Free Draven's Crossing: Tempestuous Crossings by Selena Illyria Page A

want an update come sunrise.” Draven ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t need this crap. We could go to the media with what we know. Be honest and ask the public for answers.”
    “Aw, shit, Drav, why?” Torger whined.
    “I’ll handle it. You don’t have to say anything.”
    “You know that won’t work. They’ll want to ask me dumb questions after I’ve said we don’t have any leads.” He sighed. “Fine, organize a press conference. No questions.”
    Draven smiled. “I owe you, man.”
    “No, you don’t owe me anything. Let me do my job. Get me out of the freaking bachelor poll, and I’ll owe you something.” He hung up.
    Draven chuckled. He was in that poll, too. He got up, headed downstairs and found his butler cleaning up the mess of the phone.
    “Let me do that. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have thrown it or yelled at you. I was being an asshole.”
    “It’s all right, sir. I understand. Ms. Rose is a very special woman. I saw her when she came in and became worried myself.”
    “I don’t deserve a pardon. I’ll replace the phone.”
    “Already done. I believe the doctor is waiting in the parlor to speak to you.”
    “Thank you.” Draven bowed to Ross and headed for that room.
    With trepidation, he entered the parlor and prayed for good news. Just because Rose had been awake didn’t mean he hadn’t screwed up. The doctor looked over at him while tapping away on his phone.
    “She’s fine. Will need a lot of sleep. For a first time donor she’s recovered remarkably well. Feed her, make sure she gets rest and don’t drink from her for, I’d say three to four days to help build up her supply. She’s a fighter that one. Good luck. Have her come back on day three for a check-up to make sure there aren’t any side effects.” The doctor slid his phone in his pocket, nodded and headed out the door.
    Relief lifted the weight of guilt off Draven’s shoulders. With much lighter steps than before, he headed to the kitchen and put together a platter of food before returning upstairs to make sure she ate something.
    Ross stopped him on the steps. “Sir?”
    “Yes, Ross?”
    “The doctor gave these to me before he left. I assume it’s to help Ms. Rose recover. Do you want to give her the dosage now or in the morning?”
    Draven took the bottle. “I’ll take them to her now. Thank you.”
    On the way to the bedroom, he rehearsed how he was going to apologize.
    He pushed open the door with his hip, entered the large room, and started the apologies.
    “I’m so sorry, honey. It won’t happen again. I swear. I won’t feed from you ever again.” He walked toward her, waiting for an answer. When she said nothing, he became worried again. Placing the tray on the end of the mattress, he took her in. She was settled against a mountain of pillows. The blanket was tucked around her, and she looked pissed.
    “I can’t get out of here,” she grumbled.
    “Huh?” There was nothing holding her as far he could see, although the duvet did seem a bit tight around her.
    She wiggled under the sheet, and he saw the problem instantly. Rose could barely move under the covers.
    “The doctor told Ross to tuck me in. He thought I might fall out of bed or suffer some sort of dizziness. Ross tucked me in too tight, and I need to use the bathroom again. Ugh, help.” She began to writhe under the blankets, making him think that she was going to hurt herself if he didn’t step in and do something. After moving the nightstand, he then tugged the duvet out from under the mattress and helped her down from the bed.
    “Just make sure he doesn’t try to shove a pea under there and stack up more mattresses.” She rushed toward the bathroom door and slammed it shut.
    Smiling, he loosened up the sheets and blanket, switched on the TV, and grabbed some paperwork to look over while he waited. When she returned, he sat on her side of the bed with a file, looking over the details of a zoning request for a new