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He leans back, tilting his head.
“I did something wrong to you, I’m trying to apologize.” He pauses and looks around the room before his eyes come back to me. “Am I doing it right?”
We stare at each other, at a loss for words because I have no idea how someone is meant to apologize to me. Hasn’t he said sorry to another before?
“Am I… awake?”
“Yes. You woke a few times but you weren’t with it, the fever had taken hold of you.” He checks my head. “You’re still a little warm but not burning up.”
“But…” I rub at my chest and he eyes the movement. “I… no one has ever said sorry to me before,” I admit quietly. “I made you mad, I should say sorry. I did something, and I washed the…” I cough. “And then I tried to...”Cough. “Tried to make—” Rohan places his finger against my lips, and my eyes widen.
“Quiet,” he says, voice full of command. “You need more rest, don’t speak. Understand?” I nod. “Lay down.” I do. “Close your eyes, I’ll be here.”
He brings my wrist up to his mouth again, and as I watch him watching me, my eyes slowly drift closed.
But I notice how bruised his knuckles are.
“I brought you some bread,” Nora says, as she places a basket down on the table beside the bed. “Melle chose it.”
“I—thank you,” I mutter, unsure what to say.
There is a stilted silence, until she finally breaks it.
“Melle wanted to come, but she’s learning about hunting today.”
I nod.
She sighs.
“I’m sorry,” she blurts out. “For hitting you.”
“Okay,” I reply, unsure how else to.
“I wanted to come sooner but, I honestly didn’t know how to say it. I… I know you didn’t hurt Melle.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“I know.” More silence. “I best get on.”
With a nod, she leaves without another word, and a warm feeling fills my chest as I look at the basket.
I fall back asleep, voices reaching me but not able to wake me, but when I do finally open my eyes, I spot roses on the table and my heart aches.
Rohan.
I get out of bed and go to them, grabbing one and bringing it briefly up to my nose.
He must have been back since I slept.
Smiling gently, I head for the bath.
Rohan will shout at me for going on my own, but he went out when Nora came.
I heard him telling her not to upset me though, and the deep warning in his tone made me shiver.
Walking slowly to the bath, I strip and get in, loving how the heat instantly surrounds my aching body.
“Are you okay?”