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The Werewolf King snarled at me. “I’m sorry for what I did.” He snarled again. “Son, stay with me.” He swiped his claws across my body, ripping my head from my body. I saw it on the floor, staring back at me with a horrified expression.
I jerked upright and stared at a dark wall, breathing hard, my clothes soaked in sweat. It took several seconds for me to understand I was in a bedchamber. Moonlight came through the open window. I had no idea where I was, but I knew I was alive.
Kingsssnake, I’m here. Fang propped himself up on the bed, his yellow eyes like glowing candles in the dark. He didn’t slide over my body to come closer to me, out of fear of touching me.
“Larisa….” I searched for her, finding her asleep in the chair at my bedside.
Ssshe hasssn’t ssslept in four days.
“I’m alive…”
Yessss.
Fang must have woken her up, because she gave a jolt as she awakened, her eyes snapping open and searching for mine. When our eyes locked together, she gave a gasp so deep it was like she’d been underwater until her lungs begged for air. She left the chair and came to me, her hands cupping my face as the tears streaked down her cheeks.
My eyes watered as I watched her weep for me, witnessed all the pain I caused. “I’m sorry—”
“It’s okay. You’re here.” She brought her face to mine and pressed a kiss to my forehead, being as gentle as possible, like I was fragile as glass. “You’re here with me.”
* * *
I sat up on the pillows Larisa had provided for me, conscious but still in serious pain. When I moved my leg, I cringed when I realized it was still broken. So was my shoulder. So were my ribs. If I was better than I’d been five days ago, I couldn’t tell the difference.
Viper was the first to see me. He came to my bedside and reached for my shoulder, but at the last second, he thought better of it. He withdrew his hand before he touched me. “How do you feel?”
“Terrible.” The worst I’d ever felt, at least physically.
Fang was coiled into a ball at my side, staying with me every moment of every day.
Larisa had fallen asleep in the chair again after she’d notified everyone that I was awake.
Viper glanced at her, her small body curled up into the armchair. “Maybe I should come back later.”
“I think she’s knocked out cold,” I said. “First time she’s let herself sleep deeply in five days.”
He nodded. “Yeah, she’s been a mess.” Viper had never been good with words, and he wasn’t good with them now. “I’ve never been so scared.”
“I know.”
“I didn’t know what would happen.”
“I’m surprised I’m alive, to be honest.” When I’d closed my eyes for the last time, I thought that was the end. “What’s happened?”
“Larisa didn’t tell you?”
“We didn’t say much…” It was all stares and tears. There would have been lovemaking if I were capable of it.
“The werewolves fled the kingdoms after you killed that dog. Father took the crown, saying his subjugation is a fair trade for their liberation. Their way of life won’t change as long as they pay him for his sacrifice.”
“Why am I not surprised…”
“How did the Werewolf King get that big?”
“No idea.” I couldn’t believe I’d lasted as long as I did. “Did you chase them down?”
“We let them go. We were more focused on you.”
I nodded in understanding.
