Good.
Because I didn’t think I’d ever get enough of him. Of howsavagehe became once the clothes were off and our hands were on each other.
Chapter 25
Lola
I’d been sitting at Dimitri’s side for a long, silent hour. Doctors and nurses have been instructed by Ann not to come in here unless they were called in, which somehow made me feel a bit better about him being stuck here alone.
If he came back to his senses only to be surrounded by people with white coats, he would freak out. People could get seriously hurt. Especially with the state he came back in…
No one really knew what happened to him, but most of the external damages had already healed. His mind had shut down from sheer exhaustion, probably amplified by his attempt to control the madness that tended to take over when he was in danger.
But I wanted—no,neededhim to wake up. To tell me what the Hell happened. Why Arc didn’t come back. I was still upset with him when they had left, but he remained mymate. The idea of Arc being trapped somewhere, hurt and in pain, made my stomach twist and churn.
My hand tightened on his limp and cold fingers as I looked at the deep, purple circles under his closed eyes.
Whatever happened, it had been too much for him. Bad enough that it had taken him almost two weeks to free himself and come back here. There had to be a good reason he left Arc behind. Even if they didn’t get along, he wouldn’t have taken the risk that I’d lose a mate. Not after he’s seen what leaving Blake did to me.
Someone knocked on the door before carefully opening it. Marcus’ head popped through the narrow opening, eyes silently asking for permission to come in.
I nodded before he pushed it farther, stepping inside and followed by Aymeric, carrying a big bag in his arms.
“I assumed you rushed here this morning and didn’t take the time to have a proper breakfast,” Aymeric said, pulling out little containersto set them on the table in the corner. “You need to eat when you’re worried, or you’ll crumble.”
I forced a small smile and stood up, walking over to him to place my hand on his shoulder.
“You know I can’t starve, right?”
Aymeric turned his head slowly. He was concerned. The dark circles under his eyes spoke volumes of the little sleep he must have gotten.
“I know, dear. It still pains me to know you’re here, alone, waiting for your mate to wake up.”
Marcus came to stand on Aymeric’s other side, his hand rubbing slow circles on his back.
“So, Rosa prepared some coffee for you, and I brought some of your favorite pastries and cakes,” the angel continued. “If we’re waiting, might as well be with full bellies.”
Marcus helped him set up the—almost—buffet and filled three plates before coming to sit on the uncomfortable chair next to me, handing me the to-go cup and the food.
“When I was young and we had to go to the hospital because someone was hurt or sick, we sat around their bed to exchange happy stories and memories about them,” Aymeric said, taking the seat on the other side of Dimitri’s bed. “Of course, Marcus and I don’t know him very well, if not at all. But you could tell us a good memory you have with him.”
“That’s a strange custom,” Marcus mocked with a scoff. I slapped his arm. “Ouch—What? It is!”
“My family believed that when someone sick is surrounded by happiness and laughter, they have more chances of getting better.”
“It’s not like Dimitri is dying,” Marcus countered. “The dude’s pretty much invincible at this point.”
Aymeric let out an exhausted sigh. “It’s not just for the person who’s sick. Isn’t it better to talk about happy things rather than to wallow about the whole situation?”
“Or, we could talk about other things,” I suggested. “What’s it like living with a third vamp?”
Marcus groaned, stuffing a whole piece of cake into his mouth.
“Forget it, let’s talk about your happy whatever withyourmate.”
Aymeric’s lips tugged at the corner as he brought the to-go cup to his mouth. Well, if I wasn’t so terrified about being locked in aspace with my brother after all these years, I’m pretty sure I’d enjoy the awkwardness and chaos he probably brought with him into the apartment.
I knew I had to face him eventually. Just—not now.
