Now that it was just Crux and I, we could be a little more honest. “Just checking in,” I said, quietly.
“I’m maintaining,” Crux said. “Craving, but maintaining.”
“It wasn’t your fault. It was nobody’s fault.”
He shook his head. “You can say that all you want, and I know you mean well, but I’ll never buy it.”
He stood up, unable to contain his anger just by sitting. “How is this fair?” He demanded as he paced the room. “I take practically everything known to man, and for what? Boredom? Partying? To test my limits? And I’m fuckingfine. I shouldn’t be, but I am. Because apparently nature thought teaching me a lesson wasn’t going to work so it takes all my karma and shoots it right into her and now Skye is on fucking dea–”
Death’s door.
Crux couldn’t say the words. Not out loud. He ran his hands through his blue hair.
“Calm down,” I ordered.
“You fucking calm down,” Crux spat back at me.
I grit my teeth, let out a breath and forced myself to speak slowly, ensuring Crux would take in every word. “Skye is still bonded with us. Just because she’s asleep doesn’t mean the bond doesn’t still pick up what we’re feeling.”
Crux stopped cold, his eyes widening. The seriousness of my words captured him and he looked at her, on the other side of the room, sleeping peacefully.
He sat back down and took several deep breaths. “S-sorry. I’ll do better.”
“It’s alright,” I said. “We’re all scared. We just have to be strong for Skye. After she wakes up, and gets a new heart, then we can break down.”
“Careful, Sev,” Halo said, walking into the room. “You’re starting to sound like me.”
We both vaulted out of our chairs and hugged her tight.
Chapter 7
HALO
Oncethehugswerethrough, I walked over to Skye, brushed some hair off her shoulder and kissed her forehead. I sat on the bed and took her hand.
“I’m here,” I said. “I came as fast as I could.” I forced a smile. “You wouldn’t believe how hapless the crew on the shoot was. Costume changes took forever, one of the boots I was supposed to wear got lost and we scoured the set looking for it, and the spray tan looked so patchy we had to re-do it. You spoil me. Only my perfect omega knows how to make me look my best.” I curled a strand of her strawberry blonde hair around my finger. It looked duller than I was used to.
“I’m never going to another gig without you by my side,” I placed another soft kiss on her forehead. Straightening, I took a magazine from my bag.
“The new edition of Beta Better Best is out.” I flipped through the magazine until I found the cover story and began reading aloud to her from the article.
Soon after, Charisma arrived with food and Skye’s favorite blanket. I tucked Skye in under it, and rubbed the corner of it against her cheek.
“Your aunt Charisma brought your favourite blanket,” I cooed, stroking it against her pale skin. “Feel how soft it is? It still smells like you.”
In the den area of the room, Severen and Charisma were talking in hushed voices that I couldn’t quite make out. It didn’t matter, all that mattered was being with Skye, and making sure she was alright.
Charisma came to the bedside. “I’m going to oversee the move. The house was left open and exposed, with the movers left standing there without knowing what to do. I’ll take care of that. You just stay with Skye.”
“Thank you, Charisma,” I hugged her tight. “You’re a queen.”
She looked down at Skye. “I’ll see you soon, my sweet. You just stay strong.” Then, Charisma drifted from the room, and out of the scene.
Days passed. Because of my career, I was used to living out of my suitcase, so self-care wasn’t much of an issue with regards to personal grooming. Of course, no matter how nice this hospital room was, it was still a hospital room. Even though the couch folded out into a bed big enough for three, Severen and Crux chose to pull the fold down chairs to Skye’s bedside and sleep in those, while I curled up at the foot of Skye’s bed like a devoted puppy. Anything to stay close to her, and to help keep her strong.
Throughout the room, our auras were a complex web of emotions, but also of suppression and wishful thinking. The air was thick with our alpha-ness all frazzled and wan. We did what we could to stay civilized. The room had an outdoor balcony and Crux would spend a lot of time out there, chain smoking. Severen pretended to read or write, and I practically only left Skye’s side to bathe or fetch something for all of us to eat.
Every day I would read from new magazines or online gossip websites. I would brush her hair, massage her scalp, wash and lotion her hands or feet and put little under eye pads on her face. Maybe it was a way of distracting myself, keeping busy, but I liked to think it helped her feel good. Omegas enjoyed being pampered, and Skye was no exception.
