I tried to reach out toward the fire, but it was no use. My limbs were so heavy…everything hurt. Unconsciousness called me, spreading over my head like the shifting sea. I sank into its depths, letting it claim me.
11
Aradia
There was something wrong with my neck. It felt as though half of it had been chewed right off by some sort of monstrous creature of the night. As I awoke, I began to remember that wasexactlywhat had happened. Yuto and the enemy had vanished into the trees, and then the creature had leapt from the shadows, knocking me down like I was nothing more than an insect beneath his boot.
His teeth had ripped through my neck. How I was even alive, I didn’t know.
Yuto was there when I opened my eyes. He sat quietly on a wooden chair on the left side of the bed, a book propped open in his lap. A scar ran down his right cheek, puffy and pink and raw. Flashbacks of the night rushed through me all at once. Yuto grabbing me out of the creature’s grip. Yuto throwing himself between us and then disappearing. And then the creature grabbing me, tasting my flesh and my blood.
I’d felt my life-source sap out of me, splashing onto his lips.
I shuddered, and Yuto glanced up. He was on his feet within an instant, concern rippling in those crimson eyes. “You’re awake.”
“How very observant of you.” My voice warbled.
Pain rushed through my neck. Ouch. I might be alive, but I definitely hadn’t escaped unscathed. Gingerly, I shifted on the pillow. More pain exploded along my jaw and down my throat.
“You’ve been asleep for days,” Yuto murmured. “For a moment, I worried you might never make it out of the Land of Nod.”
I peered up at him, feeling a mixture of conflicting emotions I didn’t want nor did I truly understand. He’d saved me, and for that, I couldn’t help but be grateful. But it wasn’t as though he’d done it for any other reason but to save himself. None of this had been because he cared about my safety. It was selfishness that powered him. Nothing more and nothing less.
I couldn’t forget that, regardless of how intensely he’d ripped me out of the enemy’s grip and into his arms. No matter the concern and fear I’d seen in his bonfire eyes. The fear in his voice as he’d roared. All of that was a lie.
“Well, here I am,” I said, still hoarse. Wincing, I gently prodded at the soft bandage around my throat.Owwwww.
Okay, I wasn’t doing that again.
Instantly, Yuto had his gloved hand wrapped tight around mine. He gently pulled it away from the bandage, fiery concerning rippling in his eyes. “You shouldn’t touch that. It needs to be left alone for at least another day or the wound will rip wide open again. You don’t know how close you came to…well, no need to dwell on that now. Just please, Aradia. I know you’re stubborn as hell but leave the wound alone. You can prod at it all you want when it’s fully healed.”
I nodded, though just barely. Even that motion was enough to send knives of pain slicing through my skin.
“Good,” he said with a grim smile. “I don’t want to tie you up, but I will if I have to.”
Of course he would.
Heat curled through my core. I glanced at where our hands interlocked. My fingers weaved through his gloves, flesh against steel. Something from the night before sprang into my mind. The enemy’s words. Yuto’s hands. Frowning, I turned my gaze back on his face that was still lined with concern.
The last time I’d asked him something about himself, it had sparked a bonfire of anger. Not that I’d let that stop me from finding out what I was desperate to know. I never quit.
“Why are you always wearing those gloves?” I asked. “Don’t you ever take them off?”
Talking still hurt like hell, but…I had to ask. There was something to it, I knew deep down in my bones. Something he didn’t want me to know. And it had everything to do with those gloves.
His expression darkened. “It is part of my armor.”
“And yet, you aren’t wearing your helmet or any breastplate. Not even your leathers.” I gave his chest a pointed look, my cheeks flushing. Only the bottom two buttons of his loose tunic had been done up. The rest of it was hanging wide open, revealing a very, very chiseled chest. When he leaned forward, every single inch of his sculpted abs was on display.
My hands itched. If only I could trace my fingers along the ridges. If only I could feel the strength of him against me…
What the hell am I thinking?!
“Hmm.” He shook his head, chuckling. “Well, now I know the answer tothatquestion.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What question?”
Had he somehow read my mind? Did he know the thoughts flying around with wild abandon? I flushed at the idea of him knowing just how tempted I was to feel his skin against mine.
