Page 103 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

After work, he carried me up the stairs. We passed by Martha, who looked at Chris’ back as we went by with a shake of her head. It confused me, but I figured she was outraged about what happened to my leg, so I didn’t say anything about it. Chris set me down in my room, then he walked back down to grab our dinner.

We were watching a movie after dinner when he asked, “What time did you want to work in the morning? I can set an alarm.”

“Same time as usual?”

“You want to go to work at six in the morning?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, yeah. Otherwise, what are we going to do after training?”

“You can’t train with your broken leg,” he reminded me, confused.

“No, but I can watch you and Elim train.”

“Bu—”

“You promised him a sparring match. So, you can apologize, and then have a friendly match to clear the air.”

Chris’ lips went into a thin line.

“So, you’re going to wake up at four-thirty in the morning just to see me fight a vampire?”

“I want to see my man in action,” I answered.

The words transformed his face, erasing the grumpiness with happiness, but then he shook his head.

“And if your man loses?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Then, I guess I get a new man,” I teased, but immediately regretted my words when his smile slipped off and he looked away. How could I be such an idiot after everything he’d been through?

“Hey, come here.” I tugged on his arm when he made to get off the bed. He allowed me to pull him back down, and I crawled over to him. “I was teasing. I don’t care about the fight. I just want you. I wanted to see it because I thought I’d get to watch you fighting without a shirt.”

Chris huffed out a half laugh before he buried his face in my neck. I combed my hands through his long hair, and then slowly, we sank into the bed and fell asleep.

“Wake up, Little Warrior. It’s time to go beat up a vampire.”

“Only after you apologize,” I grumbled, only to gasp when he began to tickle me awake with a low growl. “Stop! Mercy! Mercy!” I laughed.

Chris let go and he was looking down at me with a smile on his face.

“I like you like this. Laughing and happy,” he said, bending down and kissing me.

“Ditto,” I answered.

“Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl going to the bathroom?” Chris asked me and I giggled.

“Why?”

“Because the P is silent,” he chuckled, making me laugh.

“You, sir, are a dork,” I informed him.

“You like it.”

“I do,” I answered.

He stood and helped me into the bathroom before going into his room. I showered as best as I could without getting the cast wet. As I was struggling out of the shower, Nenetl started stretching in the back of my head.

Welcome back,I told her.

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