The first thing I noticed when I woke up was that I wasn’t dead. Even though it was Darek who brought to the room the night before when I was struggling against the pain, when my eyes had finally dropped closed, that one blaring thought still lingered.
Darek had no use for anymore.
I literally served him the one thing that he wanted from , on a golden platter with extra perks.
The second thing I noticed was that the room surrounding was nothing like mine. Stone walls and dark teal wallpaper lined the massive room which seed to be designed tastefully. On one end, tall arched windows faced the ridiculously exaggerated garden outside, and the floors glead with polished black tiles that looked like they could even reflect moonlight.
Darek’s scent was everywhere. On the bed that my body was sinking into, the pillows, the air around . It was now stronger again just as before my rejection.
I groaned and tried to push myself up, only for the world to spin slightly. It wasn’t as bad as yesterday, but still bad nonetheless.
"You’re finally awake," a voice rang from my right and I turned imdiately to see Darek leaning against the doorway. The doorway of his room.
His tall figure took up almost the entire length of it, and the sunlight streaming in through the windows made his hazel eyes shine. His silver hair was ssy, like he’d been moving his hands through it nurous tis in anxiety.
"Unfortunately," I managed to spit out. I hated how feeble I sounded after I confidently rejected him yesterday. I wanted my voice to be sharp, to cut through his commands and whims but now, I just sounded pathetic.
He could gloat. In fact, I expected it. But he still had a pale unreadable look on his face. Not one of mockery or arrogance. I would have rather taken that, than the look of quiet concern.
"You shouldn’t try to move yet, Maeve," he finally said, picking his words carefully. "Your body is still adjusting."
"To what, Darek?" I snapped, as loud as my voice allowed to. "To be cursed with you?"
He flinched, and for a second, I thought I imagined it. Then it was gone, his face hiding behind his mask of seriousness.
He walked towards where my body lay motionless on the bed, too weak to even lift myself up. I needed more power, more strength. And the worst part, he was the only one who could help get it.
Darek reached the side of the bed and bent down to reach my eye level, putting both arms on either side of .
"You almost died, Maeve. If I hadn’t been there, you would have. You know that."
I laughed but it ca out more as a wheeze.
"I guess I should be grateful to you for saving my life, now. Did you expect a thank-you kiss?" I said weakly.
"You’re impossible."
He stood back straight and looked down at , like I had no right to judge him right now.
For a long ti, we just stared at each other like that. The tension pulling the both of us tighter and tighter until I swore it snapped as he inhaled deeply.
I should have looked away, rolled over to the other side of the bed, away from his prying eyes. Ignored him until he got bored with . But I couldn’t because whatever bond was between us right now, felt like the only thing keeping alive. The only thing pouring life into my bones. The closer I got, the more strength shot up my body. The curse was dragging my gaze back up to him.
"I’m not sure if you are aware of your situation yet," he finally said. "Rejecting on a blood moon night wasn’t just reckless, it was dangerous, for the both of us."
"Why would it be dangerous for you? You’re enjoying the best of both worlds right now."
He sighed. "That’s not how this works. If sothing happens to you and the bond breaks then I lose all of my powers as well. You’ve pretty much written both of our death sentences."
"Good then. That ans we’ll both go down together. Problem solved. Our city will finally find a way to end the mist under a new Commander whose sole purpose in life isn’t about maintaining his bloodlust. "
"Don’t be stupid, Maeve," his voice sharpened, the commanding authority lacing into it. "Your power is linked to mine until the next green moon. If you keep pushing away, you’ll be the one who suffers the most. I might lose my powers if you still demanded to be stubborn about it, but I will not be dying for it."
I wanted to scream at him and cry and throw sothing at his perfectly painted walls. But all I could do was sink back against the propped-up pillows, heart pounding with helplessness.
Until the next green moon.
Which ant the mating ceremony. Until then, I had to rely on him to prevent myself from dying.
"So I have to touch you all the ti now so I don’t die?"
His lips twitched in amusent.
"If that’s what it takes to keep you alive, then yes."
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"...But that won’t be necessary. As long as we are in close proximity enough tis in a day to keep the bond between us still alive, keep it from fizzling out before the green moon, you’ll be fine."
He seed to add that part a bit more reluctantly.
My wolf whimpered, confused as to why it was strangely comforted in Darek’s presence when my human side scread at to just shove him away.
I chose the only option left. I glared at him in defiance.
He finally smirked, his arrogance spilling into his lips again.
"That’s better. At least you look alive when you’re trying to set on fire with your eyes."
I refused to answer to that.
"Hate all you want, Maeve. Just don’t die on ."
He left soon after and I buried my face back into my pillow to let out a muffled scream. Rejecting Darek had dood far more than being with him ever could.
I didn’t know how dood I really was until the next day.
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