And it was partly because every time I closed my eyes, I relived that dreadful moment at the abandoned warehouse—I saw him dying. Saw that wolfsbane blade in his chest. Saw the light fading from his eyes.
“You need to sleep, Isabella,” Dimitri said when I showed up at the hospital that afternoon carrying a bag containing a fresh change of clothes and some food. I’d gone home to check on Adele.
She’d been here yesterday, and after I told her Dimitri was going to be discharged by this evening, she insisted on decorating the penthouse with Sarah and planning for his return. Couldn’t argue with that.
“And you need to stop working and rest properly. Less than seventy hours ago, you were standing at the verge of life and death,” I countered, eyeing the files and folders sprawled on the table attached to his bed. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t get him to take a break from work.
“I’m serious, Isabella,” his voice was stern. “You really need to sleep.”
“I sleep.”
“I mean properly. In a bed. Not in that torture device they insist on calling a chair.”
I waved a hand. “I’m fine, Dimitri. I wasn’t the one who almost—”
“Died. Yes, I know,” he cut me off gently. “But you got hurt, too. And you’re still bruised from what Ethan did to you.” His hand reached for mine, his thumb brushing over the fading marks on my wrist. “Isabella, I’m not going anywhere. I promise. But you need to take care of yourself.”
“I am taking care of myself. By making sure you’re okay.”
“I am okay. Thanks to you.” He tugged gently on my hand, pulling me onto the edge of his bed. “But if you collapse from exhaustion, what good are you to anyone?”
He had a point. Logically, I knew he had a point.
But logic and the lingering terror in my chest weren’t exactly on speaking terms.
“I keep seeing it,” I admitted quietly. “You falling. The blood. I thought—I really thought I’d lost you.”
“I know.” He shifted, pushing the paperwork to the side to make room in his bed. “Come here.”
I hesitated for only a second before climbing into the hospital bed beside him, careful not to jostle his injury. His arm came around me immediately, holding me close.
“I’m here,” he murmured against my hair. “I’m alive. We both are. And we’re going to stay that way.”
For the first time in three days, I felt myself truly relax. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat under my ear, the warmth of his body against mine—it was like the reassurance I didn’t know I need.
“Sleep,” he commanded gently. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“But you haven’t yet had breakfast,” I interjected. “I brought your favorite.”
“And I will only eat it once you sleep and wake up,” he said.
I sighed. No point arguing. We were both stubborn. Itwas a miracle Adele hadn’t turned out to be extra stubborn. Though I was holding out for her teenage years. Something told me it was going to be a whirlwind.
I closed my eyes, and in no time, I was asleep.
For the first time, I didn’t have bad dreams. I slept peacefully. And when I woke hours later, he was still there, still breathing, still holding me.
“Now, don’t you feel better?” Dimitri whispered, kissing my hair.
I snuggled into him, a smile on my lips. “Much better.”
“Good. Because I’m starving. Been starving since you mentioned bringing food.”
I chuckled, standing from the bed and going to pull out the sandwiches and freshly squeezed orange juice. . I’d barely set a plate for Dimitri when Maia Ravencrest walked in.
She’d been here once, but I didn’t stay. I’d just stood and left the room.
“Um,” I dropped the coolers. “I should give you two some room. Can you help yourself, Dimitri?” I turned to look at him but he had a frown on his face, as if questioning why I was leaving. I gave him a pointed look that said, “You know why.”
