A loud bang sounded in the hall, bringing them back to their current situation. Davin leaned his forehead against hers, his hands slipping back to rest on her waist.
“We have to get you out of here,” he sighed, his breath sweeping across her cheek.
“I know.” She said, backing out of his embrace. The cold engulfed her, chilling her skin where his warmth had just been. She could feel that distance snapping back into place. It took everything in her to simply watch him gather their things and not yank him back into her arms. But now wasn’t the time for that. They really had to go.
“Ready?”
“As ready as I can be.” She shrugged, moving to his side.
Davin slipped his arm around her once more, taking on most of her weight, and eased the door to the room open, slipping into the chaos of the Med Center once more.
Chapter Forty-Two
Enemy Revelations
Alex
Davin shoved the heavy door to the alleyway open before turning to help Alex down the steps. She was trying to hide her pain, but it was becoming unbearable. It didn’t feel as if the stitches had ripped, but the numbing salve was definitely lacking. Davin helped her lean back against the wall to rest, as he quickly closed the door behind them. No one had bothered to stop them on their way out, probably thinking they were visitors. Davin ran his hand down her arm. “Are you ok? I can carry you if you need.”
Alex shifted her body away, and he let his hand drop. “I am completely capable of walking on my own.” A shadow fell over Davin’s face, and he took a step back. The moment they had shared in that room was over. The guilt of that kiss weighed heavily on her soul. She couldn’t fully let Rivka go. It had been months, even while they had still lived under the same roof,months since she began her search and yet the pain of the betrayal still felt fresh, and the love for her just as strong. But she couldn’t seem to walk away from Davin either. Alex wanted him, yet that wasn’t fair to him. She needed to keep that boundary firmly set.
“Why do you continue to push me away, only to burn me with your heat? You can’t tell me that was nothing. You and I both know that’s not true. But what is driving me mad is that you won’t let me in. What are you so afraid of?” Davin paced away, pushing his hands through his disheveled hair.
Alex threw her hands up in surrender. “I’m not trying to lead you on, Davin. There is a pull between us, but I just can’t. I’m not ready.”
Davin whirled on her, his eyes reflecting his confusion. “You sure as Sindu acted ready a few minutes ago.”
“Davin. I don’t know what to do here.”
“Start with letting me in, trusting me enough to tell me the truth, the entire truth, not just the bits and pieces you’ve been parsing out as you feel necessary!” He moved closer but didn’t touch her. Alex didn’t move. She didn’t know if she could be completely forthcoming, but maybe she could ease some of the hurt she was causing. “There was someone else, but they–hurt me–and..”
Steady slapping footfalls and heavy breathing rose from the mouth of the alley, several feet away. A man was rushing towards them, his face a mask of confusion. Shock rocked through her as recognition took hold. Davin spun, moving into a defensive stance. Tristan skidded to a stop in front of them, his eyes taking in Alex from head to toe, finally landing on her missing braid. "Where is she? Is she with you?" he demanded.
Alex startled at the sudden boom of his voice breaking through her disbelief. Tristan grabbed for her shoulders, but before he could even touch her, Davin moved forward into thespace between them. Alex leaned heavily on the wall behind her, her arms not leaving Davin’s reach. As angry as she was, she still didn’t know why Tristan was here or if he was a threat to her life.
“Who the hell are you?” Davin snarled, glaring menacingly at Tristan. Tristan held his hands up in a show of peace, taking the smallest step back.
“A pampered idiot,” Alex replied from behind him, leaning slightly to see around Davin. Davin ignored her and leaned into Tristan’s space, a low growl emitting from his throat.
“For Gods sake! I swear I am not here to hurt her! I’m actually glad to see that she’s still alive. My brothers said that they killed her. Nice haircut by the way.” Tristan hurried on, making eye contact with Alex, before moving his attention back to Davin.
Alex scowled at him. She was still pissed about that. Those little shits were going to pay dearly for what they had done.
“What do you want, Tristan,” Alex gritted out, “if not to kill me?”
“I need to know where she is. Please, Alex, tell me that you know; tell me that you’ve found her,” he pleaded.
The concern in his tone was both shocking and strangely believable. Davin’s head whipped back and forth between the two of them.
“I don’t know where she is, Tristan, and even if I did, you would be the last person I would tell.” Alex laughed bitterly.
A look of devastation passed over Tristan’s face. “Iamsorry that you hate me, but I just want what is best for my child. I do not wish any harm to come to Rivka, Alex. I am not a monster.”
Davin’s eyes grew big in surprise. “Rivka? As inQueen Rivka!?”
Alex ignored Davin completely and stared at Tristan like he had grown a second head. “What child, Tristan?” she asked,barely a whisper, her voice hinting at the betrayal she felt surging.
Alex’s breath came faster. Her heart rate hitched with each moment. What was Tristan saying? A child? Their child? It couldn’t be.Bile rose in her throat.
