Page 565 of Reign

My hands are shaking. I press harder anyway.

His face tightens.

“You crawled,” I say.

He doesn’t answer.

“You fucking crawled all the way back to me. You should’ve stayed where you were. Rafael is coming. You should’ve stayed still instead of moving and making yourself bleed more because I made you promise—”

“You didn’t make me promise.”

I stop.

I didn’t realize I was saying any of that aloud.

Luciano raises his good hand and places it over mine, holding my palm against his wound.

“I told you, Elena. I can’t live without you. You’re my life, mi vida.”

“You can’t say that while you’re bleeding everywhere,” I sniffle, tears falling down my cheeks.

“I will always come back to you.” His fingers tighten weakly over mine. “Right now, you’re keeping me here. Keep putting pressure.”

A sob breaks out of me.

I nod because I can’t make my mouth work.

His blood pushes hot between my fingers. It runs over my wrist and into the sleeve of my shirt.

He loved this design, admired me before we left the house.

That feels like it happened to someone else.

Tears fall from my face onto our joined hands.

“Stay with me,” I whisper.

“I’m here.”

“Keep talking.”

“What do you want me to say?”

“Anything.”

His mouth moves faintly. “Those jeans still need to come off when we get home.”

A broken laugh escapes me through the tears.

“You’re so annoying,” I sob.

“You love me.”

“I do.” My voice cracks. “I love you so much.”

“I know.”

A voice tears through the trees.