Ithadbeentwohours since the Killian had been jabbed with the dragon-eye antidote needle.Afterward, he’d sagged into the table, melting into a deep, deep sleep.
“We won’t know if that was the right choice of antidote until, or more importantlyif, he wakes up,” the doctor had said in a grim voice.
He and his staff had moved the Killian into the medical bay, a massive space with state-of-the-art medical equipment and plush, overly decadent furnishings.The black webbing around his gunshot wound had stopped its spread, but it hadn’t gone away either.As I paced in front of his giant bed, I kept glancing at the hearts monitor he was hooked up to, as well as the slow rise and fall of his chest.
Whatever poison Bling had shot him with was powerful stuff.If I had been seconds later getting him to the doctor, I didn’t know what would’ve happened.
I didn’t know why I cared either, but here I was, stewing over the life of my enemy.
And worrying about Nera.
Most areas on this cruise ship had amazing views out the floor-to-ceiling windows, and I’d closed every single shade I’d passed while I paced back and forth across the Killian’s large suite.The stark reminder of the growing distance between Nera and me, both literal and figurative, weighed heavily.
I was an utter fool.Simple as that.I’d let my hearts reign when I knew it would end up hurting Nera, and it had.It fuxxing had, and I had only me to blame.As impossible as it was, I should’ve stayed away from her.
Of all the women to fall for, it couldn’t and shouldn’t have been her.Not with her past.Not with me being what I was.
“Maxx,” a voice rasped.
Not the Killian.Other than his chest, he hadn’t moved a muscle.Yet we were the only ones in this private suite.
Was I hallucinating?In the words of the great Roxxanne, “Oh mygoddess, Dad,obviously.”
“Can you shut up?”the voice asked.
Wait, itwasthe Killian.
I rushed to his side.“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to,” he said with a groan, his eyes still closed.“Your brain’s going a thousand parsecs a minute, and I can hear it even while unconscious.”
“But it woke you up, didn’t it?How do you feel?”
“Like shit.”He cracked open one green eye, then the other.“It’s better than the alternative, I guess.Better be careful, or saving my life could become a nasty habit of yours.”
“Once is hardly a habit.”
“Twice.Remember in the escape room?If you hadn’t insisted on me going before you up the hand wall of crushing doom,”—he pointed to his green horns—“these babies could have snapped off, and I’d be as good as dead.”
I glared down at him.“Your horns are sexual organs.Nothing more.”
He glared right back.“I said what I said.”
I snorted and shook my head.
“Seriously though, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.Thank you for looking after Nera as much as you do.”
“She deserves to be happy.”
I avoided his steady gaze and nodded because I couldn’t agree more.She did deserve happiness, and I couldn’t be the one to give it to her.It was best to just accept that, and all the pain that came with it, and let her move on as soon as possible.Somehow, I would too.Eventually.
“I can hear what you’re thinking, but you deserve to be happy too.”
I sighed deeply.“I’ve never taken life advice from a Killian.I’m not going to start now.”
“Then take mine.”A sharp rap sounded at the open door, followed by Pete’s regular chuckle, not his showman’s one.He was wearing a shirt—a first since I’d met him—with a red tongue on it.“I’ve got plenty of life advice you never wanted or asked for, but I’ll give it to you anyway for the low, low price of not taking any more swings at my pretty face.”
