Page 183 of Psycho Alphas: Part Two
“That’s it?” I asked.
“What colour?” I said, fumbling the bracelet in a panic. “He’ll be alright, right?”
“Yes.” Ace was already finding the white gem and pressing it to Knox’s neck.
Then honied bourbon hit the air, and Rogue was back at my side. “We need to start CPR?—”
Ace snorted, trying to grab him. “No?—!”
“Getawayfrom him!” Rogue had Ace by the neck and was hauling him up, voice vicious.
“Rogue!” I seized him by the arm. “He’s okay. He’s gonna be o—okay…” My voice shook as he turned to me, and I finally felt Rogue’s side of the bond crack.
He felt wild, like he was on the edge of madness.
I pressed the bracelet into his hand. “It’s poison. Fake death. They took it from me, but he grabbed it before they dragged him in.”
“Fake…?” He just stared at me, uncomprehending.
I nodded, reaching up and cupping his cheek. My heart raced as I felt what he was feeling. Panic. Fear.
I felt tears burn my eyes as his grief flooded me. “I’m sorry. We undid it. He’ll wake up.”
“Wake up?”
I nodded. “He’ll be okay. I promise.”
There was a long pause, and Rogue’s head tilted slightly as he leaned into my touch, eyes still processing. Finally, he nodded, jaw set like he might break a tooth.
“Okay.” He cleared his throat, struggling. “We should… should take him to your nest.”
I nodded.
“Call that doctor in.”
“Waste of time. You should be able to feel his pulse in a few minutes, though it might take longer for him to wake up.”
I watched, heart still too tight, as Rogue picked Knox up in his arms, seeming, for a moment, as if he wasn’t sure where he was going.
I took his arm, leading him up to my room. When we set him down, Rogue pressed his fingers to Knox’s neck. He sagged, a breath of relief leaving him as if it uncoiled his whole body.
“Fuck.” His voice was rough as he cupped Knox’s neck, eyes squeezed shut for a moment. Then he stood, rubbing his face aggressively with his hand as I slipped onto the bed to tuck Knox in.
“Told you it was all pretend.”
“What’s that, Kitten?” he asked.
“You don’t hate him, really,” I whispered, eyeing him with a sly look.
I felt that relief too, though.
It was like I could breathe.
I buried myself into the blankets beside him, taking deep breaths of his scent of ink and antique wood. It was fresh, and alive, not like the souring scent of Alphas who’d died.
We were safe.
We were safe again, but everything wasn’t right. Not yet.
