#Chapter 177: The Invitation

Aria Darren and I lay tangled together in the hospital bed, much to the nurse’s earlier chagrin. They had finally allowed us to remain together, reinserting my IV and moving my monitors to his side of the room, when my eyes had glowed and a low growl had accidentally ripped from my throat when they had tried to pull us apart. Now, Darren lay with his arm draped over my waist, his fingers curling and uncurling repeatedly against my hip, while my head rested on his chest. I was careful not to press too hard against the bandages covering his wound, but I wanted to listen to his heartbeat. My own chest ached, the shallow gash stitched and sore, but I didn’t care. He was alive, breathing beneath me, and I wasn’t letting go. Not after everything. The wounds would heal soon enough, anyway. Now, more than ever, I was grateful for our accelerated healing abilities. Still, I couldn’t help but scold him. “You’re an idiot, you know that?” I said for what had to be th