Page 74 of Hollowed

“Holdthis end.”Hepressed his fingers firmly into the skin above the dip in my collarbone.

Adjustingmy grip on the dress covering me,Iheld the bandage in place with my forearm as my fingers brushed against his.Hisfingers lingered a moment longer than necessary, and he let out a soft sigh that moved my hair as he continued.Pullingthe bandage taut, he lifted my injured arm and began winding the bandage beneath my armpit and back around the front of my shoulder.

“Youcan let go now,” he said, bringing the bandage back around my arm once more.Lettinggo,Iresumed my grip on the dress.Helowered my arm, bending it for a moment as he continued wrapping around and around.Steppingbehind me, he gathered my heft of curls in his hand, easily holding the mass in one palm as he lifted it and draped them over my wrapped shoulder.Thetouch sent another shiver through me, and this oneIcould not suppress.

Hisfingers rested on the bare skin at the back of my neck, his voice a hoarse whisper. “Areyou cold,Katrina?”

Iwascold, but that wasn’t whyIhad shivered. “No.”

“Youshivered.”

“Idid, but it wasn’t becauseIwas cold,Dullahan.”

Theheat of his body radiated into my bare back as he stepped closer to me, nearly touching my back to his front.Myeyes squeezed shut in anticipation, hoping he would touch me again.Hisbreath fanned against the back of my neck. “Myname isAlexander.”

“Iknow.”

Aheartbeat passed, andIwaited for his response, my body buzzing.Wouldhe touch me?Wouldhe step up behind me and press his body into mine?Mybreathing quickened asIimagined what his hands would feel like on my skin when they weren’t tending to my wounds, but exploring simply for the sake of it.Buthe did none of that.Hesimply hummed and continued wrapping my arm, anchoring my injured shoulder in place.

Rejectioncurled in my throat like the smoky taste of ash against my tongue.Ataste that was getting far too familiar for my liking.

Hetucked in the end of the wrap, wedging it beneath the fabric at my back.Despitehis job being complete, he stayed—the fabric of his clothing brushing against my back, the soft puff of his breath against my skin.

“Thankyou for bringing me back here,Katrina.”Hisvoice was like warm honey dripping over my skin.

Ikept my eyes firmly on the floor in front of me. “Icould not very well let her kill you, couldI?”

“Youcould have,” he said, reaching up to adjust the bandage across my back, trailing his fingers over the skin.Goosebumpserupted, andIsuppressed a shiver. “ButIam very grateful you didn’t.”

ThewallsI’dbuilt crumbled into dust beneath his voice. “Thankyou for coming for me,Alexander.”

“Iwill always come for you,” he whispered.

Ifelt him step away, butIremained.Iheard him rifling through the jacketI’dremoved from him and hung on the end of the bed.Hestepped back up behind me, a soft clinking of metal barely audible.

“Liftyour hair for me, please.”

Mybody twitched, wanting to turn around and look at him, to question him, butIdidn’t want to shatter the moment we’d created.Instead,Idid as he asked, and used my good arm to lift my hair from my neck, letting my eyes drift closed.

Coldmetal met my skin, a heavy round presence landing on my chest.Afamiliar presence.Myeyes shot open as the clasp snapped into place, andIlooked down to see the red crystal necklaceHenryhad given me around my neck once again.Tearsburned in my throat asIreached up to touch it. “Youfound it.”

“Idid.Thatfirst night,Iwent back to the river after you’d fallen asleep.”Hehesitated a moment.Theprickle of his anxiety tingled on the back of my neck. “Iwas waiting until we could trust each other to give it back.Andthen… well, then we never had time.”

“Thankyou,”Iwhispered, my heart swelling as my fingers rubbed over the smooth stone.Again,Iached to turn around and wrap my arms aroundAlexander’sneck, but the peace was too fragile.

Hishands found their way to my hips, resting on either side of me, and he squeezed just firmly enough to remind me exactly whose hands were on my body.Ifroze, warring with myself whether to lean into his embrace or step away.Leaningback may open the path for forgiveness, while stepping away might close the path for something more between us.So,Istood, still as a statue, as his fingers flexed against my skin.

Slowly, his small puffs of breath got more concentrated, and then his lips were on my neck.Itwas a soft kiss, but it sent a jolt through my body.Myfire responded, racing through my veins and swirling in excitement.

OneofAlexander’shands tugged at my waist, spinning me around to face him.Thetenderness in his face knocked the breath from my lungs.Hesmiled, reaching up his hand to rub a thumb over my cheek and cup my face. “Itseemed important to you.I’msorryIhaven’t had a chance to give it to you with all that happened.”

“Itis important,”Iagreed, letting myself get lost in the ocean of swirling blues in his eyes. “It’sthe only giftI’veever been given.”

Hurtand rage flashed in equal measures across his face.Hisother hand left my hip, joining the one holding my face, and he tipped my head back to meet his gaze more fully. “Iwill give you a gift every day for the rest of your life.”

Ihuffed a laugh. “Don’tbe dramatic, that’s hardly necessary.”

Heshook his head. “It’snot dramatic.Youdeserve to know how valued you are.”

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