Page 224 of Conquered

Jax nods, letting go of my face and standing up. He looks down, holding his hand out to help me to my feet. My mind raceswith bloody images, the scene of Mum’s murder flashing before my eyes, before I blink it away.

Jax refuses to let go of my hand as we walk to the student car park, throwing the keys to his truck at Ash, who deftly catches them, and opens the driver’s side. Jax opens the back, ushering me into the middle, then getting in behind me, Loki on my other side. They buckle me in, my hands too shaky to be able to do it for myself.

“Drink this, Baby Girl,” Jax orders, passing me some kind of sports drink. I bring it to my lips on autopilot, making a face at the tart fizzy taste. “Small sips, that’s it, good girl,” he praises as I continue to take small sips as he ordered.

Loki rubs my other hand, which is feeling a little warmer, and I no longer feel quite so dizzy.

“Thanks,” I say, looking up to see Ash’s furrowed brow and worried gaze as he looks at me in the rearview mirror.

“You went all pale and cold, Pretty Girl,” Loki tells me, bringing my hand to his lips and kissing it. I turn to look at him, noticing that his shoulders are tight as he takes a deep breath.

“I think you went into shock, baby,” Jax says, my head turning to look at him. He studies me with a professional eye, and I suddenly have the thought that he’d make an awesome doctor. “But your colour is returning, and you don't feel cold and clammy anymore.”

“I’m sorry, Jax. I should be taking care of you after…” My voice trails off, unable to finish my sentence.

“Don’t do that, don’t blame yourself,” he grits out through clenched teeth. “This is not your fault.”

Fresh tears sting my eyes at his words. I know he’s right, I only stood up for myself. I didn’t hurt his mum. But guilt still slivers uncomfortably in the pit of my stomach.

“We’re here,” Kai says from the front passenger seat, and I look out of the front window to see that we’re pulling into a circular drive.

The building that sits behind it doesn't look like any kind of hospital that I’ve seen before, more like an old style Golden Age mansion. It’s all white columns and tall windows, with what looks like beautiful grounds and manicured lawns surrounding it.

We halt to a stop at the front entrance, a smartly dressed valet coming to greet us. Ash tosses him the keys once we get out, coming round to stand in front of me, taking my face in his hands.

“You okay, Princess?” he asks, the muscles in his arms strained as he studies me.

“I’m fine, Ash, just a little shaken,” I tell him, feeling even warmer when he leans in and places a gentle kiss on my forehead.

“You went so pale,” he murmurs into my hairline, pulling me close until his body is flush with mine. “Shit, I was scared, Princess.”

And it’s then that I realise that this must be bringing up awful memories for him, too, memories of finding a loved one covered in blood but too damn late to help.

He holds me for a moment, surrounding me with his spicy ginger scent, before pulling back but keeping hold of my hand as we head up the few stone stairs that lead to some imposing glass front doors.

“The hospital has valet parking?” I ask incredulously, stepping through the automatic doors that open with a quiet swish.

“Only the best for the Black Knight families,” Loki drawls sarcastically on my other side as we walk on the marble floor towards the reception desk.

The inside feels a lot more like a normal hospital, with modern tech and the residue smell of antiseptic. It still has a glass chandelier, though, just to make sure we all know that this is not a place for the peasants.Conceited fuckers.

“Jannet Griffiths,” Jax announces in a gruff voice to the young receptionist, who looks up slightly startled before she schools her features and puts on an award winning smile.

“Of course, she is expecting you, Mr. Griffiths,” she says brightly, totally at odds with the situation. “Room two-oh-three, up the stairs, through the door, and third on the left.”

Jax grunts his thanks, then turns, heading in the direction of the stairs.

“Thank you,” I offer as I pass, giving her a smile which she returns tenfold.That’s just fucking creepy.

“You’re most welcome, Miss Darling,” she replies, and both myself and Ash stop in our tracks, looking at each other with matching looks of concern, creasing our brows.

“Come on, Princess,” Ash says, putting aside that fuckery for another time, as he leads me after the others.

We find the room easily, opening the door to see a huge space, filled with bouquets of flowers, which act as pops of colour in the dim lighting. The curtains are drawn, and as I look over to the bed, to the machines that beep, I can see why.

My breath leaves me in a gasp as tears fill my vision. She, Jax’s mum, looks so small and helpless on the bed, her face a myriad of purple and blue, one arm in a plaster cast.

“Mom,” Jax says, his voice shattered and broken, like a favourite ornament. He crosses strides to her bedside, picking up her hand that’s not in a cast as he lowers to a seat next to her bedside.