Vasz wedges himself in the gap between our torsos, subtly licking my face as he loops around me to circle the area again. There’s no universe where I could leave him behind either. I don’t care if I have to spend every waking moment in a state of panic; this is Vasz’s home as well, and I won’t do anything to cause him discomfort. He’smydog as well.
“There’s nowhere Vasz and you can go other than the mainland.”
Ordus shakes his head stiffly. “No, Cindi.Youmust leave. I would rather become one with the sea alone than be the reason you get hurt.”
My lips part. He’s… Tears spring to my eyes, and I swallow down a sob. “No. You—you—” I choke on the words. Hecan’t. He’s not allowed to die. He’s notallowedto tell me to leave.
I shove him in the chest. “No!”
“Cindi,please.” His forehead wrinkles like he’s in agony. “I—I cannot keep you safe. I?—”
“I don’t give a shit,” I scream, shoving him again. Face riddled with guilt, he drops his arms to his sides. “I don’tcareabout safety. I don’t want to run anymore, don’t you get that? I’d much rather die than live a life in which I constantly feel like I’m dying—because that’s not living. Life shouldn’t be torture. I’d prefer risking death if it means I can be happy.”
He reaches for me, and I wrap my hands around the back of his neck. “You wish to stay?”
“Yes.” Without a doubt.
“With me?” he says uncertainly.
“Always.” As soon as the word is past my lips, worry strikes.
Ordus still thinks I’m his mate.
He thinks his fated mate just accepted him—the one thing he wanted most.
“Take me to your island.” If he decides he’d rather search for the one the Goddess chose for him, I’d at least like to say goodbye to my home for the past month and collect my things.
“Ourisland,” Ordus corrects. “Yours and mine.”
“Yes.” I nod, tasting bile as I unthread my fingers from his hair to place my hand over his, pressing a kiss to his inner wrist. “Yours and mine. Take us home, Ordus.”
It’ll be my home if you let it.
“Cindi,” a honeyed voice whispers beside my ear, stirring me awake.
I groan, blinking against the line of harsh blue light before we’re plunged into darkness. The cold bite of the water only addsto my exhaustion. My eyelids droop closed again, and a wave of nausea has me whimpering, curling into Ordus’ chest.
“I have you, little mate,” he croons. A big hand rubs over my back as he tucks me tight up against him, bridal style. “You are safe.”
A soft purr vibrates against my arm as I try to orient myself to the present. Memories flash of Deedee, bloodshed, and the stone-cold relief of feeling Ordus’ warmth against me.
Muted pain presses against the front of my cranium, like there’s a hundred-pound weight sitting on it, and any second, my head is going to gosplat.
I can feel the Curse like it’s a living entity within me, a void of bleak nothingness with fangs and an insatiable hunger for blood. Breathing and hissing, it claws at the inside of my skin, trying to break free. I can feel it gnawing away at my life force. Unless I can rip it out of me, it’s going to kill me.
“Are we here?” I grumble, nuzzling into the crook of Ordus’ neck, wishing I could sleep for just a few more hours, or days. I’m so tired, I never want to wake up again.
Water sluices down my arm as I bring it into the air dome to rub my eyes. I cringe as the bubble bursts, and I push past the surface of the water into the pool. He sets me down on my side on the padded floor and rushes around the cave in a flurry. My eyes drift shut, and I fall victim to the darkness again.
Loud clattering jars me out of sleep. I blink my bleary eyes up at Ordus as he hunches down beside me, a tray in hand that he sets on the floor. He pulls me upright against him, using his tentacles as cushioning and support. My brows pinch as I try to make out the myriad of objects on it: water, pill bottle, protein bar, a pestle and mortar of something that looks like healing poultices, and a little green jar he cracks open and brings to my lips.
The putrid smell assaults my nostrils, and my gag reflex immediately kicks in.Chicken Essence. I could identify that stench anywhere.
I unlock my jaw and swallow it down in a single go, willing my body not to throw it back up. It settles unhappily in my stomach, but Ordus wastes no time offering me a couple of gulps of water before forcing me to eat the entire protein bar and painkillers. I don’t have the heart to tell him nothing he’s doing is going to fix what’s wrong or change the inevitable.
“Ordus,” I whisper, feeling energy trickle back into me as his warmth seeps into my body.
Rubbing his hand over my legs and arms like he’s making sure I’m in one piece, he cradles the back of my head against his chest. “Rest, mate. We will speak once you are better.”
