Fuck.
“Sam is the best healer in Hell. He can save his wings.” I tried to reassure both of us.
“He loves to fly, Ronen. As much as you.”
“I know.”
“This day fucking sucks.” Her voice cracked.
I held her tighter, nodding above her head.
“Woo her every day, Ro. Because you never know when you won’t be able to again.”
“Alright, every day,” I said softly instead of sayingI’m sorry. I wish Knox were here. I wish I could take away your pain. None of it would help her. None of it would change the fact that she’d always live with half a soul.
“Good.” She pulled back, blinking aggressively. “Now get some rest. You have a lot to figure out, and I’m busy leading your Tormentors because your cordistella can’t right now, and you know it.”
“You’re right.”
But that didn’t change my stance.
“I know.”
I huffed at her snark and the visible shake she gave as she walked away, as if the hug had been horrendous. She loved our hugs. She’d just never admit it. Although I was pretty sure Alexei tried to grope her once. Emphasis ontried.
On my way back to my room, I found Rune lying outside the pet’sdoor. Her ears twitched when she heard my footsteps, then she lifted her head.
“Does she know you’re out here like a lovesick pup?”
I sensed strong denial from her. I let half the barrier down, allowing the hellion’s emotions to sift into me. She was stressed and exhausted. I wasn’t sure what she was doing in there. I wouldn’t let myself think about it. But MJ’s words rolled around in my head.
Woo her every day.
I wasn’t sure if this would qualify, nor if I was ready to woo. But it was something I knew she needed.
“Don’t connect to me, and I won’t connect to you. But try to give her some peace, okay?” I ruffled Rune’s head as her shadow tail whipped back and forth. Then I quietly opened the door and let Rune in, averting my eyes before I shut it.
The urge to peek, to spy on them, to just know ate at me. Resisting, I went to bed and forced myself to sleep before I gave in to temptation. I wasn’t a masochist. Or so I thought. I started to reconsider when an outrageous idea sprang into my head—a way to win her over. Except I had no idea if it’d work, and it would potentially rip me in two. MJ did say to suffer.
First, before I decided on anything, the hellion needed to learn a lesson. Because I was still pissed at her for this morning. Utterly. Unfathomably. Pissed.
Chapter
Twenty-Three
Lucille
Where is Melanie?
I held the question in mind, hoping it would lead to something positive, and let my mind flow into the soft hum of Somnivado.
Bone-chilling black greeted me. The thick darkness overwhelmed my senses. There was no purple ring, not even fuzzy outlines of objects. No sight.
I took a steadying breath, remembering another time when suffocating darkness surrounded me, and smelled decay. Not the rotten kind, but the scent of thawing dead plants. I swallowed and dared to open my mouth, attempting to speak. My hello never came out. I touched my throat, trying again. My mouth formed the words, but my throat didn’t vibrate. I couldn’t speak.
My ears strained and throbbed against the quiet.
Not complete quiet.
