“I could hold you down and heal you against your will. And there’d be nothing you could do to stop me.” He stepped closer. I took an awkward step back. He didn’t hide the feral look in his eyes, and I wasn’t sure if I was afraid or excited.
“You’d never do that. Not to me.” I called his bluff. But I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to be dominated by him.
He let out a low growl. “Fine. We have a deal. Now get over here.”
I crossed the space between us and reached for him. I watched as a faint blue light spilled from his palms, pooling around mine and curling up my arms. I sensed his foreign power as it washed over me. The feeling was strange and yet familiar, as if my own magic recognized his.
My eyes fluttered shut. A soft moan escaped my lips. The euphoria was strangely intimate, and it ended far too quickly.
When he withdrew his magic, it was almost painful. I opened my eyes. Lucius was so close—his lips a breadth from mine. My whole body burned for something more.
“Michaela, I…”
His arms had somehow found their way around my waist. Being held was something I didn’t realize I needed. There were no words to explain what was transpiring between us. I pressed my lips to his without any thought of the consequences.
He kissed me back, crushing me to his chest with a restrained need, harsh and soft in a way that had me melting in his arms. His tongue flicked my lips, a question of more, and I opened for him. I explored his tongue with my own, relishing in the feel of him. Nothing in my short life had ever felt this good.
But I’d gone too far. I’d taken too much from him, more than I deserved. I wouldn’t let the possibilities of a future sink its claws into me only to be ripped out later. I pulled back, stepping out of his arms. My body felt strong again, but my mind still whirled with his kiss.
“I’m sorry, Lu. Thank you for the help. Now… can we forget that last part ever happened?”
We traveled for days, each mile feeling longer than the last. The energy I’d received from Lu became more and more depleted as we continued. Each time he healed me, Lucius paid a price. He tried to brush it off, but he couldn’t hide the obvious drain it caused him. I wouldn’t be the cause of his demise. I tried my best to hide my growing weakness, but I was lagging further behind the group with each step.
“Can we rest for a minute?” I asked through labored breaths.
Nico circled back, his eyes scanning my feeble frame. “Are you okay?” he asked, his face unable to hide the concern.
“Yeah… I just need a moment… to catch my breath.”
“You’re growing weaker by the minute.” Before I could argue, Nico gently scooped me up, effortlessly cradling me in his arms.
“I don’t need you to carry me. I just need a minute.”
“I’m carrying you the rest of the way. End of discussion.”
I never was one to accept help freely, especially when it came to my health. But the Bruins were good at not taking no for an answer.
The warmth radiating from Nico’s body comforted the piercing chill aching in my bones. I nuzzled into his chest, noting his rich earthy scent.
I couldn’t help but think we looked like the cover of a romance novel. A ripped, absurdly handsome man carrying his frail damsel in distress. Her tightly corseted gown billowing in the wind. Except my gown was shredded, my prince charming had a betrothed, and I was nothing more than a burden.
The cancer was gaining strength, pulling at me with its vicious claws, whispering its promise of eternal rest. This time felt different. It was taking me down fast, and it had me questioning everything. Maybe I was destined to die young? Until recently, I never questioned my cards. I simply accepted my fate. What if I was wrong to hold on to my newfound hope? To think that my painful life had purpose and what I was forced to endure wasn’t for naught. What if my purpose was to help Gwen get back to Neverland? Maybe I didn’t get a knight in shining armor so that my little sister could have many? My time in this existence was running out. I was fighting a losing battle.
“She doesn’t look good, Nico.” Lu walked up beside us, placing his hand on my knee. “She’s cold. We need to life-bind, now.” He pulled the heavy fur from his shoulders, tucking it in around my legs.
“We can’t. Not yet.” Nico seemed unfazed, his tone stoic as he forged ahead.
Lu stepped in front of his brother and growled, stopping Nico dead in his tracks.
“Lucius, I won’t tolerate your attitude. We’re almost to Whisperhold. Once we arrive, restoring Michaela is priority number one. Now step aside.”
“What’s life-binding?” I asked.
“Life-binding is the technical term for how we’ve been healing you. And we need to do it now,” Lucius explained.
“Lu, I’m fine. Really, I’m just exceptionally tired. It’s been a rough few days.” I tried to reassure him, but he could see through my facade.
“She doesn’t have time to wait. We need to stop?—”
