Page 78 of Bound By Thorns
At one point, Delara, still draped in her hospital gown and sporting her own set of battle scars, wheeled herself into the room with a jello cup in hand. She maneuvered around like it was a social visit, chatting away to Logan as though he could respond any minute.
“You have to wake up soon, Logan. Push the date up. You don’t want a skeleton of Kaylan to remain, do you? And tell her to fucking eat, Logan. You’re a horrible boyfriend.” Her voice would wobble every now and then, but she never strayed from the feigned bravado.
Leora was a constant presence too, her vigil nearly as unwavering as mine. Dylan and Zarek seemed almost to have set up camp just outside his door, their faces etched with concernand fatigue. The last update on Sebastian was not promising; he was battling an infection post-surgery and had been strictly advised against any movement.
The days melted into each other, marked only by the steady strengthening of Logan’s heartbeat. Each time I checked his charts, I absorbed the numbers, tracking every slight improvement like precious clues in a vast, uncertain puzzle.
After three long weeks and another delicate surgery to reattach part of his skull, the doctors decided it was time to try waking him up. I never left his side. That night, Leora and Zarek stepped out, leaving me alone with him, trusting me to monitor his recovery. Every so often, I checked his pupils, acutely aware that a stroke was a looming threat.
At precisely 3:03 AM, something happened—Logan’s eyelids fluttered. He started breathing on his own, the ventilator suddenly unnecessary. My training as a doctor kicked in, but my hands shook so much I barely managed the task. Thankfully, a nurse arrived just in time to assist.
Logan’s face, once pale and still, now flushed with life as his eyes opened fully. I made a silent vow—if he didn’t recognize me, I’d probably murder him. But as I wiped the tears from my cheeks and forced a smile, his eyes locked onto mine with a spark of recognition.
“Chaos,” he croaked out, his voice rough and weak.
“It’s me!” I half-sobbed, relief flooding through me.
I helped him sip some water, gently supporting him as he took in his surroundings. His eyes finally settled on me. A relenting gaze, drinking me in as though making sure I was not in that endless nightmare of Tyka’s hold. Then, he broke the silence.
“I am a horrible boyfriend, aren’t I?”
“No,” I whispered back and shook my head chuckling. “You’re just incredibly stupid sometimes.”
He laughed, then winced from the pain. “I’ve been occasionally called a self-sacrificing moronic ass.”
His gaze softened as he looked at me, his voice tender yet filled with remorse. “You haven’t been taking care of my Chaos.”
“I was too busy trying not to lose my mind,” I retorted, the seriousness of our situation making my voice waver.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he murmured, his eyes clouding with pain.
“Shh,” I soothed, stroking his hair gently. “Save your apologies for later, okay?”
Just then, the nurse cleared her throat, a reminder of the world waiting outside our little bubble. “I’ll get the doctor to check on him. Do you need me to call anyone?”
I shook my head, my focus fixed on Logan. “I’ll take care of it.”
Logan
I barely noticed the nurse slip out, my focus glued to that ugly bruise marring her temple. It screamed at me, a vivid, cruel reminder of the violence she’d endured. The intensity of the purple shade hinted at pain—deep, throbbing pain—that I couldn’t fathom. The reality of time lost crashed into me, leaving a nauseous twist in my gut.
“How long was I out?” The words stumbled out, heavy with dread.
Something flickered in her eyes before she composed herself.
“Almost three weeks,” she said plainly.
Three weeks?
The knowledge punched the air from my lungs. Imagining Kaylan alone, watching over me, filled with dread and hope, was unbearable. A tightness constricted my chest, and impulsively, I reached out, the IV line stretching with my movement, to touch her cheek gently.
“I’m so, so sorry, Chaos,” I murmured, my voice thick with unshed tears. “I didn’t see any other way. I saw him... hurting you, and I just reacted.”
She nodded quickly, her eyes glistening as my thumb caught a solitary tear trailing down her cheek. “It’s okay,” she whispered, her breath warm against my skin. “You saved me.”
Thatbrought a smile to my face. I had finally saved her. Despite the pain, the fear, and the regret, I had managed to protect her. That was what mattered. I just wished it hadn’t cost us those lost weeks together.
Her gaze flitted away briefly, her fingers dancing over her phone before she faced me again, her smile a fragile thing.
