"I started a war by coming to save your ass, even though you could have handled it." The wolf spoke with a monotone, his own insides roiling with guilt and anger. Of course, Ghost was only angry at himself.<span style="font-style: italic">Protect your mate!</span>His instincts had screamed at him. He'd known she could handle herself, he'd<span style="font-style: italic">known</span>she would come back, and still he'd let instinct control him. No matter what way anyone tried to spin it, this was his fault.<br/><br/>"I Marked you...the other night. That bite on your neck means you're my mate." He sighed heavily. "Shouldn't have done it, but as far as I know there's nothing we can do about it. I can do some research if...you want to get rid of it, or maybe there's a way to hide the Mark so you can still do your job. I don't know. Brie is better at this shit."<br/><br/>It took several minutes for him to realize that his hands were clenched white-knuckled around the steering wheel, and he relaxed them with an audible pop from his protesting joints. "Dammit."<br/><br/>Several fire trucks passed them, but judging by the plume of black smoke in the rear view, his assessment that the blaze couldn't be stopped was probably correct.<br/><br/>He wanted to look at Plum. Just to check on her. Really, just to see her. To be certain she was still there, hadn't bailed from the vehicle out of sheer disgust for him. He didn't, though. His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, though they were glazed over and not really seeing what was in front of him. Ghost's mind was only on Plum. She was angry, furious really, but what would she do? When she was recovered, would she leave? He would have no choice but to follow her. The Mark would react, sure, but not beyond a dull warmth. No, he'd be forced to follow to make sure she didn't get hurt again. She could handle herself, yes, but his instincts still screamed at him to protect her.<br/><br/>Plum didn't scream or cry out. She didn't make any sound, so when Ghost's eyes came back into focus, he was surprised to see the front of another car just feet from the front of his own.<br/>He should have been paying attention. He should have called a driver instead of doing it himself. He should have driven another car, with better brakes. He shouldn't have come after her in the first place.<br/><br/>But he had, and when his car slammed into the other, and he felt the vehicle being lifted and sailing through the air, he felt the urge to laugh again. Everything had gone so utterly, hilariously wrong today.<br/>The car rolled once, then twice, then slammed into a bus with the loudest crash he'd ever heard.<br/>He was bleeding. It was in his eyes and running from his shoulder. Everything was blurry, and there was a thudding noise in his head that he imagined was his heartbeat. He looked over at Plum. Her arm was twisted at an odd angle, and blood seeped slowly from between her lips. The night was rushing into her, but it would never be enough. He needed to call someone and make sure the two of them were taken to a PM hospital. Otherwise they'd both wake up in prison. He pulled out his phone with one mangled hand, dialing the only number he could.<br/><br/>There was a sigh when the ringer finally stopped. "Ghost, I'm not in the mood. Say your piece and fuck off."<br/>He'd never been so thankful to hear the shifter's voice. "Kai--" He choked out, finding it hard to breathe. "Wrecked. 8th and Main. Plum was injured before the wreck. Need a PM hospital. Get here fast."<br/>"On my way."<br/><br/>---------<br/><br/>A chuckle escaped the white-haired elf. Then it became a deep laugh, and then he was leaning on the counter, trying to stay up. When his laughing fit finally subsided, he could only beam at his wife. "I love you," He said. "Forgive me for laughing. I just...have not heard you say anything like that in quite some time." Silas just stared at her for a long time. He'd been finding himself doing that a lot lately. His wife was beautiful, that was for sure, but the more he stared lately, the more he felt he saw his wife, rather than the box she had put herself in since her attack. "If you wish to have control of this place and this organization, then you shall have it, sheill. It will take time, and I would like for our daughter to be awake before we make any move, but it will be ours."<br/><br/>It was simple, to him. The entire organization seemed to fear them already. If they could gain a foothold, they would likely not face any opposition. His only concerns were the shifter, the woman who had been with him at the hospital, and the White Wolf. The others would be cowed merely by their presence, except maybe that Cil fellow from earlier. What had happened to him, anyway?<br/><br/>Gently, he reached out to take Kallista's hand, realizing how long it had been since they'd simply held hands. Since the Four Kingdoms, maybe, that night in the vampire King's castle when he'd first admitted to her how he felt. A small grin turned up one corner of his mouth. "Do you remember when our lives were simple, Kally? When the Four Kingdoms were at war and all we had to do was protect our charges and pretend not to be in love?"