He felt his arm being raised and a hand grip his arm. A warm, steady voice chased the haze away, and his ragged breath evened out. The pressure in his chest lessened and his eyes weren’t so heavy. He knew before his eyes opened who it was.
His head was lifted and he felt the comfort of her lap. One of her hands cradled his head. How did she instantly make him feel better?
“What is she doing?” Lars’s voice was sharp and protective.
“From the looks,” Martin snapped back. “She’s healing him. And unless you’d like me to lose him in the next two minutes, I’d leave her alone.”
Sven forced his eyes open. The light created tears, but when the blur sharpened, her face hovered above him. Wide eyes he could get lost in, full of fear and confusion. Reminiscent of the first time they met. She didn’t look like she had any idea what was happening, and yet, her touch saved him again.
She glanced up at Martin. “I don’t…” Her whisper trembled. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“You’re doing it,” Sven rasped. The words scraped his throat like shards of glass.
Martin leaned in with his instruments and then pulled back with a relieved exhale. “Good. His vitals are stabilizing.”
Sven watched as Martin guided Bryn’s hand to touch his bare chest. “Keep your hand there so he can heal.”
Bryn blinked as she looked from Martin to Sven. “Because I’m touching him? That doesn’t make sense.”
“It doesn’t need to,” Martin muttered as he sat back on his heels. “And since she’s healing him, I think that eliminates her being a bad guy.”
Sven wanted to laugh but didn’t have the strength. He stared into Bryn’s eyes instead. “Don’t go.”
Her lips parted. The confusion in her eyes softened and she nodded. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Lars stared at them. “What is that?” he asked as he pointed to her arm. “By your wrist.”
Martin reached down and pulled it off. “Looks like a bandaid or something. Tape of some sort.” He stuck it to the outside of his medical bag.
Sven never took his eyes off Bryn when she looked up at Martin. “I have no idea. I didn’t have any bandages or tape. Not today anyhow.” She gave a nervous giggle. “Not since my sister was constantly skinning her knee.”
As much as he didn’t want to move away from Bryn, the cold floor had started to seep through Sven’s clothes and he was certain that Bryn could feel the chill also. He motioned for Lars. “Help me up.”
They helped him to his bedroom where he sank down on his bed but kept a hold of Bryn’s hand. His pulse steadied in defiance of his weakness. He had always hated needing anyone, and he hated the reminder of how weak his body had become. But right now, with her beside him, he didn’t feel as weak. He just felt alive.
Martin straightened. “I’ve done all I can do here. Even when I can’t explain it, I’ll take results over medicine any day.” He gave Sven a final once-over. “I’m going back to the war room to get my bag and then I’ll be down the hall if you need me.”
Lars followed him to the door. “We’ll talk later, when you’re feeling better.”
“But what about…” Sven’s voice trailed off as the door closed behind the two men.
Sven lay against the pillows. Sweat dampened his temples, Bryn’s hand still cradled in his own.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice hoarse.
She tilted her head, which sent a curtain of dark hair cascading over one shoulder. “For what? I didn’t do anything.”
“You did everything.” He tried to shift and winced as a jolt of pain reminded him how useless his body was at the moment. He gritted his teeth. “I don’t know what is going on with all this. I don’t want anyone to find out how weak I am.”
Her brows arched and amusement flickering in her gaze. “Who would I tell? I don’t know anyone here.
His chest ached for an entirely different reason this time. The teasing spark in her voice hit him with more force than any stimulant Martin could prescribe.
Sven struggled to shift his position.
“Here. Let me help.” Her arms were surprisingly strong as she steadied him. The proximity seared through him. Her scent, the warmth of her body, the delicate hiss of her breath when she realized how close they were.
He shouldn’t notice. Shouldn’t want her so badly. But desire hit him low and hard, coiling like a wildfire in his gut. He hadn’t felt like this before for anyone. Not even the women he’d been with during the prior mating rituals. Never this raw and sharp.
