"I'm sure he does." I shift slightly, ignoring the pull through my abdomen, and meet his eyes. "He deceived me once and that is exactly why I trust nothing he says. And him claiming he could ever have any part of me is laughable." Something in Colsar holds tight and I do not soften it. "And you getting upset over it is ridiculous. He deals in manipulation and advantage. That is what this is. He provoked you deliberately."
"Yes."
"And you almost killed him."
"Yes."
Fiorakis continues feeding, completely content. I reach for Colsar, my hand coming to his face, and he goes still under the touch.
"You should have let him talk," I say quietly.
"I am not interested in anything he has to offer."
"That does not make it untrue."
Silence stretches between us.
Then, "He also said that eventually you would see me for what I am and leave."
I look at him. At the blood. At the bruising. At the way he is still holding himself together by force.
"And?" I say.
He does not answer.
I let my thumb brush lightly across his jaw. "There is not a single part of me that is going anywhere. Not after everything it took to get here."
Fiorakis makes a soft sound against him, still feeding. Colsar looks down at her, then at Ari, then back at me.
"He thinks I would lose you," he says.
"You nearly did," I say. His eyes lift. "But not to him."
That sits between us. He exhales once and some of the tension eases.
"I will deal with him," he says.
"No." His attention returns fully. "We will deal with him," I correct.
He watches me. Then nods once.
Fiorakis finally loosens her grip, her mouth slipping free as she lets out a small satisfied sound. Colsar pulls his wrist back, wipes the blood lightly with his thumb, and adjusts her against his chest. She presses into him completely content.
He looks down at her. Then at Ari. Then back at me. "You should rest."
"I am talking to you."
"You can do both."
I almost smile. Almost. "I will," I say.
He moves closer as I ease back against the pillows, his hand at my back guiding me down. The pain pulls again but once I am still it becomes something I can manage.
He remains beside the bed, Fiorakis in his arms, Ari within reach.
"You should clean that," I say, nodding toward the blood on his face.
"It can wait."
