A sweet coo came from the balcony; the raven was back. I nearly tripped over myself to get the message.Dammit, Eva. Get it together.
“Just a few bruises, some cracked ribs, and a throbbing head.”I scowled before continuing the letter, vaguely remembering his attack as I was dragged away.“Keep your head up and remember to be careful of who you trust. I’m here if you need me.”
I re-read that last line, smiling. I quickly folded the note and went to send the raven on its way, giving it a quick stroke before it left. It stared at me attentively as I lifted my hand, and it met me halfway, leaning into my touch. I stepped away, heading for my bed. As I turned around to give it one last glance, the bird was gone, and I suddenly felt so alone.
21
DAMIEN
Ifucked up. I fucked up big time.
There was no way to deny it, not after what just happened. What I’d said. By the gods, she would never forgive me. But seeing them together today… They were laughing. Enjoying each other’s company. I couldn’t have that. No, not at all. Eva was supposed to bemine. Although, I think I single-handedly destroyed that already.
Luka dragged me out of Eva’s room, but all I could see as he escorted me to the medical wing was her face. Her tortured, troubled face. I’d done that. Because I was so blind with jealousy and rage.
I’d never felt a surge of anger like that before. Never. Not when my mother died, not any of themanytimes I’d professed my love to Eva.Never. The feeling had come out of nowhere, clouding my vision. I saw nothing but swirls of red and black. There was only a vague memory of what I’d said, like I’d repressed it. Fuck, maybe I did.
I laid down on the bed and stared at the ceiling, watching as the flames of the candles danced along the walls. There wasn’t a single thing that didn’t remind me of her. Even the fact that I was here in the medical wing made me think of her. Of course, she did put me here. But I deserved that after the way I acted.
“Luka?” A soft voice echoed through the enormous room. “W-What happened?” Erina ran up to us. I gasped as her icy hands touched my skin. Eva’s hands were warm, they were always warm.
I took in the way she worked, cutting my shirt from my body carefully as threads were singed to my skin. It hurt like a bitch, but I gritted my teeth and tried to remain silent. She glanced between Luka and me nervously. Like she didn’t quite know what to do in the presence of two men. I would have laughed if she wasn’t tearing my damn skin up. I think Luka always had a crush on her, but he did nothing about it. He watched her privately from the sidelines, just like everything else he’d done in his life. Her eyes remained on me, though, ensuring every touch was made with care and precision.
“Well? Are you two idiots going to tell me what you’ve gotten yourselves into?” She demanded, tying the last knot in the bandage at my side. I winced as she pulled it tight before patting the area.
“What the hell, Erina?” I gasped from the pain. She’d been so kind until now.
She stepped back and put her hands on her hips. Her eyes drifted between the two of us, and I didn’t know what to say. She and Eva weren’t close by any means, so it wasn’t like the two girls would run to each other and gossip. I didn’t even know if she knew Eva was back.
“Eva…” I began, but she froze at the mention of her sister’s name.
“What?” she whispered. “What about Eva?”
Luka stepped up out of the shadows. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back and looked between us. “She attacked him.”
This would not end well.
Erina stepped back, evidently shocked. She laughed. It was a small girlish laugh, something done out of nerves. “I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I must be hearing things. I thought you said Eva, our Eva… You know, my sister. Well, I thought you said she attacked you.” She looked at me from under dark, thick lashes. I’d never noticed before, but her eyes were blue. A color as deep as the ocean.
Luka shrugged. “That’s what I said. Because that’s what happened.”
“Why would she do that?” She sat down at the edge of my bed and laid her hand on my leg. I stiffened under the intimate touch, but I didn’t move away.
Even though I knew I should.
I looked down at my hands, uneasy about what I was going to admit. “I… I said some things I shouldn’t have. It was all a mistake. It happened so fast; I didn’t even feel it.” That was a lie. One I hoped she wouldn’t see through. It had hurt like a bitch.
I hadn’t even told Luka what had happened. Not really. He’d busted in at the last second to save my ass. Talked Eva out of killing me. When we left, he’d asked me what happened. Repeatedly he’d asked, but I refused. I didn’t want to admit what I’d said to her. I’d called her a fucking whore. She would never forgive me, and I wouldn’t deserve it even if she offered it to me.
“My gods…” Erina whispered. “I did not know she was capable of such violence.” She shook her head. Her hand came up to wipe her brow. “I’m so sorry, Damien.”
I looked at Luka, who shook his head at me. We didn’t need to discuss anymore than we had. My hand reached out toward Erina’s. “It’s okay.” I gestured down my body with my free hand. I felt her eyes raking down every inch slowly. “Thanks to you, I’m good as new. Send me out to the battlefield right now. I’m fit as a fiddle.”
She laughed. An actual laugh this time. But she stayed and lingered by my bedside until I couldn’t hold my eyes open any longer.
* * *
I woke up in agony.Heat radiated down every inch of my body as I writhed in pain. My voice had been stolen. I couldn’t get out a single sound.
