“Lady Belle said you’re supposed to stay in bed, sire.”
I glower at him. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine, my lord. We watched you stop breathing. We were there when your mate sobbed over your body thinking you were dead.” His voice cracks. “I think you’ve earned a day in bed, sire.”
The image of Belle crying over me makes my chest tight. And my poor staff… they’ve suffered enough because of me.
“Fine,” I mutter.
Gideon nods and heads back to the door with a grin. “Try to sleep, my lord. You look exhausted.”
“I’m not…” I sigh, cutting myself.
We exchange a look, then he closes the door. Stubborn old bastard.
I climb back in bed, but by early afternoon, I’m losing my mind. I slept, ate, stared at the ceiling for hours.
What I haven’t done is touched my mate… And it’s fucking killing me.
The bond in my chest keeps pulling, urging me to go find her, claim her, remind her who she belongs to.
When the door opens again, I’m ready to jump out of my skin.
“Belle, thank fuck…”
“It’s Rosalie, sire.”
I deflate and growl, “What do you want?”
“Just checking on you, my lord.” She’s bringing another tray. “Mistress Belle sent me.”
“She should have come herself.”
“She has, sire. Three times. But you were asleep.”
Was I? Wow, I must be much more affected than I thought… “How long have I been in bed?”
“Since this morning, my lord.”
An entire day without Belle. Without touching her, tasting her, being inside her… I’m gonna die.
“She’s giving you time to heal,” Rosalie hurries to add, pouring my tea. “Because she loves you and wants you healthy.”
“I am healthy,” I snarl at the poor girl. “I don’t need time. I need my mate.”
She smiles. “And you’ll have her, sire. When you’re stronger.”
“I’m strong enough now.”
“Are you?” She sets down a cup. “Can you stand without feeling dizzy? Can you cross the room without needing to sit down?”
I don’t answer, because we both know I can’t.
“Give it one more day, please, sire. For Lady Belle,” she adds.
I harrumph.
* * *
