HADRIAN
“What is your fucking problem?”I ask Soren as I shove him into the other room.
“What isn’t my problem?” he answers like he’s mysterious and brooding, but he’s high as a kite, and I’m pissed he doesn’t even seem fazed by having Sable back. Is he too high to notice this is what we’ve all been desperate for? For a month, all of us couldn’t exist because she was gone. She’s hurt because we failed to protect her when he chased her away, and I tried not to judge him too harshly. His twin brother is doing that for us all, but he’s making it impossible. The boy I used to be friends with has to be in there somewhere, but I swear I’m failing to recognize him anymore.
“We are not going to lose her again because of you. I will not fucking let you chase her away again.”
The nonsensical arguments from his high ass die in his tongue, and he deflates in front of me. “I fucking hate myself for where she ended up and what happened to her. I am not trying to chase her away again.”
It’s the first thing I’ve heard him say in a long time that sounds like it came from him. Fuck, I know that even if he doesn’t want her, he wouldn’t act the way he did. The honesty inhis tone relaxes my shoulders. Finally, something that isn’t crazy in his eyes.
“If that’s how you feel, then you need to back the fuck off. She’s been through way too much to have to carry your baggage too. I know something is going on with you, but it’s not Sable’s fucking problem.”
My words are harsh, but they ring true. Guilt punches me in the stomach when he just nods. “I’m not trying to make it her problem. Wherever you guys wind up, I’ll leave you alone.”
“Yeah, tell that to Sable.” I’m speaking rhetorically, but he opens the door, like that’s exactly what he plans to do. I stop him before he gets it all the way, but we both stop as we see Lex helping Sable back to the bed.
She’s wrapped in a towel, bruised beyond belief, but still so damn beautiful, and my heart aches just to look at her. My eyes can barely stand to leave her, but they move to Soren, and the pain in his face is enough to convince me to let him watch too.
Her hand rests in Lex’s as he guides her. Pretty blue eyes stay pointed down as if there’s some shame in what’s happened. There’s none, and anyone who thinks otherwise will have to answer to me. They didn’t see what she’s capable of and how she fought for her life. Sable is unlike anything they can imagine. He leads her to the edge of the bed and attempts to dry her hair, but I know I would do better. It takes everything inside me not to interrupt, but she looks too fragile. The idea of scaring her now is unbearable. I’m glad Lex is drying her hair. After everything, she doesn’t need to sleep with it wet, too.
When he finishes, it’s not perfectly dry, but it will do. “Go lie on the bed, and I’ll grab my bag.” He points toward the bed with his chin. She obeys him, but first she drops the towel, and I nearly give away our position. I turn to Soren to prevent him from looking at her nakedness, but much to my surprise, his eyesare already cast down. I’m glad he seems to understand that he doesn’t deserve to enjoy what he nearly cost us.
Lex turns, and when he sees the naked perfection waiting for him on the bed, he nearly trips. She’s stretched over the white sheets, looking at him in a way that makes me wish to be someone else for the very first time in my life. I love my music, but what does it matter now that she’s hurt? Suddenly, the morbid bastard seems like a highly useful person in my life.
He sits down beside her, and she won’t look at him. I fear that in her effort to look anywhere but at him, she might find us watching. I close the door ever so slightly more. Soren presses against my back. He’s not looking to be perverted; it’s not about her naked body, but her pain. His posture screams his concern for her.
“Are you dying to ask me everything?”Her voice is so soft, but we can hear perfectly.
“Yes, but I’m more interested in how I’m going to keep this as painless as possible for you.” Lex grunts.
“Make what as painless as possible?” she asks.
“You need a few stitches. Not on every letter, but there are some spots where I can see muscle.”
“Are you sure that’s necessary?” There’s a nervous gulp. Her fear is like a grip squeezing my throat.
“Yes, I am.”
The news hits Soren and me at once, and we both suck in air. She’s so hurt that she needs stitches, which is more than any of us imagined. I’m deeply conflicted about sharing so much with Soren. He’s been our enemy since the day she left. Seeing how much he’s going through has softened me to him, but I still didn’t plan to get too close. There’s too much unsaid, and while I can see hurt in his eyes, Sable is my priority. He betrayed her, and it’s not right to stand here right by his side listening to her conversation. There’s nothing I can do but close the door.That’s the right thing to do, but how can I close myself off to her suffering? There’s no way in hell I’m doing that.
“This is going to burn. I’m really sorry.” I’m surprised to hear a tremor in Lex’s voice. He’s so clinical, but I know hurting her must be difficult for him. I can’t see the whole room from my position, but I see when his head lowers, and he starts cleaning the wound with alcohol wipes. Lex is calm and cool, and I see so clearly that he’s handling this much better than I would.
“I’m also sorry about this,” he says.
“Sorry about what?” She asks the question for both of us.
“This topical anesthetic that I’m applying isn’t anywhere near strong enough. I didn’t realize, or I would have brought something else.”
“It’s okay, Lex. I know you’re going to do what’s best.” There’s a strength in her that I’m not sure I’ll ever understand, but it makes me feel alive just to be near it.
“I promise I don’t have a better option,” he tells her as he hovers over her with the needle. “If you need to scream, we’ll take care of the management.”
She doesn’t say a word, just nods as he begins. Much to my surprise, she doesn’t scream. Only a few small sounds of pain escape, and I’m so impressed by her strength that by the time he finishes, I positively feel like I could combust for her. He drops the needle and the rest of his tools into a pan and strokes her hair as he lays the new bandage. “You need to rest. And food.”
“I’d love a hamburger.” She smiles, tears glittering in the corner of her eyes. Damn, it’s a pretty smile, and I follow her with one of my own.
“Done, princess. Fries? Onion rings?” I’ve never seen him so soft, and my approval toward him only grows.
