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CHAPTER29
JAKUB
Perfume lingers beneath my nose—a wisp of vanilla and a hint of musk. I breathe in deeply, drawn to the scent and forcing my eyes open.
Daylight streams through the window stinging my eyes as I blink back the remnants of the deepest sleep I’ve ever been under. I refuse to close them again, not whilst my heart is so utterly captivated by the most beautiful woman to ever grace my pitiful existence.
Christy’s here.
She’s standing by the window, her flame-red hair hanging down her back in gentle waves, the tips grazing against her arse as she gently rocks from side to side, her arms wrapped around Nala in comfort.
“He’ll wake up. You’ll see,” Christy says, rubbing her hand gently up and down Nala’s back.
“Are you certain? He looks like death,” Nala replies, biting her wobbly bottom lip. Her eyes are pressed closed as she rests her cheek against Christy’s shoulder.
“I feel like death, too,” I say, my voice sounding like metal scraping over stone.
“Jakub!” Nala screeches, untangling herself from Christy’s arms and hurtling towards me.
She throws herself across my body, her face buried in the crook of my neck as she sobs. I stiffen, not from the pain, although every-fucking-where hurts, but because I’m not used to such affection. It’s alien to me, foreign. My arms slowly come up, wrapping around her body as she cries and laughs against my chest, and a warmth spreads in my veins despite the awkward way I hold her.
“You absolute idiot!” she shouts, pulling back and gripping my shoulders, shaking me a little. “You scared me. Don’t ever do that again!”
I wince as her fingers curl into my flesh, pressing against the lashes and bruises that I know cover my skin like a patchwork blanket. Fuck, it hurts, but it’s nothing in comparison to the pain I felt waking back up in that cabin.
“Hey, go easy,” Christy chides softly. Her gaze is wary, as if she expects me to react with anger or spite.
“It’s okay. I deserve much worse than a hug,” I reply, shifting my gaze away from Christy and trying not to focus on how my motherfucking heart races in my chest just being in her presence.
Nala clicks her tongue, helping me to sit up. She arranges the pillows behind my back, swiping at her tear-stained cheeks once I’m settled. Perching on the edge of the bed, she shakes her head, her blonde hair whipping around her face as she moves.
“I’m yoursister.”
“My sister,” I repeat in wonder.
I was an arsehole to her after Renard’s funeral. I didn’t know how to handle the news or the way she’d looked at me like I was her saviour, so I’d rejected her and searched out One like a bad fucking habit.
“Hey, big brother,” she says softly, her fingers finding mine as she clutches my hand. Her gaze roves over my face and it’s only then that I realise I’m not wearing a mask. Habit makes me want to hide myself from her. Not because I want to protect her from seeing me but because I want to protect myself from her judgement. Will she see our father in my features? The thought makes my stomach turn.
“My mask!” I snap.
“It’s too late now.” Nala grins, tipping her head to the side. That one crooked smile easing the sudden rush of shame at having any resemblance to our father. “You know, we have the same mouth and nose.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good thing,” I retort, wiping a shaking hand over my face as I battle the need to cover myself up.
“What are you talking about? I’m glad I look likeyou. It’s physical proof that I’m not alone, wondering who I belong to.”
“You were never alone, Nala. Even if I might’ve made you feel like you were.”
She nods solemnly. “I know that. I knew your father too, remember.Ourfather,” she corrects herself. “I knew what kind of man he was and what would’ve happened if you’d tried to have a relationship with me even without knowing I was your sister.”
“I’msorry—”
She shakes her head, cutting me off. “For what, saving me? Don’t be sorry for that.”
“You know what I mean. I didn’t know who you were.”
“It’s in the past, let’s leave it there,” she says with far more forgiveness than I’ve any right to hope for. Despite her youthful exuberance, Nala has a wise soul. An old soul.
