“I am not going to explain to the inn's owner why there are dark stains on the floor,” she grumbled, helping him to get up.
Dante could barely stand on his feet, his body was shaking.
“Should have left me on the” –he released a quiet groan– “floor.”
“I should have,” she confirmed, sitting him on the bed.
She quickly found some towels and got them wet. A deep breath was needed to gather strength before she could do something. Before she couldtouchhim again. She was scared, completely terrified, from him, from other vampires, from everything. She always knew how to collect herself in hard moments, but not now. She didn't know how to react other than being completely frightened. She couldn't just hide it, put it somewhere in the farthest corner of her mind.
She turned to Dante again – he was unbuttoning his shirt. The loud hiss released in the air.
Violette came closer, her fingers shakingly reached to the buttons and she gently moved his hands away.
He raised his eyes to her face.
“You can leave me,” his voice came out raspy.
She hardly swallowed but continued undoing his shirt. His chest and stomach looked better than the back but it still was covered in cuts and some bite marks on the shoulder. A first touch of the towel on his torso made him press his lips in the thinnest line and close eyes.
The tears welled up in Violette's eyes as she focused on the wound. She felt like she was touching the flesh of a ruthless monster. After all she knew about him, how could she just look in his eyes like nothing happened? He saved her today but only because he needed her. But what will be after? What will be when she releases the monster out of his cage?
He was studying her, without even hiding. He knew he shouldn't, he knew she needed time but he also wanted her to talk to him. Just one word.Anything.
Dante stopped her hand with his. “You don't have to do it.”
Something blocked her throat. She pressed her lips together, continuing to wipe the blood from his skin. A tremor traveled through her hands, and her entire body quivered.
Dantepulled away.
“Little Witch,” he said, his voice unusually gentle. “Stop.”
He seemed to want to grab her by the hand but hesitated to touch her – he remembered how she winced at his touch before. Despite her words in front of Caidas, he knew exactly what she felt.
Her hand stopped on the clean spot under his chest. But her eyes didn't dare to lift.
“Are you scared of me?” His voice low.
Violette didn't remove her hand, instead she washed his shoulder.
“Why do you think so?” she said coldly, as she thought, but her voice cracked midway.
She lied. She wasn't even scared to death – she was completely fear-struck, fully seized with this feeling. The truth that was hidden behind his mask just broke everything in her faith. She was scared of him, of his actions and she was in the arms of horror just being that close to him. She'd known he did something bad but she'd never realized how horrible his story could be…how horriblehecould be. All she could see was a monster. Instead of the mask she saw blood all over his mouth, his hands painted in burgundy and his shirt stained with dark spots. Everything in him seemed so dark after what she heard, after what she imagined.
“You have nothing to be worried about,” he said, his eyes lowered to her hand on his chest. “I am not a threat to you.”
Violette's brows pulled together, the corners of her eyes crinkled as she settled her gaze on the same spot, not ready to meet his gaze yet. But she felt anger rumbling under her skin. How could she not be worried? What does he think she has to do – just forget this night?
The pinch between her brows twitched.
“What about other vampires? They want to kill me, Dante. And I am helpless, my magic is not working against them. I have nothing,” she grumbled, swiping another drop of blood.
“You have me,” he said mildly. “I won't leave you and I won't let anyone hurt you. Truly.”
“And what if they–What if you won't be able to save me?”
“I'm much stronger than you think,” he rasped. “Little Witch, when I promised to bring you back home I was honest with you. I intend to keep this promise.”
“And what are your words worth?” Her hand froze.
