Page 101 of Wreckage

We moved together,exhausted and shattered, slipping back into bed with Elena, our bodies pressing against hers and holding her between us.

She sighed in her sleep, her fingers curling instinctively against my chest, and I felt my heart lurch painfully.

I kissed her hair, whispering soft reassurances into her ear, my voice thick with emotion.

"I love you," I murmured.

Adrian echoed the words beside me, his voice barely a whisper, his arms tight around her waist.

We lay there, wrapped around her, whispering our love, our guilt, our fear into the darkness.

Then, silently, I closed my eyes and begged God for forgiveness and rescue.

I begged for this nightmare to end.

And then, finally?—

I let sleep take me.

Chapter 35

Elena

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was that I felt different.

My body was still weak, my limbs heavy, but I didn’t feel as close to the edge as I had before.

I had energy—not much, but enough to open my eyes without struggling. Enough to lift my head and see that Troy and Adrian were already awake, sitting near the fire. Enough to realize that I was still here, even when I had been so sure I wouldn’t be.

The thought sent a wave of relief through me, but it was immediately followed by something else.

Suspicion.

Because I shouldn’t be feeling better.

I should be worse.

I sat up, wincing slightly at the ache in my bones, and their heads snapped toward me instantly.

“Elena,” Troy breathed, already moving toward me.

Adrian followed, his brows drawn together in concern, his blue eyes searching mine.

“Here,” Adrian murmured, offering me a small plate of food.

It was cooked meat, steaming slightly, and the second I smelled it, my stomach twisted in hunger.

I didn’t hesitate.

I ate quickly, barely tasting it, only focusing on how it filled the emptiness inside me.

But as I chewed, my mind caught up.

Where had this food come from?

I froze mid-bite, suddenly aware of how Troy and Adrian were watching me.

Something in their expressions made my stomach twist uncomfortably.

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