Page 156 of Ensnared

ThoughasIglance back atLucky, the relief fades quickly.Thosewounds are far from nothing.Notto mention, there’s no guarantee the danger is over yet.Iscan the clearing again, but nothing moves except flames dancing over dead grass.

“Likeanyone’s coming close again after that,”Jaykscoffs, andIjust grunt, not ready to trust it.

PullingBeau’sother arm around my shoulder,Imove withJaykto get him besideLuckyandJasper.He’scovered in blood, butIcan’t see where it’s coming from.Theredoesn’t appear to be a head wound.Hisleft leg looks the worst, with a deep cut in his thigh that’s leaking blood.

“I’mgoing to kill you for that stunt,”Ibite out under my breath.

Beaulaughs, though it sounds pained. “Well,Iwouldn’t want a good speech to go to waste.”

Whenhe catches sight ofLucky, he sobers. “Weneed to get him to the med bay.Now.”

JasperandIliftLuckygently.We’removing, fast and efficient, toward the med bay whenJaykasks a question that has more violent force than any bombI’veset off today.

“Wherethe hell isEden?”

Chapter37

Lucky

Survivaltip #178

Kissesare better than oxygen.

No,Beau, it’s a good tip, don’t take my—

Myfirst thought is that death is more uncomfortable thanIhoped for.Imean, after the wars and the apocalypse and all,Ikind of hoped thatI’dcatch some kind of break in the afterlife.Somecushy ether or a nice fluffy kingdom in the clouds.Heck,I’dtake reincarnation.Bringme back as a tiger or something—I’vegot no problem picking my teeth with a poacher’s tibia.

Itry to shift and realizeIdo have some form of body.Ican move.It’sjust that moving sucks and sends bolts of pain everywhere.

Really, it’s not fair that it hurts this much.IfIhave to hurt for my sins,I’dreally have loved for it to be in some kind of sexy dungeon scenario.IbetLuciferis the daddy of all sadists.Icould get down with that.

“Lucien.”

Noisestarts to filter in, andI’mpretty sureIheard my name.Ormaybe they said “Lucifer.”Imight be getting the dungeon after all.

Eachbreath is agony, sending spasms through my body, but between those spasms,Ifeel something else.Someoneis gently stroking my face, right along my hairline.I’mno expert, butIdon’t thinkLuciwould be this sweet to me.Eden’sthe only one who has touched me this tenderly in a long time.Thesoft touches are almost worth the spasms.

“I’mgoing to kill you for putting me through this, you selfish boy,” someone says, and the low voice triggers warm shivers through me.Evenwith my foggy brain,Irecognize that voice, thoughI’venever heard that rough, choked tone from him.

I’malive then, that’s good.Jaspermay not be the prince of darkness, exactly, but he’s close enough.Therough sheet around my bare waist registers, and the warmth ofJasper’shand in mine.He’sclose enough thatIcan smell him, but his usual parchment and ink scent is clouded by smoke and sweat.

Memoriesof the barn and the hunters, the frag and the truck, come back to me sluggishly.Ah, shit.Whathappened?IfJasper’ssitting next to me then it worked, and we got free.Noidea how the fuck that happened, or howImade it out of that one.Ididn’t run out into the open expecting to live, that was for sure.

Mylids are heavy and gritty.Ittakes a few attempts before they crack open.Theroom is dimly lit—no lights are on, but candles flicker around the room.Generator’scrapped out, then.Irecognize the med bay, but how the hell did we make it here?LastIknew, we were well and truly fucked.

Asthey always do, my eyes drift back toJasper.There’sno urgency in his body language, thoughIcan vaguely hear an argument from behind the door.He’sclose beside me in the bed, his head pressed against the mattress beside mine.Hiseyes are shut and soot dusts his face, hair, and eyelashes.Myheart tangles whenIrealize he’s been crying.

Ididn’t know he could do that.

Theslow, sweet touches along my hairline continue.He’snever touched me like this before.Noteven during aftercare, thatIcan remember.

Mythroat burns with thirst, butIignore it.Everybreath stabs and spasms, butIignore that too.Ijust watch him.Thepain makes sense now.Italways hurts aroundJasper.

I’mokay with it.Iwould take a lot worse than this to have him here.He’ssafe.Whetherit’s because of whatIdid or by some other miracle,Jaspergot free and isn’t dead behind a truck right now.Lifeis good.

“—where she is.Weneed to look for her.”

Thedoor slams open abruptly enough to make me startle, which in turn sets off a thousand-lash punishment through every inch of my body.Igroan, andJasper’shead lifts sharply to stare down at me.

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