“You’re safe,” He repeats.
“Did they target me because of you?” I ask him bluntly. I have to know what I am facing, and then I have to decide if I want to continue allowing myself to fall deeper with him. How much risk is too much?
“I don’t know, Olivia.” He reaches for my hand, curling his strong fingers around my much smaller one. The blood is a malevolent reminder of the monster he is but when he touches me like this, so gently like I’m fragile and precious, I don’t see the monster at all. “But I promise it’ll never happen again.”
“How can you make that promise, Kai?”
He shudders, it’s gentle and subtle but I feel it where our hands are connected, “Because there is nothing I won’t do to make sure you’re protected. I will burn every city to the ground to eliminate any threat to you. I am your shield, Olivia. Your bullet. I am your husband.”
My lashes flutter but words fail me.
“Rest, kitten,” Malakai stands, leaning over the bed. His hand smooths back some hair from my forehead, the callouses on his fingers scraping on my skin.
“Are you leaving?” I panic.
“I’ll be right back,” He promises, “I need to change and wash off the blood. I’ll send Willow and Sebastian in, okay?”
“The nurse won’t let them both in,” I remind him.
“Don’t worry about that,” he says, gently pressing his mouth to mine before he then kisses my forehead and strides from the room.
A few minutes later Sebastian enters the room, “Well damn,” He whistles, “She’s alive.”
He clicks the door closed behind him and comes to the bed, staring down at my face in concern. “You good?”
“Yeah,” I answer, “Sore.”
I reach for the water on the bedside, but Sebastian is there first, grabbing the cup and guiding the straw to my mouth.
“I have a concussion and a few bruises,” I deadpan, “I didn’t lose the use of my limbs.”
It doesn’t stop him though and knowing I won’t win, I take a few draws of water, wetting my lips and tongue.
When I’m finished, he puts it down and takes a seat just as Willow sneaks into the room, quickly shutting the door behind her.
“Shit Oli!” She gasps, rushing over. Both hands grab one of mine as watery eyes flick around my face, cataloguing my injuries. “Well tonight didn’t exactly go to plan.” She winces, her thumb brushing over my knuckles.
“No,” I agree. “What a shit show.”
Sebastian scoffs but says nothing as Willow climbs onto the bed to lay down next to me. She rests on my shoulder, and I lean my cheek down on top of her head. “I lost my phone.”
“I’ll get it sorted,” Sebastian answers.
I was going to phone my sister, but now I think I’ll wait. If she finds out about this, she’ll be on the next ferry over, and I didn’t want her or her new boyfriend near Malakai just yet because of how angry they both were that I was doing this.
Willow stays in the bed with me and ends up falling asleep there, but I stay awake, watching the snow while Sebastian sits quietly beside me. I know he’s only here as a bodyguard, but it’s nice to have his company. I like Sebastian. I like them all.
I blow out a breath, almost wanting to laugh since this is not how I expected any of this to go.
Malakai returns about two hours after he left, dressed now in a pair of dark denim jeans and a sweater, hair still a little damp from his shower but his skin is clean, hands too.
“Well then,” Sebastian stands, shaking Willow gently, “I’ll get this one home.”
Willow groans and buries into my side further, refusing to wake.
“She’d sleep through an earthquake, I swear,” I laugh.
Rolling his eyes, he gently lifts Willow from the bed, and she snuggles right into his chest. His arms happen to curl just a little tighter, not that I let on that I notice. Malakai opens the door for them before he takes the seat Sebastian just vacated.
