Page 57 of Grave Revelations (Prophecies of Angels and Demons #3)

Chapter 56

Simon

Simon blinked in the harsh light of the sterile hospital room, vision blurred at the edges; he wasn’t sure he would ever be used to this dull human eyesight. The steady beep of the monitor to his left was a sound he also never expected to hear again.

But that was in the past.

When he made his deal with the angels, one they no longer expected him to fulfill now that he was human again, they’d restored his heart. Now, a heart that hadn’t beat in decades thumped inside his chest once more.

The world outside his small room was dark, windows frosted in the corners. The medicine receded slowly, and as it left his system, awareness returned. His limbs were leaden, thick with an unnatural concoction that muffled his gift. Were they muffling his healing ability, too? If he could only clear them from his system, perhaps he could heal himself and be rid of this bed. And Valentina.

As if on queue, her saccharine voice drifted under the door. She barked orders at the staff, preparing him to return to her prison.

The nurse outside advised her he needed to stay overnight, but she was having none of it. The door swung open, and Simon closed his eyes, settling his face into that neutral expression he’d learned to master so many years ago.

Her cloying scent invaded his nostrils as she stopped just beside the bed, leaning over him. She pressed a hand to his cheek. “Rest, my love. I’ll take good care of you. And when you recover, I’ll make sure you never think of Rebecca again.”

He forced his breathing to remain calm. She hovered so closely he could smell her breath, the taste of coffee lingering on his tongue.

When she left, taking her oppressive presence with her, he finally opened his eyes again. He’d let the charade go on long enough.

It was time for Simon to free himself from Valentina’s clutches.