Page 26 of To Crave Truly

I screamed as the arrow was yanked back out of my body. The pain was unbearable and white lights danced in my vision. This was it. I was going to die. Again.

The world came sluggishly back into focus. Where was I? It smelled familiar. I cracked open an eye and was grateful for the low lighting. I took a deep breath and instantly regretted it. Pain blossomed in my side, and it felt like I was breathing with razor blades in my lungs. I looked down at my stomach and saw bandages smattered in blood. What the Hell had happened?

Monitors beeped behind me, the repetitive sound reminding me that I was still alive and still stuck on a path that I didn’t want to walk.

“Where is he?”

And there was Elissa. Fuck my life.

I closed my eyes and pretended to go back to sleep. Yeah, it was a dick move, but I wasn’t in the mood for another argument.

The door opened and feet shuffled behind a determined pair of clacking heels. It was probably Levi following behind Elissa as she marched in here. I knew she had a right to be here, but I just couldn’t muster the energy to deal with her right now. If it was Lori… well, I probably shouldn’t follow that train of thought.

Elissa gasped as she stepped closer to the bed. “What happened?”

“They were on patrol and a group of demons attacked. He was shot with an arrow, but it missed everything vital. I’ve fixed most of the damage, but he will need rest. He was very lucky.” That was Levi, his matter of fact tone trying to keep Elissa calm.

A manicured hand wrapped around mine and I had to try my hardest not to flinch. I mustn’t have covered it well enough because the next thing I knew, Elissa was leaning over me and stroking my face.

“Fenris? Are you awake?”

God, she sounded so fucking hopeful, and it just made the ache in my heart more painful. I hated doing this to her, to us. It wasn’t fair. I knew that the right thing to do was break everything off, but I was too much of a coward.

I heaved a sigh and opened my eyes.

“Oh, thank God,” she said.

Levi gave my arm a reassuring squeeze and quietly left the room.

“I was so worried about you. When I heard that you’d been injured—“

“Who told you?” I snapped.

“Why does that matter? I’m your fiancée!”

She had a point but I wasn’t in the mood.

She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I know we’re having a bit of a bump right now—”

“A bump? You call this a bump?!”

“Yes. We will get married in a month and everything will work out fine.”

I scoffed. “Really? You really think we’re fine?”

“We will be. You’ll move on from her and we will be happy.”

“You can’t believe that?”

Her jaw clenched. “I have to. The alternative is unthinkable.”

She was right but it didn’t make it any easier.

“Fenris,” she said softly as she laced her fingers through mine.

“Don’t touch me.” I yanked my hand away, unable to bear the feel of her. It wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted her, I wanted Lori. I craved her touch, the feel of her skin against mine, her soft whisper in my ear. I didn’t want this. “Leave, Elissa.”

“Fenris—”

---