, and he shuddered. Her gaze snapped to his. His eyes were still closed, but there was some color back in his cheeks.