Page 138 of The Lands Defying
I clutch her tighter to me, breathing in her scent as I call my magic to my palms and gently stroke it over her skin, letting it absorb into her.
When she wakes, I vow that before I take my last breath in the lands, there will not be a single Higher or member of Rhea’s family alive.
I will make sure the lands are safe if it’s the last thing I do for her.
Always for her.
Forty One
Darius
I run my hands down my face, a heavy sigh leaving me as I stare into the water. My back is to Rhea, her soft breathing the only thing left that’s making me not snap.
It’s been five days since she came back to me, and five days since I saw her pretty blue eyes, which feels like a lifetime. I thought not seeing her after her escape from Wolvorn was bad….I was wrong.
I look over my shoulder at her, my heart clenching in that unfamiliar way that only happens with her. I fist my hands on my knees and look back to the water.
How this female has a hold on me…
No one has had the ability to make me feel as much as she does. Not even my brothers, or my family. Why did the Gods choose me for her? What is the purpose when I am no good?
When have I ever done anything right by her? Us meeting just made her life worse, so why?
She’s laying there now because I was unable to protect her, again.
How many times have I failed her? Hurt her?
I loathe myself for it, but I can’t keep away from her when I feel like I can only breathe when she is near. So I’m the selfish bastard that kept her with me, and now look what has happened.
I shake my head at myself. It would be easier if we didn’t have this connection, if we had never even laid eyes on each other. I wouldn’t have this constant worry for her, the need to protect and possess, and the need to justbein her presence. I would just go about my days as normal without her constantly on my mind.
And she would have been safe.
I never wanted her, now, I can’t bear the thought of life without her.
It makes my skin crawl and an uncontrollable rage bubbles up within me, thinking about the possibility that she won’t ever wake. That I will never see her glare, or smile, or the fight in her, or hear her soft moans that she makes when I make her come alive beneath me.
It’s unbearable.
I growl to myself, and Leif and his father lift their heads to look at me from across the pool of water. They are laying between the trees, keeping their distance while the Alpha recovers fully.
I call some of my Heir power from my palm, watching the black form into a small ball. I push a little more to it, making it the size of my hand before I guide it to her. I turn and watch as it moves above her chest, the furs covering her to keep her warm. It takes a moment before it lowers into her, disappearing from sight.
I’ve been doing this daily when I’m not wrapped around her, making sure she can always feel me in some way. Belldame said my power will help, but it’s done nothing.
A sound at the cave entrance has my head snapping in its direction, and I rise to my feet, instantly on alert. With a growl on my lips, I march over, my steps quick and heavy.
No one is entering this cave with her vulnerable.
She cannot defend herself, she cannot let me know her feelings on others seeing her this way.
I come to a stop and block the way as Josh rounds the corner with Leo. I scowl at them, noticing the pack Josh has in his hand before I bring my eyes back to theirs.
“Food,” Leo says gruffly, looking over my face as he throws me the pack. I catch it, holding back my need to throw it. I don’t need fucking food, I need her. “You look like shit,” he says, and I clench my jaw and look away.
“You need to eat,” Josh says and I shake his head.
“Not hungry.”
