“Aerén,” he growled, the lines of pain bracketing Eve's mouth eating at him. While he could stand this torture, he couldn’t bear for her to suffer.
His prince jogged over. “What’s up?”
“Take Eve back to the apartment.”
“No—no!” She clutched his shirt in panic. “Reynner, wait—”
“Take her.” He didn't want Eve witnessing what he’d been reduced to do.
***
“No.” Eve fisted his damp tee. “Where are you going?”
He didn’t respond, his lips drawn tight. She saw the answer in his eyes.
“No, Reynner. Please, don’t,” she cried. “I can endure this—I can.”
“I won’t have you suffer a burden that was never yours.”
“No, you can’t let her win—oh, God, please don’t go.” She shook him hard. “I won’t let you go.”
“It’s the only way. I’m sorry, Eve. I won’t have you hurt.” The cold determination in his expression spoke volumes.
Shaken, she stared at him, her entire being fracturing. “You-you’re leaving me, to save me?”
His eyes gone impossibly cold, he peeled her fingers from his shirt and turned to Aerén. In a voice she’d never heard before, like he’d shut down every facet of emotion, he said, “Keep her safe.”
Then he strode off, crossed the busy street, and headed into the park, the darkness swallowing him.
Eve couldn’t breathe. The pain spilling through her gave way to a new one as her heart fractured.
“Eve?” Aerén took her arm. She shrugged him off, prayed with everything in her soul that Reynner would come back.
He didn’t.
She swayed, didn’t protest the hands that swept her off her feet. Utter desolation stole through her. She had to live with the despair, the agony, knowingshehad driven Reynner into Inanna’s arms. She’d ruined their lives, their momentary happiness because she’d been unable to block those flashes of pain.
Chapter 28
The scent of disinfectant and illness was an unpleasant smell to his heightened senses, but a small price to pay, Sebris decided, striding into the hospital.
One of the females in white hurried over to them as they stalked down the quiet corridor, past the nurses’ station. With Paxyn left to deal with the nurse, knowing the warrior would do a good job with mind control, Sebris and Xever headed for the ward.
Sebris had waited two days, paying heed to the fact that she had to remain there to heal. They could do little about that on this realm, and they needed her up and about as soon as possible. They had shut down the house and taken up residence in a nearby hotel so they could keep an eye on the female. He was well aware the Empyrean and Eve visited every day.
If he could, he’d take the female and disappear. But while on this realm, and weakened, he refused to have the Empyreans coming after them until he had the Stone. Plans had to be put into action, false memories inserted and info added to the records humans kept.
He wavered on his feet. Damn, he could barely stay upright much longer with agony eating through his bones. He ignored the looks Xever sent him and entered the ward. Stopping at the foot of the bed, Sebris studied the female lying there.
Her caramel skin appeared ashy. A large bruise covered her left cheek. Black hair lay limp and lifeless like seaweed on the pillow. The vibration that hummed through him was muted now. It had to be because she was unconscious. But the essence of it remained exactly like what he’d experienced on the street.
He frowned at the underlying floral scent taunting his senses. The fragrance a lot like the flowers that grew wildly at the house on the Hudson—damn thing hiked his problem. Pain spiked through his skull, his molars mowed together.
A soft moan came from the bed. Confused, dulled, crystalline blue eyes flickered open and stared blankly at him.
“You should go Equate, I’ll keep an eye on her,” Xever said quietly from beside him.
Sebris ignored him.
