At the sound of my voice, Lucien’s body went solid.
“See!” Stephanie cried.
“Leah, sweetheart, can you look at me?” Lucien’s tone was gentle, his hand moving from my neck to grip my hair and carefully pull my head back.
I nodded, the effort at that simple movement felt like running a race but my eyes caught his.
“Do you remember anything?” he asked and I nodded again.
“All of it.” My voice still sounded painfully abrasive because it was painful and abrasive.
Lucien flinched when I spoke.
“Ow,” I whispered.
His face went hard before he commanded, “No more talking.”
I nodded again. I was happy with that. Way happy.
He let go of my hair but his fingers cupped the back of my head and pressed my face to his throat.
“We need to call a doctor,” Stephanie repeated.
“She’s fine now,” Lucien replied.
“I… do… not… think… so. She sounds like she’s been strangled!”
“Teffie, I’m here. She’s fine.”
The air in the room got thick. I tensed before Stephanie spoke angrily.
“I know pretty much everyone thinks you’re all that, including me most of the time. But as far as I know, you don’t have magical healing powers.”
“Teffie, leave us. Get some sleep,” Lucien ordered.
“You heard her voice!” Stephanie yelled and my body twitched at her anger.
I felt Lucien’s frame turn to stone.
His voice was ominous when he demanded, “Get the f**k out of here, now. You’re upsetting Leah.”
“I –”
“Now!” he barked and I jumped.
She must have left because the next second I was on the bed alone, bereft of Lucien. The second after that I felt his warm, na**d body the length of mine, his arms tight around me, his heavy legs tangled with mine.
I felt the numbness go, my strength and wits returning but the exhaustion stayed heavy upon me.
I melted into his heat and he gathered me closer.
Sleep was coming and I hoped it was the good kind because I needed it. I was battling real and invisible demons and I’d need all the rest I could get to endure.
I was nearly to dreamland when I heard his soft voice make a vow.
“That won’t ever f**king happen again, Leah. You have my promise.”
Tears slid up my throat but silently I swallowed them down and burrowed closer.