Page 31 of Insatiable

Islowly drift back to consciousness, the darkness of my coma lifting like a heavy fog. My body feels heavy, but there's a strange warmth beside me. I blink my eyes open, and the dim, flickering light of a hospital room comes into focus.

Turning my head slightly, I see Felix. He’s slumped in a chair, his head resting on the edge of my bed, his hand clutching mine. His usually stern face is softened in sleep, dark circles under his eyes hinting at the long hours he must have spent here. Holy crapola!

“Felix?” I whisper, my voice barely audible, throat dry and scratchy.

He stirs slightly but doesn’t wake. I have no idea what to do. I’m not sure if I even want him to wake up right now, but his arm is resting over my legs and feels like it’s been there for some time. It hurts. I squeeze his hand weakly, feeling a strange mix of emotions. This man, who I’ve fought with and raged against, is here, holding my hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

I try to remember what happened, but the last thing I remember is eating at the second trial. The memory of it comesback. The beautiful cabin, the amazing view. My dream for as long as I can remember… and Felix. If he wasn’t holding my hand I’d have thought it was him that put me in here in the first place, but not even Felix would be stupid enough to put me in hospital, then stay by my bedside. Would he? I take a quick look around and spot a number of the other contestants. So I’m not the only one in here. Maybe Felix didn’t try to off me after all. A few beds down, I catch Juliette grinning at me. Her eyes are red as though she’s been crying recently, but the smirk on her face and her raised eyebrow gives me hope. Then she nods down at Felix and raises another eyebrow. Maybe she’s grinning because I’m awake, but most of that smile on her face is because Felix is holding my hand. Embarrassment floods through me. Total complete and utter embarrassment, then anger, then, because my brain is on a mission to get me, a sense of happiness. Urgh.

“Felix,” I try again, a bit louder this time, ripping my hand from his.

His eyes flutter open, and for a moment, he looks disoriented. Then his gaze meets mine, and a flicker of relief crosses his face. “Rowena,” he breathes, sitting up straighter. “You’re awake.”

I nod slowly, still trying to process everything and trying not to notice that half the hospital wing is looking my way. “How long have I been out?”

“Two days,” he says softly, his voice thick with exhaustion. “The baby is okay. I made sure to keep the doctors monitoring you both.”

The baby. Our baby. I’d not even thought of it until I woke up. I was too caught up in why Felix was holding my hand. What kind of monster does that make me? I run my hand down to my stomach and feel the gentle curve of my belly.

“Two days…” I echo, my mind racing. “What happened?”

His face scrunches into an angry grimace. “It was a fucking joke. A ploy. The whole fucking thing.”

“Spit it out, Felix,” I say abruptly, thinking of at least three jokes about spitting it out but deciding now isn’t the time. When did I get so boring around Felix? Probably around the time we slept together. I close my eyes and try to concentrate on what Felix is saying.

“You were poisoned. Half the contestants were. All those that ate the food ended up in here. You’re the last to wake up.”

I stare at him, my mind struggling to process what he's telling me. Slowly, it starts to sink in.

“I ate the food,” I whisper, barely audible. “And now I’m here.”

Felix’s expression darkens. “You’re out of the Games, Ro. I’m... sorry.”

The weight of his words hits me like a sledgehammer, but somehow, I stay calm. My heart is racing, but I can feel the numbness spreading.

“You’re still in?” I ask quietly.

He nods. “I’m sorry,” he repeats.

“You’re sorry,” I echo, my voice hardening. I stare at him, and the pieces begin to fall into place. “You gave me the food. Insisted, even. And now, I’m poisoned and out of the Games, while you are still in?”

Felix’s eyes widen, and he raises his hands in a defensive gesture as my voice rises. When he speaks, his voice is a low growl. “I didn’t fucking know.”

“But you didn’t eat the food,” I spit, sitting up straighter, feeling the betrayal boil inside me. Anger surges through my veins. I’m such an idiot for the make believe running through my head that Felix Barclay might have suddenly changed.

“You must have known about the food being poisoned. Why else would you give it to me? You and Anthura planned all this.”

“Ro…”

“My name is Rowena,” I shout out, wondering why I’m making a big deal about him shortening my name when I kinda liked it before. “You and Anthura planned to get me out.” I’m patently aware that we have the audience of the whole hospital wing now. Even the demon doctors have stopped what they are doing to watch my outburst.

Felix grabs my arm and pulls me close, his grip firm but not painful. He leans in, his breath hot against my ear as he growls low, his voice barely audible. “I didn’t know.”

I have to strain to hear him, his words vibrating against my skin. Despite everything—my anger, the betrayal—there’s an unwanted spark in my chest. The heat of his breath sends a shiver down my spine, awakening something I desperately wish would stay buried. My body betrays me, desire flaring even as my mind screams at me to stay furious.

Damn him.

I’m about to retort when Juliette steps in. “Let her go, Barclay.”

---