barely able to hold my own weight, and that’s when I notice a woman seated in a chair next to me. Well, seated is too gracious a term for the position she’s in. She’s sitting in a chair alright, but half of her is sprawled out on the bed next to me, head resting on one of her folded arms with rich, dark hair splayed out all around her. The other arm is outstretched toward me, and when I look down, I see our fingers tangled together.
Lamira.
She made it out. We both did. We’re together and alive and safe, secured in the infirmary aboard the Queen.
I look down at her, completely torn. I want so badly to wake her, to look upon her beautiful face, stare into those fathomless eyes and thank her for getting me here—because I know in my gut she got me to safety—but at the same time, I just want her to rest. I have no idea how long I’ve been unconscious or how long she’s been lying here by my side. She must be completely exhausted to have fallen asleep in the position she’s in because it looks supremely uncomfortable.
I can’t help but think about how many times she’s been in danger since we confirmed our mating bond. I hate thinking that being tied to me for the rest of her life might someday bring her harm. I’ll die to keep her safe, and if things keep going the way they have been as of late, I fear that day might come sooner than we think.
Absentmindedly, I give her hand a gentle squeeze. The action causes her to instantly rouse from her slumber, her head shooting up and her eyes seeking out mine immediately.
“Oh, gods, you’re finally awake!” She hits me with a beaming smile, causing my heart to gallop in my chest.
I nod and clear my throat as best I can before attempting to speak. Without my having to ask, she reaches over to the table beside my bed and brings a glass of water with a straw in it to my lips. I take a long pull, swallowing it down so quickly I may as well have been dying of thirst.
“Thank you,” I choke out. “And yes, I’m finally awake and so, so glad to see you.”
At the sound of my voice her brilliant smile instantly fades. The beautiful features of her face crumple and she sobs in earnest, dropping her head into her hands.
“Hey, hey—there’s no need for that.” With a pained grunt I haul myself up into a full sitting position and reach out to her, pulling her next to me on the bed.
She wraps her tiny body around me as far as it can go. Her arms are so short she can’t reach them all the way across my chest, but she clings to me anyway. She buries her face against my neck as her tears come hot and steady, burning into my skin. I’m wearing only a thin, infirmary-issue shirt and it’s soon soaked through. But I keep holding onto her, not at all willing to let her go.
“I was so worried. You’ve been unconscious for days!” Her words come out in broken gasps. “Even Nicari wasn’t sure you were going to make it. The wound you got from those creatures went in so deep it almost grazed your heart. I kept thinking how unfair it was that just when I’d found you, I might lose you, and I just—I just—”
She sobs with abandon again. There’s a lump rising in my own throat at the thought of it. When those creatures on Solace took her, I thought the exact same thing. I couldn’t lose her now that I’d found her. That thought caused me to nearly lose my mind with rage before going after her.
This mating bond stuff is serious business.
I soothe her with soft words, soft hands, and softer kisses as she continues to cry, enjoying the feel of her against me even if it’s not under the best circumstance. After about five minutes, her tears subside and she pulls back to look at me. She says nothing for what feels like hours, but then she leans down to gently press her lips to mine.
Since the first kiss, I’ve known I’ll never, ever grow tired of kissing her. I’d do it tired, bloody, or on death’s door, sick, healthy, or anything in between. I’d kiss her anywhere, in front of anyone, and damn the consequences. She’ll always be