Page 135 of Upon Buried Embers
He leans back, tilting his head.
“I did something wrong to you, I’m trying to apologize.” He pauses and looks around the room before his eyes come back to me. “Am I doing it right?”
We stare at each other, at a loss for words because I have no idea how someone is meant to apologize to me. Hasn’t he said sorry to another before?
“Am I… awake?”
“Yes. You woke a few times but you weren’t with it, the fever had taken hold of you.” He checks my head. “You’re still a little warm but not burning up.”
“But…” I rub at my chest and he eyes the movement. “I… no one has ever said sorry to me before,” I admit quietly. “I made you mad, I should say sorry. I did something, and I washed the…” I cough. “And then I tried to...”Cough. “Tried to make—” Rohan places his finger against my lips, and my eyes widen.
“Quiet,” he says, voice full of command. “You need more rest, don’t speak. Understand?” I nod. “Lay down.” I do. “Close your eyes, I’ll be here.”
He brings my wrist up to his mouth again, and as I watch him watching me, my eyes slowly drift closed.
But I notice how bruised his knuckles are.
“I brought you some bread,” Nora says, as she places a basket down on the table beside the bed. “Melle chose it.”
“I—thank you,” I mutter, unsure what to say.
There is a stilted silence, until she finally breaks it.
“Melle wanted to come, but she’s learning about hunting today.”
I nod.
She sighs.
“I’m sorry,” she blurts out. “For hitting you.”
“Okay,” I reply, unsure how else to.
“I wanted to come sooner but, I honestly didn’t know how to say it. I… I know you didn’t hurt Melle.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“I know.” More silence. “I best get on.”
With a nod, she leaves without another word, and a warm feeling fills my chest as I look at the basket.
I fall back asleep, voices reaching me but not able to wake me, but when I do finally open my eyes, I spot roses on the table and my heart aches.
Rohan.
I get out of bed and go to them, grabbing one and bringing it briefly up to my nose.
He must have been back since I slept.
Smiling gently, I head for the bath.
Rohan will shout at me for going on my own, but he went out when Nora came.
I heard him telling her not to upset me though, and the deep warning in his tone made me shiver.
Walking slowly to the bath, I strip and get in, loving how the heat instantly surrounds my aching body.
“Are you okay?”
