Chapter 237
Chapter 237
I didn’t push. I couldn’t. Not when she was clearly struggling to keep her emotions from unraveling completely.
Instead, I shifted my fingers until they brushed hers barely there, just enough.
Her breath hitched, but she didn’t pull away.
I forced myself up a little straighter and put my hand over hers. She took my hand, laced her fingers between mine, and held tight.
“I should have checked on you,” she said softly. “Two days ago, I had a vision of you getting hurt. It was different from the dreams and the memories, but I… I was afraid to talk to you about it. Afraid to reach out to you. If I had, maybe this wouldn’t have happened p>
“Ellie,” I said softly, squeezing her hand. “This is not your fault. Even if you had warned me that I was in danger, it wouldn’t have changed what happened. I don’t send my people into battle alone and I wouldn’t have hesitated to help Cassian. You know that p>
She looked at me with an almost desperate, seeking gaze. I could tell that she wanted to argue with what I’d said, but she knew I was telling the truth.
I had always gone into battle with my warriors. If I knew that there would be trouble,
I was there. I wasn’t the kind of leader who would send my people to face danger that I wasn’t willing to face myself.
And the decision to protect Cassian was instinctive, immediate. There wasn’t even time to consider it, so knowing that it was coming wouldn’t have stopped me.
I could explain all of that to her if I had to, but I saw the way her shoulder lowered just a fraction as she gave up the fight.
I felt relieved and guilty to see how quickly the fight left her. I didn’t want to fight with her, but I could see how heavily this was weighing on her.
“I didn’t want to worry you,” I murmured. “But when Cassian sent word about the rogues… I knew it had to be Felicity. Or someone tied to her. I thought if I got there first I could stop it before anyone else was hurt. Keep them as close to the border as possible. Keep everyone safe.
“You did.” Her voice was soft, almost reverent. “You saved Cassian p>
I gave a faint nod, though my eyes didn’t leave her face. “That’s not who I meant.” Her breath caught.
The air shifted – charged with something tangible. Her heartbeat picked up, and I could smell the subtle change in her scent, warm and bright and overwhelming.
She wasn’t turning away this time.
“Nolan she whispered, warning and want tangled together.
I smiled faintly, exhaustion pulling at me again. “I’m alive Ellie. You don’t have to look at me like I’m already halfway gone p>
“I can’t help it.” Her voice cracked open, raw and honest. “very time things start to feel steady, something else happens. I don’t know how many more close calls I can take”
I wanted to reach for her, pull her into my arms, tell her she wouldn’t lose me tugged when I tried to lift my hand.
not again, not ever
but the IV
1/2
Chapter 237
+25 Bonus
“You’re stronger than you think,” I murmured. “You always have been p>
She blinked rapidly, her lashes wet.
A thick, quiet moment stretched between us too full of everything we weren’t saying. Then Ellie took a careful breath. “When you’re recovered… want you to come stay with me and the boys p>
My heart stopped.
For a second, I wasn’t sure I’d heard her right. “You mean-
She nodded, eyes softening. “You won’t be well enough to make the trip back to Silver Fang for a while and… I want you to get to know them. Really know them p>
Emotion surged through me so powerfully my throat closed I swallowed hard, blinking against a sting I refused to give in to.
“Ellie My voice cracked. “Thank you p>
Her smile was small but real · the kind that hit harder than any blade.
“Just rest for now,” she said gently..”We’ll talk more when you’re stronger p>
I wanted to say something else – anything else – but exhaustion pulled at me, heavy and irresistible. My eyes drifted shut, the darkness warm and soft this time instead of cold.
As I slipped under, I felt Ellie’s hand settle lightly over mine-steady, warm, grounding.
And for the first time in longer than I could remember p>
Sleep didn’t feel like surrender.
It felt like peace.
2/2