Page 171 of His Cursed Heart

I want to come back, but I don't know how. My eyes

are closed, the darkness making my skin turn into goose bumps. I try to look for Keres, but there's no sight of her.

It's just darkness.

Muffled voices along with that beeping are making my ear bleed. My body feels heavy and I feel something running through my veins. A cold, soft, round thing is on my face, forcing air down my nose and mouth. My left eye is openly forced and a light blind me to the core.

I can hear the man sign in relief and talk with someone in the room.

My face is finally free and my nose inhales the smell of medication. I feel my throat dry and I would do anything for a ship of vodka.

I hear a rough, Russian accent and I almost choke. Where the fuck am I? Was I kidnapped? Did the whole action take place in Russia and I'm just a dumb fucking person?

A wave of warmth makes my forehead twitch and a gentle pair of lips kiss me there.

My heart beats faster because I would recognize those lips everywhere. The monitor, that I think is beside me, starts beeping loudly and fast.

"You felt that, baby?" My fingers tremble, feeling like I can't do anything else. Everette's fingers are gripping mine, and his voice is so soft it makes me want to cry. "Good girl, now open your beautiful eyes."

With everything that I have, I force my eyes to open so I can finally see my husband. My eyelids are heavy and my vision is blurry, but I open my eyes as much as I can. A white wall is in front of me and I try to focus on the lines on it, so that I can clear my surroundings.

I turn my head slowly, the pain making it feel like it will explode. I look at the medical, empty room, the silence almost loud.

"Althea?" I move my eyes to the man next to me who has tears in his wide, shocked eyes.

I open my mouth but I wince when my throat squeezes. Everette moves his hand toward the table and

grabs the glass of what I hope is vodka. His other hand goes to the back of my head, raising it a little so I can drink the cold liquid.

I groan when water makes its way down my throat, refreshing my insides. After I drank all the water, I look up at the most beautiful green.

"Hi, Little Fox." He whispers and I can see in his eyes the torment he’s been through.

My beautiful, brave beast is breaking down right in front of me.

I move my trembling hand toward his face, caressing his left cheek with my thumb. "A-Are we recreating the s-scene from f-four years ago? Because you were the one injured, not me." I hardly say, but the smile he gives me is worth it.

With his hand still on the back on my head, Everette brings my face closer to his, kissing my cheeks repeatedly.

"Don't ever leave me like that, Althea. My heart can't function when the source of its beating is half dead." He whispers brokenly.

My own eyes fill with tears as I let his words awaken my body. His face is tired and he looks like he aged with ten years.

My big, bad beast.

"You are the love of my goddamn life, Althea." Everette says roughly, making my heart melt.

I don't want to let him see the way his words affect me, but I can't control the wave of emotions that are starting to leave me. I always taught that with all the lies, he won't be able to love me the way I love him. That the curse I've been gifted will always remind me of the good things I can't have.

Hearing him say the words I desperately wanted to hear feels like a dream. One from which I don't want to ever wake up.

"But if you do something like that again I will spank your ass so hard until you won't be able to walk

anymore." He threatens me, and a painful laugh makes my chest hurt.

"But I came back to you," I say with a little smile.

Everette grunts and lowers his head again to capture my lips into a desperate kiss.

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