A door bangs in the distance. Tristan’s lips tighten. “Fine.”
He looks back down at me. “Sienna.Stay.”
It’s not a request. It’s a bark. Analphabark.
My body locks into place, refusing to follow my silent screams to move, as Tristan sits up. He reaches for the syringe, his eyes meeting mine as he picks up my arm, pressing into my skin. “I’m sorry,” he says grimly. “I have to.”
My mouth shapes the words even as I feel the sting of the needle. I don’t move, locked into place by Tristan’s bark.
No, you didn’t.
The medication takes effect quickly. Tristan keeps his eyes averted as the fire in my abdomen is replaced by languid, drowsy tiredness. I force out the words I need to say, before my eyes close.
“Never forgive you.”
51
GRAY
Isit in silence, staring at the wall of stars.
Sienna lies limply in my arms, just as still and silent as she was three days ago. My fingers rise again, following the familiar motion as they press against her neck.
Her pulse flutters weakly under my fingers.
It’s a little stronger than it was yesterday.
Soon, we’ll find out how much she hates us.
There’s movement by the door and my hackles raise, relaxing when Logan walks in. His eyes move straight to Sienna as he crosses the space, sinking down next to me and handing over an open bottle of water. I take it gratefully, sucking down the majority with my free hand before I pass it back and he sets it aside.
Our silent vigil lasts for a few minutes before he stirs. “I’m desperate for her to wake up,” he mutters. “But I’m dreading it, too.”
I know how he feels. I don’t respond, only nodding.
“Tristan wants to come in.”
My head jerks to look at him. “He’s not coming anywhere near her.”
It was Logan and I who lifted her and carried her gently from the cold, concrete shed. Us who bathed her, washing the stink of the oil away from her skin and trying to keep our eyes averted as much as possible before we settled in here to keep watch. Jax reappeared a few hours later, his knuckles red and bleeding as he slipped down the wall opposite, his eyes on Sienna and his head bowed.
All of us in silent vigil. All of us, except for Tristan.
He only tried once. Once was all it took for Jax to grab him by the throat, Tristan not even fighting it as he let Jax do what he needed to do. Like he knew exactly how much he deserved it. He took one look at Sienna before he walked out, his lip and eye swelling up.
“She’s going to leave us,” Logan murmurs. “Soul Bonded or not. How could she not?”
How could she stay with us now?
“I know.” I smooth her hair back, making the most of the final peaceful moments I’ll ever get with our Soul Bonded. Lo touches my arm, and I pass her over to him, the movement natural after three days of the three of us taking it in turns to hold her.
We won’t let her lay on the floor alone again.
Regret is ice cold in my veins, keeping me frozen in place as I revisit each encounter. God, the things I would have done differently given the choice.
Life doesn’t come with a rewind button. If it did, I’d spend every waking moment making sure my Soul Bonded knew exactly how much she was wanted. Cherishing and adoring her, making it my life’s work to make herhappy. And with Logan by my side, we could all have been happy. Truly, deliriously happy.
But our cards have been dealt. All we can do now is live with the choices we’ve made.
