Hyacinth - By Abigail Owen Page 0,45

said. “She was in the room with Selene, and she insisted we bring her with us.”

“Is she okay?” Ellie asked.

Hugh let out a deep sigh. “I can’t tell with her, either. Just like Selene, she’s physically fine. But there appears to be something more than exhaustion keeping her out. Not quite sure what. It’s more as if she’s in a state of hibernation or stasis. I think someone’s tampered with her somehow.” He looked around the room. “Let’s get them both up into a bed. You too, Ellie. You look dead on your feet.”

While Nate picked up the young girl, Griffin scooped Selene’s limp form up into his arms. They headed upstairs, and Lila hurried ahead to turn down the covers in Selene’s room. Gently, Griffin laid her down in bed and then retreated as the girls went about getting her changed into pjs.

After Selene and her young companion were settled, the entire family gathered in the living room, except for Griffin, who remained with Selene. Ellie curled into Alex’s arms as they sat on the couch.

Hugh shook his head at Ellie. “I thought I said you should be in bed, young lady.”

“I will, just as soon as we finish talking,” she answered.

“I’ll make sure of it,” Alex added, running a tender hand over Ellie’s hair.

“What do we do now?” Dexter asked.

“I think we should wait for Selene to wake up.” Adelaide plopped down on the loveseat with Nate. “We need to see what she knows before we do anything else.”

“I think we need to have someone watching over her at all times,” Lucy said. “What if they try to kidnap her again?”

Heads nodded around the room.

“And who knows what condition she’ll be in when she wakes up?” Adelaide added. “She might need a friendly face.”

“We can take it in shifts like last time,” Ramsey said. “I’ll go first.”

Ellie watched Lila surreptitiously squirm in her seat and shoot him an irritated look.

“What’s up, Lila?” she mentally asked her, tapping into Griffin’s telepathy.

Lila’s shoulders slumped slightly. “Was I that obvious?”

“No. I just know that your emotion sensing has been on high alert lately.”

“Ugh! We need to practice some more on my control of it, or Griffin is going to send me ‘round the bend.’”

“That bad?”

“Worse. He’s all over the place when it comes to Selene. And Ramsey’s not making it any easier.”

Ellie released a mental sigh. She suspected Ramsey’s behavior might be bothering Lila even more than Griffin’s swinging emotions, if that were possible.

“Okay. We’ll work on that this week,” Ellie promised.

Alex leaned forward and whispered in Ellie’s ear, “You going to explain to me what that was about?”

She nuzzled into him and nodded. “Tonight.”

*****

Griffin, upstairs with Selene, but listening to the discussion going on downstairs, ignored Lila’s irritation and clamped down on his irrational jealousy. He’d noticed that Ramsey and Selene had become friendly lately.

And why should I let that bother me? I’m glad that she has a friend.

“This one’s practically falling asleep on me,” Alex announced, interrupting Griffin’s internal monologue. “Time for bed, I think.”

“Ellie,” Griffin telepathically called his twin.

“You’re going to leave, right?”

Griffin held back a grimace. “That obvious?”

“Not really. I just know you well.” She paused. “She’s going to think you hate her, you know,” she warned.

“I’m going to have to take that chance. I think it’s more likely that she’s not going to want me anywhere near her. And I won’t be idle, either.”

“I would argue that first point if I thought it would get me anywhere. But it sounds like you have a plan?”

“Maybe. When you found Selene, do you know where you were?”

“I caught just a few flashes when Charlotte teleported us in, before that blocker kicked in. Enough, I think, to get you there.”

“So you couldn’t have been too far away, then, if you were able to use my telepathy.”

“Exactly.” Griffin watched as Ellie showed him what she’d caught.

“Got it. Send Ramsey on up,” he instructed.

Chapter 29

Consciousness did not return to Selene gradually.

“Wake up, Selene. Your people need you!” Oren’s voice was like an alarm clock jolting her out of sleep, and her eyes flew open. Soon she was assailed by memories, and she gasped. Panicked, she looked around and took in her surroundings.

I’m at Hugh and Lucy’s… I’m safe now.

She let out a relieved sigh and relaxed slightly as realization of where she was sank in. Then she noticed someone was dozing in the chair beside her bed. For a brief moment, she thought…hoped… it was Griffin. But she quickly realized it