Searching through the medicine cabinet, he returns with a wrap bandage. “I don’t think it’s broken, but we should really get it x-rayed to be sure. Last thing we want is for it to heal with a bone out of place and need to be re-broken and reset.”
The thought makes my stomach somersault.“I’m ninety-five percent sure it’s just a bad sprain. I twisted it pretty good making sure the door stayed open long enough Jack could get out before he was squished.”
His lips press into a thin line as he presses as delicately as he can get away with while still inspecting it to the best of his ability. “I’m incredibly grateful to you for that. Fredrickson’s a good guy, and I’d hate to plan his funeral. But you know if you didn’t show up after work, we would have come looking. You could have stayed put without putting either of you at risk like that. You know that’s how-”
“How people get chopped in half? Yeah, I told him the same thing, funnily enough. But he got a call from the hospital about his brother and didn’t want to wait that long.”
His shoulders slump with his heavy sigh. “To be fair, with the way it kicked back on at double speed, you could’ve been in just as much danger staying put.”
Not sure I want to know, I ask,“That’s where Malcolm and Beck are, I take it? Looking into it?”
Tucking the edge of the bandage in, he scoops me up and detours to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. Without missing a beat, he grabs three more, balancing them on my stomach since he doesn’t have enough hands.
“Yeah. I got Fredrickson’s call, so I made it down there first. They were about thirty seconds behind me, but when they were sure I’d be able to take care of you, they needed... an outlet to take care of you, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see either of them until the building is transformed into a fortress.”
Striding past the couch, he snatches one of the throw pillows onto the way into my room. Setting me on the bed, the water bottles go tumbling onto the mattress. Picking one up, I take a cautious sip, as he gently lifts my leg to slide the pillow beneath to elevate my ankle. I try to conceal my wince as the water trickles down my dry throat, but by the tightening around Kasen’s eyes, I don’t pull it off.
“And when they find whoever tampered with the elevator, we’ll trade off.” Rounding the bed, he climbs in to face me. Kneeling, he offers his wrist. “It’ll probably feel more soothing on your throat, and it’ll help you heal faster.”
Pressing my lips together tightly, I gently put a hand on his arm, lowering it away from my face.“I need to feel human for a little while. Besides, I can talk to you like this now, remember?”
Vivid green eyes dart down to my throat, his expression unreadable.“And I love that. Seriously, angel, you have no idea what it means to me.”He skims his fingertips with a feather light touch over the tender skin on my neck, already starting to scab over. “But it’s not one or the other. I might shift into a bear, but that doesn’t makemedisappear when I do. And I’m not less of a person than someone else just because I have an extra ability.”
“I didn’t mea-”
He silences me with a firm kiss that he doesn’t attempt to deepen, demanding nothing but the chance to get his point across.“I know. You think the best of everyone besides yourself. No, you’re not human anymore, Scarlett, but that’s not a bad thing.”His words sting a little, but I bite my tongue, knowing it’s well past the time I truly accept the fact. “Humans are the most bloodthirsty things on this earth; no claws or magic necessary. And yes, even more so than vampires. You want to live and be left alone, but them? They would burn the world to the ground out of spite, just so someone else couldn’t have it.”
Unease settles in my gut with the declaration as he settles back on his heels. “Not all humans. I wasn’t perfect, but I wasn’t a jackass either.”
As soon as his sly smile appears, I realize I walked right into his trap. “And not all vampires. See the problem? There are no absolutes, and trying to compare yourself to other people’s expectations of who you should be or what you should act like is pointless. You’re never going to make everyone happy because some people will never see anything beyond what they want to, no matter what you do.”
He offers his wrist once more, a look of determination settling over his features. “You may not be human, but you have the humanity that many people lack in this day and age. And while yes, you’re technically a vampire, that’s not your identity. You’re Scarlett Brielle Hendrix-Crawford-Drake. A sweet person that’s stronger than most people give credit to, and mate to three, very thrilled men that are madly in love with you.”
If my mouth wasn’t already dry, it definitely would be now. It may have been orchestrated that our paths crossed, and yeah, I’m drawn to him, but... that’s all this fated thing did, isn’t it? It didn’t make Kasen chuck himself off a cliff rather than hurt me, it didn’t make him learn how to play my favorite game, and it didn’t give him the patience of a saint. Mate bonds play on instincts to claim what you feel in your heart is yours, but he doesn’t act like he’s entitled to anything. He’s just... Kasen. Always going above and beyond to try and make me laugh, or feel safe. Isn’t afraid to call me out on my bullshit even if I don’t want to hear it because he realizes I need that sometimes. Hell, he marked me as his, and is more concerned with making sure I’m okay than trying to fuck me despite us both being nearly naked.
Holding his piercing gaze, I lift his wrist to my lips.“Thank goodness for that, or it would be really awkward if I said I loved you too.”
