“Khiva,” she whispered, reaching out to take his hand. With her other, she smoothed her fingers down his cheek.
“Leeldra,” he rasped. “I…” he hissed and even without looking, Eve knew that Valerie had begun lasering his skin closed. Or at least trying to. His eyes were bright with pain as he said, “There is much I want to tell you.”
“Shh,” she whispered, giving him a soft, wobbly smile. “It’s okay, Khiva. We don’t have to talk now.”
He shook his head, or at least tried to. “You…you are leaving soon,leeldra. We need—” Another hiss as Valerie lasered another section of skin and his hand tightened around her palm.
“I promise we’ll talk, Khiva,” she whispered, more tears falling from her eyes, hating to see him in pain.
That seemed to make him relax, if only slightly. His breaths whistled through him, deep and choppy. But when he saw her tears, he seemed to still. “I cannot withstand seeing you cry,leeldra. I hate knowing I am the cause.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, leaning forward to kiss the back of his hand. “I can’t help it. I wish I could take away your pain.”
His eyes closed, his brow bones drawing together. When he opened his eyes, he whispered, “I thought I was making the right decision, Evelyn. I thought I was. Even when you came to me tonight, I thought I was.”
Eve swallowed. “Khiva, you should rest. It’s going to be a long night.”
“Veki, I need to say this,” he murmured, even though he was short of breath with pain, as rivulets of blood ran from his back and pooled on her sheets. “I do care you for.Deeply,” he growled. Eve’s breath hitched. “I should have told you that morning. I should have told you earlier tonight.Leeldra,I love you. Thenuvur’u drava,pax? You have had me from the beginning.”
Eve’s head spun, her lips parting. “Khiva.”
Another sizzle of pain from the laser made him groan. She squeezed his hand, more tears falling, and she brought her lips to his knuckles.
“I was frightened,” he said, his voice softer. His eyes closed briefly, his voice fading a bit.
Eve kept her lips on his cold hand. It scared her how cold he was, since he’d always been so warm.
“Khiva,” she whispered.
When he didn’t open his eyes, alarm went through her. Placing a hand on his side, where she knew his other heart was, Eve felt only slight relief when she felt it beating strong.
“He’s unconscious,” Valerie soft voice came. “It’s probably for the best.”
Eve looked at her, a sudden thought making her sweat, “Is he going to recover from this? Should I send for a healer?”
“No,” Valerie replied, shaking her head, focusing on the last area of skin. “Keriv’i are strong, much stronger than humans. It would take a lot more than this.”
“But this is…” Eve whispered, shaking her head, as her eyes went over the expanse of his back. Some of the cuts were simply too deep to close with the laser.
“I know,” Valerie said quietly and they said nothing more as she finished up.
When she was done, Eve helped her put more healing salve over the wounds before they wrapped his back with clean cloth bandages.
Valerie blew out a sharp breath, wiping her forearm over her forehead since her hands were bloodied. “There. That should help begin the healing process. Typically, their wounds were closed up by the next morning, but this…I’m not sure. You’ll need to change the bandages and put more salve on in the morning.”
It appalled Eve how easily she spoke about it because it told her that this had happened often.
Valerie stood, disappearing into the washroom to clean her hands, as Eve softly stroked Khiva’s hand. When Valerie returned, the blonde murmured, “I have to get back. Before she realizes I’m gone.”
Eve walked her downstairs on shaking legs, seeing a trail of Khiva’s blue blood every other step. Once they reached the door, Eve saw that the driverless car outside never left.
Eve caught her hand before she opened the door. “Why did it happen? Tonight? What was the cause ofthis?”
Valerie hesitated and Eve felt dread pool in her stomach. The woman answered her honestly, however, “Because Madame Allegria somehow found out he was here. That he’d left to meet you.”
Eve blew out a breath, thinking she would be sick again. This had happened because ofher.
“He knew he would be punished, if for no other reason because he cancelled his client that night,” Valerie told her. “But he didn’t care. He just wanted to see you. He always does.”
