Page 51 of Voices in the Stars
“I can try,” I muttered. No part of me ever wanted to see her hurt like this again. I was brought back to my original, foolish plan of killing her. I never would’ve been able to do it. Even then, her pain twisted like a knife to my gut.
I knew Leon was right. I sucked in several deep breaths before grabbing her, carrying her out of the water. My legs ached as I walked down the hall to the next door over. Leon opened the door for us so I could bring her into my room.
My true home. The one place I belonged was here. Not in that palace with my father and sister. Laying Cece in my bed felt right. Like I had finally brought her home. Watching her curl up in the bed, my chest ached. She was in the center of the bed, but the thought of leaving her now was impossible.
I darted out of the room, ignoring my aches as I grabbed a chair from the kitchen. I dragged it into the bedroom, pressed it against the side of the bed. The wood was uncomfortable as I sat down. My eyelids were heavy as I sat there, watching her. Every time my eyes closed, my body screamed that she wouldn’t be here when I opened them again.
My body moved before I could think. My hands wrapped around her ankle, slowly pulling her leg closer to the edge of the bed. She squirmed as she readjusted, but triumph filled me as she didn’t pull away from me. I rested my head on her soft thigh; the perfect pillow. Her heartbeat pounded in my ear, easing the tension from my chest. This meant I still had time to tell her how much I’d come to care for her. That, after meeting her, my life would never be the same.
There wasa rhythmic throbbing throughout my head. I groaned, pulling the fluffy fabric over my head. Every part of my body felt like it had been beaten. Just moving my arms caused needles of pain to pinch down my arms. My body twisted to the side, trying to curl up in a ball. The only problem was that one of my legs wouldn’t move.
I paused, sucking in a sharp breath. It felt heavy as I tried to move it again. I released a heavy breath as my toes wiggled with my wishes. Whatever this was, it wasn’t like the Kabora’s poison. My leg wasn’t paralyzed. I threw the blanket off my head and almost laughed. Any worry I felt melted away as I took in Atlas sitting next to me.
A chair had been set next to the bed. He was hunched over it, his head resting on my thigh with his face pointed up toward me. One of his arms laid across both of my legs while the other was wrapped around my thigh, fingers digging in as he kept ahold of me. It felt like he was terrified I was going to leave him. I reached my hand down, running my fingers through the tuffs of hair that had fallen across his face.
He was handsome, relaxed like this. It wasn’t often I got to see him without a frown or wrinkles between his brows. I wished I could’ve seen it more often. Any thoughts of him being a murderer would never cross anyone’s mind if they saw him like this. It might be enough to stop them from running in terror like some possessed, crazy people. Though what would that have made me? I’d stuck with him this long despite the things I’d heard, the changes in the way I’d thought. No matter the lies I told, I could’ve left if I truly wanted to. There were several chances hehad given me. It would have been easy to just wait until he was sleeping, and I could’ve snuck out of any of the inns. I would’ve been able to figure something out after that.
He saved me in every moment I needed it. If he was truly a terrible person, he would’ve let me die at the first chance he got. Or the second. Maybe even the third. There were plenty of opportunities for him. He could’ve even just kept my past a secret. It would’ve been easier for him if he did. Now he must travel with an unpredictable fireball.
There was a vibration against my leg as Atlas mumbled something. I paused my movements as he shifted in his seat, rubbing his cheek against my leg. His fingers tightened quickly before letting me go. The peace felt like it only lasted moments before a deep voice rumbled through the room.
“He’s gonna be glad you’re awake.”
The cause of the voice was from an incredibly large man standing in the doorway. He completely filled out the door frame. His back was hunched so he could poke his head into the room. Muscles bulged along his crossed arms that could’ve been bigger than my face. His skin was the same darker shade as Atlas’. There were darker sections of raised scars scattered across his face and down his arms. He had short, black hair that wouldn’t have been long enough for him to run his fingers through. Something he proved as he rubbed a hand along the side of his head.
“What happened?” I croaked out, my throat feeling dry.
The man moved into the room. Once he cleared the doorframe, he was able to stand to his full height. I could have stood on Atlas’ shoulders, and I still didn’t think I would’ve been eye level with him. My fingers tightened against Atlas’ hair, my gaze following the man as he moved through the room. He walked over to the nightstand, grabbing a cup that looked tiny in his hands, before holding it out to me.
I grabbed it, thankful it was a normal size for me. I paid attention to him as I brought the cup up to my face, giving it a sniff before downing its contents. The water was cold as I drank it. I was sucking in deep breaths by the time it was empty. He held his hand out again, grabbing the cup from me. I opened my mouth to ask him again what happened. There wasn’t an easy way for me to explain it, but I felt like I had been asleep longer than a single night.
“You’re awake,” Atlas grumbled.
His head was still turned to face me, brown eyes staring at me, his thumb rubbing my leg. The door to our room clicked closed as a heavy set of footsteps moved through the large house. There was another faint clicking somewhere deeper into the house.
“We chased the giant away.” Atlas chuckled with a yawn, sitting up as he stretched his arms up over his head.
“What happened?” I tried again, trying to keep my focus away from the way his muscles stretched against his shirt. My brows furrowed; they were different clothes than he had been wearing. His old shirt had holes that were forming along the collar. I sat up as I glanced around the room, excitement bubbling in my chest. A smile broke out as I found it. A dress laid draped out across a wooden chest, pressed against the wall. This was the most excited I had ever been to see a dress in my life. Honestly, I would’ve taken a clean cloth to wear at this point.
Atlas followed where my attention had trailed off to before standing up and grabbing it. He held it out to me.
“We aren’t far from Kilrest. Thought you might appreciate the change,” he commented as I grabbed it.
I nodded excitedly, ignoring the protesting pain that shot through my leg as I slid out of bed. My legs momentarily shook as I stood. The room spun quickly before settling down again. I ignored Atlas as I discarded my old clothing before throwing on the new dress, even as I could feel the heat of his gaze running down my backside. I tried to ignore my answering heat as I admired the dress, running my hands down it. It was soft. The dress was dark green with short sleeves. It was a nice change. It felt like it had been designed for comfort rather than for showing off. Sitting back on the bed, I noticed a black pair of boots that were much smaller than the pair I had been wearing before.
“Are those for me, too?” I asked, pointing at the shoes, looking over to where Atlas sat next to me.
Atlas nodded, running a hand through his hair. “They are...” His words trailed off as he stared at the door in front of us.
I pulled my hands into my lap, my fingers wringing together as a pit of dread settled into my stomach. “But?” I offered him an opening.
“You’re going to be staying here,”he finished.
I slowly nodded my head, glancing around the room. “Okay, this place seems nice enough for us to stay at for now.”
A grimace pulled at his features. “No. You’re going to be staying here without me. With Leon.”
“You’re leaving me?” It came out as more of an accusation than an actual question.
