Page 19 of Saved By My Alien Husband

18

HAVEN

S wallowing the metallic tang of blood from my split lip, my boots echoed in the corridor as I followed the healer, each step a thunderous beat in my head. Too slow. Everything felt too slow. They said she'd be fine, she'd be fine , but it didn't stop the clawing monster that was eating at my chest. The healers said she only needed a few days to rest.

When I reached the room, I froze. Seeing her only a few minutes before didn't change the devastation of seeing her look so vulnerable the second time. My Delphine was lying in the bed, her small form barely discernible under the blanket I had Mavel bring from our room. Her face was pale, almost translucent, and every rise and fall of her chest looked like it hurt. Her face was scrunched in pain, even in her sleep.

Cracked ribs, concussion, bruising, internal bleeding—the list of her injuries was long. And I wasn't there. This wouldn't have happened if I was there.

My chest constricted painfully. My breath caught, and for a fleeting moment, I felt helpless.

As if she knew I came back, her eyes blinked open, then closed again just as quickly. “Why is it so loud and bright? What happened?”

Her voice was a rasp, faint, but enough to make my knees weak with relief. She was awake. She was alive.

“My princess,” I said, stepping closer. “You are in the hospital wing.”

The words felt hollow, inadequate. How could I explain what had happened? That I hadn’t been there when the stampede started? That I’d failed her?

She tried to open her eyes again, and I watched as she winced and squeezed them shut again. “It’s too bright,” she whimpered.

Without thinking, I moved to block the light from her face, crouching down beside her. She whimpered again, and the sound cut through me like a blade. I gathered her into my arms, careful not to jostle her injuries, and whispered, “You’ll be okay soon, my princess. I promise.”

The tremor in my hands betrayed my fear, guilt, and anger. I willed them to still.

Her voice came again, soft and full of pain. “I hurt everywhere.”

“You were stepped on by dozens of people, so that makes sense,” Daryl deadpanned from the other side of the room.

I shot him a glare that could have melted stone. The bastard smirked, but Delphine's laugh—brief and sharp—stopped me in my tracks.

Then she cried out, clutching her ribs, and I wanted to wring his neck again.

The nurse approached with a cup, murmuring something about medicine. I took it, holding it to her lips and coaxing her to drink.

She did, her lips trembling as the liquid passed between them. I watched every swallow, willing the medicine to work as quickly as possible. As the tension in her body eased, the shadows under her eyes seemed less stark, but they didn’t disappear.

Her eyes, now clearer, met mine. “So, it went that badly, huh?”

Daryl snorted and walked to the door. “You are joking, so you must be fine. I'll let Michael and the king know.” He walked out, Mavel following with the nurse.

How could that idiot protector care about her and not love her at the same time? I didn't understand it, but thankfully it didn't matter, and Delphine had no lingering feelings for him. He makes her laugh. I don't think I ever have.

Another insecurity twisted my insides.

“Daryl was right about one thing, I didn't know he had it in him,” I said, my voice low, and repeated his words. “You’re joking, so you must be fine.”

She wasn’t fine. I could see it in the set of her jaw and the way she shifted uncomfortably even as she tried to appear strong, but I knew part of my job here as her supporter was pretending.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her words slicing through me.

Shaking my head, I brushed a piece of hair from her face. “You did nothing wrong.”

“I know, but you’re upset,” she said, her voice trembling.

I took her hand in both of mine, kissing her wedding scar. “Of course, I’m upset, but it's not your responsibility to feel sorry for it. When Jalen called for backup, I ran. I ran as fast as I could.” My voice cracked, and I closed my eyes, the memory of her crumpled on the ground seared into my mind. “But I was too late.”

Her thumb grazed my knuckles, as if to comfort me. “Haven, you can’t blame yourself?—”

“Yes, I can.” I pulled back slightly, meeting her gaze. “If I’d been there, this wouldn’t have happened.”

The tremor in my voice betrayed the storm raging inside me. Guilt. Anger. Fear. It kept cycling through me like a never-ending storm.

I rested my forehead against hers, and closed my eyes. Her breath was warm against my skin, steadying me. “I won’t let anyone hurt you again, Delphine. Not while I live.”

Deep down, I knew it was a promise I couldn’t keep, and it hurt all the same to claim I could, but I couldn't stop myself.

Every one of the humans should fall to their feet in front of her to apologize. I should fall among them.