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The jeering and cheering was muffled, but I still heard every rise in volume that no doubt heralded a particularly impressive hit. I just didn’t know who was, in fact, doing the most damage. I closed my eyes and forced my breathing into a slow and steady rhythm. My leg didn’t get with the program and jiggled the whole way through.
Finally, Valen stumbled in alone. He was bandaged, and cuts and bruises were already blossoming across his body.
He looked at me like he was surprised to see me. “Princess?”
I stood up quickly. “I was…waiting for Apollo.”
“You didnae come and watch?” he seemed to be teasing, his accent thick.
I shook my head. “Forgive me for not wanting to see you being a total idiot.”
He scoffed. “Would a total idiot win?” he asked as he went to his locker.
“Yes.” I unclasped his cross.
I walked over to him and put my hand on his arm. He turned to face me, a question on his swelling face. Even for all his stupidity and the swelling, he was still achingly gorgeous.
I held my hand out to him with his cross on my palm. “You should take this back,” I said softly, knowing it was the right thing to do but not wanting to lose the one part of him I could keep.
Valen’s eyes searched mine. I couldn’t tell what was going through his mind. I’d expected him to be angry or at least affronted, but he wasn’t. He seemed resigned. To what, I didn’t know.
“I cannae do that,” he said simply.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because it was a gift.”
“Valen, it was your m–”
He wrapped his hands around mine, his cross tight in the very centre. “It’s yours now, love. My mother is a shadow hanging over my life. You are a light. If it is to be a reminder of anything, it should be a reminder of us.”
I realised something. “You’re high, aren’t you?”
He inclined his head. “Aye. Nikolai can be a little heavy-handed with the morphine.”
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
He scoffed and gave a tiny smile. “Not right now.”
I fought my own smile as I nodded. “Then maybe now isn’t the best time to be talking about this.”
“It’s the best time,” he said casually.
“Why?”
“Because I have nae filter right now, princess. The demon that lives in my head and tells me what to say and what not to say is asleep. Ask me anything and I willnae lie to you.”
It was an attractive offer, but…
“You would never forgive me if I took advantage of that, Valen. I would never forgive myself. If there’s anything you need – want – to say to me, you can say it when you’re sober or not at all.”
He leant his head to mine. “You’ll be the death of me, love.” In his voice was an appreciation I didn’t think it would be possible to put into words had he even been inclined.
“And why now?” I asked, finding humour in this Valen.
“Because you’re the only who can save me…”
“If you let me,” I finished for him.
