Page 76 of How Does It Feel?

“I believe that to be true with every fiber of my being,” he whispered with a conflicted look.

The room blurred together as everything started to spin.

I was going to faint.

“Stop it! Are you trying to impel my mind? Stop!” I pleaded.

“I’m not, Callie. You’re losing too much blood. Your human body has fought too long.” He pulled away suddenly, looking concerned. “Get on the bed and lie down so I can patch your wounds. Do it, or I will make you,” he stated, leaving no room for protest.

I had no choice anyway; I was about to collapse.

Only once he felt my body go slack in agreement did he step back so I could walk to the bed.

The edges of my vision blackened, and I lost the fight, dropping the candlestick I still held, and as I fell, my body went completely limp.

Strong arms caught me. My head lulled backward until something gently shifted, and my cheek brushed against warm fabric.

This close, his clothes smelled of black amber and cedar.

It felt like my body had been laid on a cloud. Maybe I had died finally. My body gave out, and now I was resting on a cloud in heaven.

“Stay with me, pet, your body is just in shock.”

I peeled open my eyes to see he had carried me to his bed. The few candles that remained lit in the dark room illuminated the wrinkled displeasure in his beautiful, pale eyes.

“Why put me on your bed if it displeases you so much?” I breathed, still feeling his arms under me.

“Human’s lives are so short and fragile. The weight of that has never quite occurred to me until just now,” he whispered as if to himself. “Lie back now and let me address your wounds or I will crawl inside your mind and force it,” he threatened.

I had no choice. Not that I ever stood a chance of fighting the towering Fae male, but now even less so. I wasn’t certain I could even sit up as the lack of adrenaline sapped all my energy.

“Stay awake until I tell you otherwise,” he growled irritably.

I startled, having drifted off.

I felt his warm hands gently ghost up my bare ankle.

“Stop. What are you doing?” A tremor pirouetted in my voice.

“I’m searching for your wounds. Settle down. You are safe now.”

Why was his voice suddenly so rough?

“Yes, of course. Safe at the hands of the Unseelie prince who wants me dead and just attempted to kill me?” I scoffed, trying to pull my leg away from him while I fought to keep my eyes open.

“Stop fighting. I promise that your life is not at risk outside of the trials. The rest of the court would overthrow me if they knew I deprived them of the entertainment of witnessing you die.”

I heard the smile in his voice. It sounded foreign, as if it didn’t show up often.

“Besides, you are the one who aims to kill me. At least you shall be rewarded if you succeed.”

“I am not trying to kill you, for the last time, Mendax, I just—”

Scalding pain shot through my body, jolting my eyes open. The feel of something cold dug against the wound at my thigh.

“I’m sorry it burns, it’s neutralizing the acid. Otherwise, it will continue to eat at your skin,” he said gently as he pressed a cotton cloth to another hole at the top of my thigh.

I fisted the black bed cover and bit down on my lower lip in pain.