beyond important.”
I can see the crimson color paint her cheeks as she blushes. “Thank you, Sheriff, but remember, I’m a Fae, not a doll.”
“Gaia, you’re both and much appreciated.”
Vaughn
After calling in a favor from the Galveston Police Department, we now have the only mother left at the hospital being watched after as well as both of the newborns. Leaving them was hard, especially Emmaline, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why I felt and have such a strong bond with this particular baby. Each child I deal with is special and will always hold a place in my heart, but something was extremely different and unique with the experience I had with her that still has me a bit rattled inside.
“Vaughn?” Shyla’s voice breaks me from the looping thoughts and curiosity racing through my mind. My eyes cut to her. “Goodness, you were eerily quiet on the way back here,” she informs me as she tosses her sweater over the back of her chair. “I gave up trying to chat with you as you stared mindlessly off into the distance. That was the most bizarre, yet fascinating thing I’ve ever witnessed from you.”
Grabbing a water, I plop down into my own seat and begin to gulp it down. My throat is dry and my energy supply feels zapped now. “I-I don’t know, Shyla,” I stammer out.
“At least give me something. The two of you had a moment, and it was right before we discovered the mother missing,” I hear her begin, but her words seem to start sounding further and further away.
“Hello, sunshine. I was beginning to think you were going to be out for the night,” Shyla teases as I open my eyes and notice I’m on the sofa at her house.
Shyla
Hastily raising herself up, Vaughn tosses the blanket I placed over her to the opposite end of my couch. “How long was I out? Wait, how did I get here? What in the heck happened to me? And why do I smell… him?” Vaughn begins rapidly firing off questions as she attempts to stand and I can see her legs begin to give out beneath her.
“Easy there. You’ve been out cold for the past three hours,” I inform her as I help her safely back down onto the sofa. “I enlisted the help of one, Sheriff Trigger, as he showed up—perfect timing might I add.” I pause, shooting her a wink and I can tell by the look bestowed upon her face she’s inwardly scolding my insinuation. “He helped me get you here. Once he was sure you were going to be okay and was assured you were in good hands, he left. And, lastly, I don’t have a clue as to what happened to you other than you passed smooth out. You weren’t the same after holding Emmaline at the hospital. You seemed so, well, drained of all energy.” I finish answering the questions in rapid succession.
“Oh, yes, Emmaline. I should call the hospital and check on the babies,” she tells me, retrieving her phone from her bag that I placed on the floor beside her resting body.
Snatching the phone from her hand, I tell her, “Not tonight. I just called and they’re doing fine, both of them.” I feel my heart sink slightly as I wonder what possibly could’ve happened to the other mother; fearing the worst but hoping for the best. “Vaughn, look, I know we’re both heavily invested in our work and this case in particular, but we’re not doing these babies or their mothers any good if we don’t get ourselves some sleep. We have to allow our bodies and minds to regroup. You’re already at my place, so why don’t you just get yourself cozy and we’ll start again in the morning, huh?”
She wants to argue with me about this, I can tell from the narrow shape and gleam from her eyes, but she refrains. “Fine, I suppose you’re right.” She reaches toward her feet and pulls the blanket back up over her body. “Plus, I do have spare changes of clothing here at your place, so looks like I’ll be your roommate for the night.”
“Good. Now, you know where everything is around here if you get hungry or need anything. As for me, I am going to bed,” I declare, turning my back to her as I begin to yawn.
“Shyla?”
Stopping in my tracks, I look over my shoulder. “Yeah?”
“Do you really think Trigger just happened to be