Page 27 of A Soul’s Curse (Fallen Souls #1)

“You wouldn’t have done the same for him?

” she asked as she squirted some oily substance into her palms. “Regardless, you’re lucky he did, Theo.

The burn is localized to his back. It’ll be painful but it’s not life threatening.

But Ren is taller than you. Had it hit you, it wouldn’t have hit your back. It would have hit your head .”

My mouth was dry when I swallowed. I hadn’t thought about that.

I watched as Dr. Brooks continued to examine Ren, the bright glow of her white aura penetrating Ren’s skin to heal the worst of the damage.

She then addressed the few minor cuts and scrapes I had.

She wasn’t a miracle worker, though. Dr. Brooks might have been an actual healer, meaning she had a lot more magical capabilities than just my ability to eat away death, but sometimes the damage was beyond anything magic or science could fix.

“Okay, I patched him up the best I could. He’ll need your help re-dressing the bandages though, probably once a day for the next week or so.

I don’t recommend showering or getting it wet but I’m sure he will anyway, so just make sure to thoroughly dry it and apply this ointment on it when he’s done.

” She handed me a brown bottle. “Any of the pain meds you hand out at Emberheart Place will work fine, but here’s something stronger if he needs it.

If anything happens, give me a call. Otherwise, I’ll just put it on his tab. ”

I blinked. “His tab? You’ve treated him before?”

Dr. Brooks chuckled. “This isn’t my first house call for him. The half-demon is a bit reckless and has a habit of getting into trouble. I’m surprised he’s even still alive at this point. Anyway, you should get some sleep too, Theo. You must have used up a lot of your magic healing him.”

Now that she mentioned it, I was feeling lightheaded. I pulled over the desk chair and positioned it beside the bed. “I think I’ll stay here and watch over him. Is there … is there nothing else I can do for him? He’s in this position because of me.”

Dr. Brooks sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Well, there is one thing. I’m not sure you’ll like it though.”

“What is it? I don’t care! I’ll do it!” My eyes widened with anticipation, but there was a lopsided grin that pressed into Dr. Brooks’s lips.

“You could get naked and sleep with him.”

Heat burned my cheeks and I was shocked my hair didn’t light on fire. “E-excuse me?”

“Hmm. How do I put this? Ren has an ability to … absorb magic? He won’t go into the specifics with me, but he can draw magic out of people and replenish his own with it.

If that succubus depleted him, then he needs to resupply.

He needs skin-to-skin contact to do it though.

If you want him to heal faster, then I suggest you get naked and hop into bed with him so he can take your magic. ”

“You’re messing with me right?” My throat constricted and my chest twisted into knots. “I, uh …”

“Nope. I swear I’m being serious.” Dr. Brooks shrugged. “It’s up to you. He’ll be fine without it, but it will help him heal faster. The more skin contact, the better. Night, Theo.”

“Wait!”

She left the room, leaving me alone with Ren. Dr. Brooks had given him something to help him sleep and ease the pain, but I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be strong enough to get through the night.

With my heart thumping, I let out a long breath, taking his hand in mine and instantly feeling the pull on my magic.

Still on his stomach, he seemed peaceful sleeping there on the bed.

And while I should have been agonizing over my breakup with Sly, all I felt was …

relief. My chest had felt tight for months, the tension in my shoulders growing unbearably stiff.

I knew deep down our relationship was going to end at some point, but I always expected him to dump me when he found some stupidly hot guy to show off, with connections in the industry.

Sly was embarrassed of me, there was no hiding that fact.

He constantly put his friends before me, never wanted to hang out in public, and never supported me in the things that I wanted to do.

I pretended it didn’t bother me because I was afraid to leave.

I had no idea how I’d survive on my own without his support.

I focused on Ren’s breathing, watching the silver loop through his lip catch the overhead light with each exhale.

I pushed aside his sweaty auburn hair to reveal the other silver piercing through his eyebrow.

Ren was mesmerizing, I knew that from the first time I laid eyes on him, but it was more than that.

It was the subtle things he did, like help translate for my sister at Emberheart Place, and the not-so-subtle things like saving my life—twice—that drew me to him.

It was his pull on me that gave me the courage to stand up to Sly and put him in his place, to accept that I was so much better than the trash he treated me as.

I kissed Ren’s forehead, a gesture I had done a million times whenever I tucked Sly into bed after a heavy night of drinking. I froze, heat creeping down my neck and burning my ears when Ren stirred awake.

“Hey.” I abandoned the chair and crouched down beside the bed so Ren didn’t have to strain his neck to see me. “How you feeling?”

“Like shit.” A long exhale accompanied his fluttering eyelids.

“Dr. Brooks stopped by.” I absently stroking his hand with my thumb. When I realized what I was doing and tried to pull away, he squeezed so I couldn’t. “You know, Dr. Brooks said she’s treated you before. You’re like a cockroach, Ren, stubborn and refusing to die.”

He tried to chuckle at that, but it came out as a wheeze. “Then you’re like a dandelion weed—annoying and always showing up in places you’re not welcome. I told you not to come, Theo. Why did you follow me?”

“I didn’t!” I looked him right in the eyes, my expression serious.

“I kept my word, Ren. I promise I had no idea you were gonna be there, but, uh, would you believe me if I told you someone who knows Caspian called me? He sent me to that hotel to get the grimoire. I didn’t know it was you making that deal or I wouldn’t have intervened. ”

“How much did you see?” Ren closed his eyes because I knew what he was really asking and he didn’t want to see the judgment passed onto him.

“Enough to know that I’m glad I was there.” He slowly opened his eyes. “Tara had two bodyguards with her, and she wasn’t going to let you leave with that grimoire. If we hadn’t jumped in, she would have taken what she wanted, killed you, and kept the book to herself.”

“I figured as much.” He tried to reposition the pillow under him, so I gave it a nudge. “Still had to try.”

“You know, as much as I hate that you’re lying here in agonizing pain because you had to protect me—again—it means a lot to me that you did. No one’s ever done something like that for me before.”

“I would hope not,” he snorted. “Because if someone else had been trying to kill you before I showed up, I’d be a bit worried.”

I pressed my lips together with a smile. “You know, Dr. Brooks also told me I should get naked and jump into bed with you. That you could absorb my magic to heal faster.”

“Mmm. She did, did she?” There was a long silence between us before he added, “So, are you planning to get in or not?”

“Ren!” I smacked him lightly on the arm. The drugs must have been kicking in. “I just broke up with my boyfriend, like … an hour ago. And you’re already asking me to sleep with you?”

“But I literally almost died for you. Don’t you want me to heal faster?”

“Are you trying to guilt me for saving my life?” I knew he was only teasing, and I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped me. I then slipped my shirt over my head.

“Wait, are you really …” Ren’s voice faltered, the usual smoothness cracking just slightly as he spoke.

I paused, wondering if I misread the entire situation. Nervously, I tried to correct myself. “Oh. What? No. I’m just … changing. Dirty shirt. You should get some rest. I’ll go crash on the couch.” He caught my arm as I tried to leave.

He didn’t say anything, but there was so much emotion spoken through that one powerful gesture…

the loneliness in his gaze and the pain buried just beneath.

Breathing a sigh of relief. I sat at the edge of the bed, stripping off my jeans and socks.

The boxers were most definitely staying on.

With a fierce groan, Ren rolled onto his side and opened the covers for me to slide in.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this. Hands above the belt. No funny business, got it? I may be single now, but I just broke up with my boyfriend and I’m in mourning.”

Ren pulled me closer to him, nuzzling his chin into the crook of my neck.

His hands wrapped around my torso just below my navel as if testing the limits of my warning.

My magic started tingling like tiny ice crystals as he absorbed it into him.

His body was warm against my cold skin, chasing away the chill that had settled in my bones.

“I’m sorry about Sly.” His voice was barely a whisper, but his warm breath tickled my ear. “I know you loved him. What are you going to do now?”

“You know what’s funny?” I laughed softly.

“I don’t think I’ve loved him for a long time.

The change is scary, especially with everything else going on right now, but it’s for the best. It was a toxic relationship and one I needed to get out of.

” I didn’t want to think about it, but the reality was I had to.

I had no place to live, and no job to pay for an apartment of my own.

I wouldn’t even be able to go back to get my things before Sly chucked everything into the trash tomorrow morning.

Heaviness clung to me like thick mud, sucking me down into the depths of the earth.

“I’ll probably hang out at Emberheart Place for a while, I guess.

Try to find another job somewhere so I can afford a place to live. ”

“You could stay here.” His words sent my pulse racing.

“Stay here?” I hated I could never really support myself and relied so heavily on Sly’s income.

I wouldn’t let myself do that with Ren. Even if he was offering it, I couldn’t take advantage of him like that.

“I … don’t know if I can. I leaned on Sly for so long that I think I need to do this for myself.

I have to pay for my own place and get a job that actually gives me a paycheck. ”

“Wouldn’t you be doing that here?” I winced at his words.

Of course, he wanted to get something out of it.

I was arrogant to think that Ren would let me crash here for free.

“You forget this is my second home and I rarely stay here. There’s enough room for you, Ivy, and the foul-mouthed fairy to stay here together.

As for rent, well, I’ll take a cut of your magic spell business.

There’s actually a workshop in the basement we can clean up so you have a place to properly work and store your products. ”

I chuckled. “I don’t think my sales would even be enough to cover the cost of a lightbulb.” I squeezed my eyes shut, but forced myself to relax. “Why are you doing this? You barely even know me.”

He drew me in closer and sighed. “You’d do the same thing for anyone else if you had the means to do it, wouldn’t you?

I’ve said this before, Theo, but I’ve done a lot of terrible things for the Syndicate, and I’m not proud of them.

This doesn’t make up for my mistakes, but the Syndicate targeted you because of me.

Let me at least help you deal with the situation I put you in. ”

“Okay,” I conceded. I didn’t really have much of a choice, but I appreciated he wasn’t pitying me. I’d needed to earn my keep, and he was simply giving me the means to do so.

“Great.” His hair tickled my ear when he nestled into the pillow. “Now stop yapping and go to sleep. It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted.”

He was snoring about thirty seconds later.