Chapter 89

• *Grayson*
• Ellie climbed down from the bed and ran to give me a hug, her tiny hands wrapping around my legs. I smoothed her hair, my eyes on the woman laying down on the bed and taking me in. Her gaze dropped to my hand on Ellie's head and a ghost of a smile danced around her lips. I ran my gaze over her form, feeling a surge of protectiveness. She looked better than she had yesterday but it was obvious she was still recovering.
• I smiled, crossing the room to sit beside her as Ellie climbed back on the bed and resumed her coloring. The chair creaked softly under my weight as I settled in, my gaze meeting hers. We had barely talked yesterday, saying not more than a few sentences before she'd go back to sleep. And that was only in the evening. She'd slipped in and out of consciousness for the most part of the morning. I was happy to see she was doing a bit better. She looked tired, like she was struggling to keep her eyes open.