Page 70

Between the days spent at Lina’s bedside, counting every breath she took, and the fog of fear that’s been wrapped around me like a second skin, I hadn’t noticed much else.

Yes, I leaned on Alaric. Let myself rest in his arms. Took comfort in his steady presence and the way he never once left my side. But I didn’t realize he’d been doing so much behind the scenes. I didn’t even realize he was still here.

I press my lips together, a rush of warmth crawling up my throat.

“I will,” I whisper. “Thank you again, doctor.”

He nods once, then disappears down the hallway.

The urge to walk down that hallway and find the man who’s done everything to ensure me and Lina are okay, without expecting a damn thing in return, almost wins.

Almost.

But I take a deep breath and turn back into my daughter’s hospital room.

Because right now, she needs me more than anything.

Lina is seated on her bed, her small fingers clutching a teddy bear I didn’t recognize at first until I remembered that Alaric bought it. The second she opened her eyes and realized Bear wasn’t there, I’d been too frozen in worry to go home and get him.

Alaric had gone instead. Or maybe he sent someone. Either way, she has the toy now. And the look on her face makes my throat tighten.

Her curls bounce with excitement the moment she spots me.

“Mommy! Mommy! Can we go now? Please? Pretty please?”

I sit on the edge of her bed, smoothing back her curls. The knot in my chest eases a little, but there’s still a heavy, invisible weight pressing on me. This was her second hospital scare. And every time, it gets harder to breathe.

“Yes, baby. The healer said you’re okay,” I tell her gently. “But you have to take it easy, all right? No jumping around until I’m sure you’re all better.”

Lina doesn’t fight me.

Instead, she wraps her arms around me and buries her face in my chest. I hold her tight, maybe too tight, and close my eyes just for a second.

“I’m sorry, Mommy,” she whispers. “I’ll be good. I promise I won’t scare you anymore.”

Goddess. My heart cracks open all over again.

“This wasn’t your fault,” I murmur, kissing the top of her head. “Mommy’s just glad you’re doing better. That’s all that matters.”

She pulls back slightly and places her tiny palms on my cheeks like she’s trying to hold me together.

Then comes the question I didn’t expect.

“Does this mean we get to live with Alaric, Mommy?”

What?

“You were sleeping,” she says, voice bright with excitement. “And Alaric said it was bad to wake you up ‘cause you were really tired. He told me we’ll live in his big mansion and I can have all the chocolate I want!”

I blink.

He said what now?

For a second, all I can do is stare at her.

Then, damn it, I smile. A full, lips-parting, chest-thawing kind of smile.

Of course, Alaric went ahead and told her.