Page 160 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
“No one must see me.” I grip his black tunic. I gaze deep into his eyes to make sure he understands.
Another nod.
He carries me in his arms effortlessly, in complete stealth. We reach the empty tent in no time. I chose this one because I know no one would be here. The support line doesn’t have any losses.
All thanks to Svenn.
My strength wanes and I leave my fate entirely up to Svenn. I watch him silently as he fills the Hlaryan elves’ malachite crystal slab with water and healing salt. All those books he reads are not for nothing. He rips my armor off easily. His eyes rake over me, assessing my injury.
A shallow gasp escapes me as he cups my breast. His hand slowly lower to my fractured ribs. “Exhale slowly, Nel. You need to let the air out.”
I listen to him, fighting against the sharp pain.
I lather the pomegranate soap on my skin when he suddenly stops me. “Let me do it for you.”
Because I’m too tired, I let him.
The man handles me with a tenderness that breaks my heart. He washes my body and untangles the knotted, bloodied mess ofmy hair. I must have dozed off in the tub because the next thing I know, I’m in his arms, bundled in a bathrobe as we reenter our tent.
The healing crystal has patched most of my injuries, or at least the superficial ones.
“I feel so much better,” I mutter against his chest.
He smiles a little, but it fades too fast and I’m scared again.
“I’ll be all right, Svenn,” I say, asking for him to set me down. I quickly wear my nightgown and dry my hair. After making sure I’m proper, I turn to the man who’s been watching me all this while from the chair.
Despite seated, the vampire feels tall, his presence eating up the shadows in the tent. My heart is hammering wildly as I move closer to him.
“Did my dagger cut deep? I’m sorry.” My voice heavy with regret. If Svenn was not an immortal, I could have actually caused some serious damage.
A frown creases his forehead for a moment. His eyes search my face. He still hasn’t spoken a word since the bath. Nothing in his expression gives away his emotion.
“You’re unbelievable,” he finally says, shaking his head, his voice laced with disbelief. “Rhianelle, I’m the one who needs to—”
“You can take my blood to heal faster,” I interrupt, raising my wrist in offering. “Take as much as you need.”
The vampire suddenly grapples my waist and pulls me into his lap before I can say another word.
He places his head on the groove of my spine, remaining there for a long while.
“I’m the one who is supposed to crawl to you for forgiveness,” he whispers against my skin. “I lost control today.”
I release a silent breath, something loosening in my chest over his words. “It’s not your fault. I know about the dwarven dagger.”
He shakes his head slowly, kissing me in between the shoulder blades. “I could have hurt you, Nel. Maybe I already did.”
His breath makes my skin erupt in goosebumps. I’ve stabbed him, humiliated him. I’ve even imprisoned him. I expected anger and retaliation for what I did. But I get cuddles and kisses?
“Svenn, please let me see you,” I say desperately. If he doesn’t let me, I think I’ll cry. I wriggle and twist from his grasp to turn around, and this time he lets me.
His face is as painfully lovely as the first time I saw him. I can’t quite place this haunted look in his eyes. It’s making me sad.
“I’ve missed you,” I say out of nowhere. I trace the line of his jaw and he shudders at the touch.
His eyelids grow heavy and he presses a surprisingly sweet kiss on my lips. But I’ve waited all day for this, for him. I press my mouth harder against him, lashing my tongue against his. A feral sound rumbles from the back of his throat as I deepen the kiss. His fingers lace into my hair before fisting it at the nape of my neck. He pulls back to take in my face. “I’ve missed you too. So fucking much.”
The temperature in the tent increases to a hundred degrees hotter than it was seconds ago.
