Page 94 of Bellamy

“You’re such an idiot.” Bellamy neared the bed and sat on the edge of it. “If you weren’t still healing, I’d kick your ass.”

I grinned. “I’d like for you to do something to my ass. But kicking it? Not so much.”

“This doesn’t change anything,” he whispered, dropping his gaze to my hand. He gently took hold of it. “You broke my heart, Nix.”

My smile fell. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“But when I found you like that, with a knife sticking outta your chest, I forgot about my broken heart. I forgot about how angry I am.” His blue eyes lifted to mine. “I just wanted you to be okay.”

“So you could kill me yourself?” I asked in a lighter tone.

It worked. A hint of a smile touched his lips. “Yeah. Something like that.”

“How long have I been out?” My muscles were sore.

“A day. I brought you here yesterday morning.” Dark circles were under his eyes. Had he been watching over me?

“How’s Castor? He was in rough shape.”

“Cas is doing better,” Bellamy said. “Kyo won’t leave his side and has been babying him way too much. The instinct to protect one’s mate is impossible to fight.”

“Like how you came to save me?”

Bellamy released my hand and swept his fingers through his wavy hair. “When I felt your presence, my body acted on impulse, just like last time.”

“Thanks,” I said. “For saving me.”

“Clara saved you.”

“You know what I mean.” I glanced at his lips, then forced my gaze away. My hand clenched on my lap. “If not for you, I would’ve died on that forest floor.”

“That’s what we do, right? Save each other.” The skin at the corners of his eyes tightened. “I guess we destroy each other too.”

“I’ve cut all ties to Asa. There aren’t any secrets between you and me now. We can start over.”

“I don’t know if I can trust you again.”

Again. So he really had trusted me once. Before I fucking shattered it anyway.

“Should I wear the collar again?” I asked, touching the base of my neck. I missed the weight of it there. More than I thought I would.

“Tempting. But no. You need your mana to help restore your strength.” Bellamy stood from the bed. “Once you’re healed, you can leave.”

“I don’t want to leave.” My heart thudded against my ribs. “I want to stay with you.”

He didn’t look at me. “I believe you when you say you didn’t know Asa was tracking you. But the result is still the same. Our home is gone, and the war has shifted in Asa’s favor. It’s just as much my fault as it is yours though. I’m the one who brought you to the mansion and fought for you to stay.” Finally, those sapphire eyes met mine. “That’s why we shouldn’t do this, Nix. We’re too different.”

“Or maybe we’re too much the same.”

Bellamy walked over to the window, resting a hand on the side of the frame as he peered out. My soul yearned for his. My body did too.

“Asa said he’ll be making preparations soon.” I sat up a bit more and winced at the sharp ache. Clara did a great job patching me up though. I should’ve been dead. “You should alert your allies. Keep an eye on tourist hotspots. That’s where Asa will attack first. He’ll want to wipe out a huge number of people at once.”

“Alastair’s already told them.” Bellamy’s voice had little inflection. Either he was deep in thought or trying not to let himself feel anything. “Daman and Warrin returned to Russia yesterday to ready the ice dragon army. Once Cas is well enough to travel, he and Kyo will be going to Japan to do the same with the water dragons. Asa is making his preparations, and we’re making ours.”

“I can try again,” I suggested. “I can teleport back to the underworld and take Lucifer’s sword from him.”

“You and I both know it won’t be that easy.” Blond hair fell across his brow as he looked at me. I ached to run my fingers through it. “That dagger he drove into your chest is nothing compared to what he’ll do the next time you show your face in the underworld.”