Chapter 42
Sapphire,
up, but a
I woke up to the incessant beeping of machines. My cyclich fel hewy, and I linked against the blinding white of the mom tried to sit up, wave of exhaustion washed over me, pinning me to the bed. My head throbbed, and every breath felt like it was dragging me back under.
A voice beside me broke through the for. “Clad to see you’re awake,” it said softly.
I gasped, my heart fluttering in my chest, and turned my head slowly in ser far sitting on the chair beside my bed. He looked tired, his eyes rimmed with dark circles, but there was a soft smile on his face swallowed, trying to wes my dry throat, and attempted to sit up again. He quickly leaned forward, grabbing a glass of water from the bible table and holding it out to the
“Here.” he murmured, his hand steady as he brought the glass to my lips. I took a small sip, the coal liquid soothing my parched throat, and manged a weak smile.
“What What are you doing here?” I whispered
“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” he replied.
A simile rugged at my lips despite the pain. “That’s
He shrugged, a hire of a grin on his lips. “You know
“Theard you got hurt.. Hthought it might be cute for you to have a friendly face to wake up to
that’s very sweet of you,” I wispered
- me. Always looking out for you.”
It let out a soth lough, though it felt like it took all the energy Thad fase glanced behind him, his smile fading slightly.
“Leahjust stepped out to streich her legs,” he said quietly. “She hasn’t left your side since you were brought in.”
The thought warmed my heart, though I fought to suppress the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm me Leah, she has a good heart and I don’t deserve her. I nodded, swallowing back the tears that pricked at the corners of my eyes I didn’t want to cry, not in front el baac, NOT NOW,
“Shr ́s, she’s a good friend.” Tiged to say.
He nodded, “”“She really cares about you.”
A silence sealed between us, comfortable yet charged with things left umaid hac broke it first
“Is there anything else you need?” he asked sonly.
Ishook my head, my eyelids growing heavy again. “No, no. Ta okay, Just, just tired,” I munmuned
“Alright,” he replied. “Get some rest. I’ll be here when your cake up.”
His words were like a balm, and I felt myself drifting back into the comforting darkness,
When I wake up later, base was nowhere to be found and I caught myself dien I realized I was hoping that he was here when I woke up,
Leali breezed in holding a thermo flask, she suuled once she saw me,
“When sant told me you were awake earlier. I didn’t want to believe it. I am glad to see you are okay,”
I shrugged. “Me too, I hope I wasn’t much of a bother at the club
She pinned me with a look that said she wasn’t impressed. That’s what you are worried about? Nobody cares about that stupid party, Saph. 1
more worried about you.”
“I am sorry, hour long have beendere”
“Five days.”
My eyes bulged out. Five days? What about school?
“It’s been taken care of don’t worry about it“:
My eyes burrowed. “Thank you for being here,”
Leah shook her head. “What are friend for?”
It was the tip of my mouth to tell her than I had never had any before but I kept mite
Aragon
My hand connected with his jaw, and a rush of satisfaction surged through me. The crack of lone agains bone echoed in the small, dimly lir room,
and a groan spilled from his lips. His head stopped to the side, blood trickling from the comer of his mouth.
I had been at since morning, torturing the idiot who felt like it was a good idea to touch my mate.
Heaned in close. Tll ask you our last time. Who ordered you to poison her!”
He blinked, his eyes clouded with pain and deforce, and shook his head slowly. “No one,” he muttered,
I laughed, a cold, humorless sound that filled the space between us. “You must think I’m an idiot,” I said. “I don’t have time for your lies.”
He flinched at the venom in my words hut kept his mouth shut. I leaned back, studying him for a moment, then smiled. “Okay. Here’s how this is going to go. I’m going to take apart pour boily, one piece at a time. Maybe I’ll start with your fingers. Maybe your toes. And once I’m done, I’ll put you back together again
His eyes widened, the fearreeping in but he stayed silem. I shook my head, checking my tongue. “You brought this on yourself, you know. All you had to do way answer the dunn question“
1 tamed, reaching for the scalpel on the metal tray beside me, is edge gleaming in the dim light could feel his gaze burning loco my hack the pic starting to set in I took my time, letting the moment stretch, letting the dread settle over him like a heavy blanket.
As mw fingers closed around the cold metal hundle, he broke. “Fine Fine, I’ll tell you!” he shoutcil.
I paused, turning back to him slowly, the walpel poised in my hand. “Go on then” I said, my tone cabin and almost canal. T’m latening.
He gulped eyes during around the room like a trapped animal. “It was, it was Millicent She ordered it. She, she said she had to be uken out quietly. That no ane would suspect it was poison”
Me heart pounded in my chest, rage boiling beneath my skin. “My free” I repeated, tasting the title on my tongue like acid. “Why?”
He shook his head his eyes wide. I don’t know! I wear, I don’t know! She just she wanted her gone, but quietly, without any mes.
I nodded dowly, my grip on the scalpel tightening. “And you thoughs you’d get away with
He trembled bis the pale. Tiene Hold you everything I know,” he whispered.
Framed in close, past inches from his face. “Trac dur’s me.” I said sofly. “Because if I find our you’re lying–Limnt bem gentle next time.”
He swallowed hard, bis breaths coming is shallowe, fearful gasps. I stood up straight, still holding the scalpel, and for a moment the room was senh nothing baat his ragged breathing and the steady, dangerous calm of my own.
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