Page 103 of Visions & Shadows

He presses a soft kiss to my cheek where the cuts are.

“No,” I choke the words out. I try to pull my face away from him, but he just grips hold of my chin to keep me in place.

“Let me in, Alchera,” he orders, his tone harsher.

I don’t want him to see the mess in my head and the shredded pieces of my soul.

I take hold of his hand and tug it away from my face. “No, Raighne. I need time.”

Hurt darkens his eyes, and it’s worse than when I had to cut him off because, this time, I see the pain I’m causing him.

Aster comes in with a bundle of clothes before I can try to explain myself further. “Give us some privacy, Raighne.”

He goes to stand in the doorway, turning his back to us and crossing his arms over his broad chest.

“Should you so much as peek, I will cast you with blindness,” Aster teases him while winking at me. “Do you feel better?”

I just nod because I think it will take a long while before I feel any better.

When she holds a white nightgown out to me, I take it and whisper, “Thank you.”

“Let me help you,” she says.

“I’m good.”

She hesitates for a moment before nodding. “Careful with your left arm.”

I wait for her to leave before I let go of the blanket, and as carefully as possible, I pull the nightgown over my shoulders and fasten all the buttons.

“Are you dressed?” Raighne asks from the doorway.

I adjust the fabric around my thighs as I glance over my shoulder. “Yeah.” When he walks back to me, I say, “I’m sorry about earlier.”

He shakes his head as he comes to stand in front of me. “Don’t apologize. You’ve been through hell.”

Hell. It’s the understatement of the century.

God, I hope things get better, or I’m going to lose my mind.

It’s getting late, and the sun is starting to set. I’m still sitting on the bed while Raighne is standing in front of me, absentmindedly brushing his fingers over my broken arm.

The silence is heavy in the room. I know he wants to talk about what happened, but I’m not ready, and I can’t let him into my mind until I am.

All I can think about right now is my father out there with Adeth and Ares. That, and sitting on the side of the bed, is starting to hurt like crazy.

I wish I could lie down.

My muscles are cramping up, and my back and ribs are aching something fierce.

I need painkillers, and I’m not just talking about one. A whole bottle will do right about now.

“Are you comfortable sitting like this?” Raighne asks, obviously not missing a thing.

He tilts his head to try and catch my eyes, and I duck my head lower.

“Don’t hide from me.”

I let out a sigh then say, “I can’t lie down.”

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