Page 73 of Tears of Revenge

“I’ll stay with you.”

She wasn’t sure if Lysander could hear her, but she hoped he did. Her words weren’t only a promise to Lysander—they were a threat to the lycan. Alongside Marcus and Varos, she’d make sure that creature never saw the moonlight ever again.

Then the beast’s eyes clouded, the fight leaving his body as he neared unconsciousness. She held his face until his body fell limp, then straddled his lap, holding him close in a tight hug. His hair was rough and scratchy, but she wanted to hold him, unsure of how much Lysander would remember.

“What now?” she asked, nuzzling her face into his shoulder.

“We wait until he nears consciousness, then drain him again,” Varos explained, rising to his feet and stepping away from his friend.

Marcus moved to her side, careful not to touch any of the chains. “When he’s like this he heals much faster. We stay with him, draining the lycan over and over until he can regain control.”

She held Lysander, while Varos and Marcus stayed nearby. The moment his muscles twitched, she began to feed. He tasted different, not nearly as sweet as Lysander.

“Don’t forget the venom,” Marcus reminded her. “You want to hurt him. This isn’t Lysander, and the venom will keep the lycan at bay.”

She drank until the lycan went limp beneath her once more, then she pulled back and looked at his face, his head sagging in the collar.

“You’re doing well,” Varos praised, stepping to her other side and laying a hand over the back of her neck. His thumb slowly caressed her skin.

“I feel so sorry for him. He has to go through this every month.”

“It used to be so much worse. But over the years the full moons have become more peaceful.” She tilted her head to look up at Marcus as he smiled down at her. “If this is too much for you, you don’t have to do it every month. He’ll understand.”

“I want to look after him.”

They kept her company throughout the whole night, praising her for how well she was doing, with both their words and actions. When the lycan started rustling his chains again for what felt like the thousandth time, Varos stopped her.

“I believe it’s time to see if Lysander can take control again.”

She stepped back, positioning herself between him and Marcus, watching as the lycan found his strength again. He growled, the echoes of it piercing her ears as he ripped at his chains, hissing when they burned into his skin. His feet were still bound to the floor by the shackles, his joints popping as he tried to pull free.

Then he started to vibrate. His fur retracted and his jaw dislocated as he became human again. The cracking of bones filled the air, his muscles shrinking and his body falling limp again. She rushed to him, catching him in her arms while Marcus and Varos risked their own skin to free him from the chains.

Running her finger over his smooth skin, she shushed into his ear, “You did so well, Lysander.” Then her eyes fell on her other men’s hands. “Why don’t you wear gloves?”

Marcus shook his head and held his hand out to her. “No need, really. It’s already healing.”

“Playing the hero,” she scolded, shifting Lysander’s body in her arms. He wasn’t light by any means, but it was easy to stand up and hold his unconscious body in her arms bridal—no, groom-style.

Marcus chuckled as she carried Lysander toward the door. “What a sight.”

Varos, however, wasn’t laughing. He gently laid Lysander’s head on her shoulder, so he was more comfortable. “He doesn’t want us to care for him after, but I’m sure he’ll appreciate you doing this.”

Carefully, she carried him upstairs and into his room. There she dressed him in sweatpants and a t-shirt before heading to the kitchen and preparing a platter with snacks and drinks. She curled up against Lysander and pushed her hand under his shirt. She tried to calm herself, while being as caregiving as she could. She drew lazy circles on his skin, imaginary lines across the flesh.

After a while, his arms wrapped around her and pulled her onto his chest. He grunted softly, but his eyes stayed shut. Once he had her where he wanted her, he seemed to doze off again. She was glad he was only sleeping now. She laid her cheek over his heart, listening closely to the sounds of life. It was soothing and if she’d still been human, she would’ve fallen asleep.

Lysander awoke for the first time well past noon. She rested her chin on his sternum, her eyes finding his. “Hey sleeping beauty.”

Lysander took a moment to familiarise his surroundings, then a smile lit up his face. “You carried me here, didn’t you?”

“I did. Marcus had quite the laugh.”

“Thank you.”

“I couldn’t just let you lay on the concrete like that. Plus, that room gave me the ick.”

His eyes fell on the snacks next to him, and he stretched out his arm to grab one. He shook, but when he saw her worried eyes, he shrugged it off. “Don’t look so concerned.”

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