Page 58 of The Wolf's Prince
He had expected the utmost devotion from his new life partner, but the balance seemed skewed. It felt like Soren's way was the only one he would accept.
His hand landed on Andrey's where it lay prone, and he shut his eyes.
Please wake up.
It was silly to want Andrey to tell him what to do, but truthfully, Nikolai didn't often make big decisions like this. Now, twice in as many days, he felt like he had to make life-changing ones. The first one, to finish his bond with Soren had been easy. And he did not regret it, but he would never forgive himself for the scar that Andrey would be left with. And if anything worse happened, if Andrey did not survive due to trying to help Nikolai with a heat that had been brought on by his own frivolous actions... he would never be able to live with himself again.
“Nikolai?”
His eyes flew open at the sound of his brother’s weak voice.
Andrey was looking up at him in confusion, a deep frown between his brows.
“What happened?” he asked.
Nikolai swallowed.
“You were attacked,” he said. “But don’t worry, you’ll be okay. I’ll take care of you.”
Andrey looked at him for a long moment and then seemed to accept Nikolai’s words.
“Okay Nik,” he whispered.
Gingerly, he reached up, touching the spot that was bandaged and still wet with blood.
“It hurts,” he murmured.
Nikolai swallowed and looked up.
Anzu and her family were near, as were countless others. They all watched with sharp eyes, waiting to see what would happen next.
Nikolai’s eyes settled on Soren’s friend Botan.
“Please, would you get our horse and cart?” he asked.
Botan didn’t stir.
“You cannot leave without Soren even being here,” he said firmly. “Not again.”
Nikolai bit back a retort that actually, he could do whatever he pleased.
Glancing around at the somber faces, though, the desire to defend his actions faded to despair.
“I won't,” he found himself promising. “I’ll wait for Soren to return… I’m not leaving him. I just want to help my brother.”
Botan’s gaze softened and he pushed to his feet.
“Andrey will need to be carried to the top of the valley, where the path becomes too unsteady for the cart. We left your horse grazing there and your cart under the shelter of the trees, but they won't make it all the way up here.”
Nikolai swallowed, remembering the steep hike.
“I will carry him,” Enkai said, standing.
Nikolai nodded, squeezing Andrey’s limp hand only to realize he had fallen unconscious again.
Pushing to his feet, he looked up in the direction that Soren had gone.
He hoped he would be back soon. He wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
