Chapter Seventy-nine

CONTENT ADVISORY / TRIGGER WARNING

THIS NOVEL CONTAINS DEPICTIONS/STRONG IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOLLOWING THAT SOME READERS MAY FIND OFFENSIVE OR DISTURBING:

~ BLOOD

Libelle closed the door behind Eskil as a dragged-out sigh passed her trembling lips. She rested her head against the door, stared down at the brass knob and twisted the lock. The strong smell of blood stained the air as she turned around to face Eskil; his wounds needed treatment or he risked infection.

She led him towards her bed, silently directing him to sit down while she examined his wounds. His lip was cut, his cheekbone bruised, and his left hand bloody with a clean hole pierced straight through the tendons. His forearm was the worst. The dagger had not sliced cleanly through his limb, but by pulling his arm from the chair, he had inflicted more damage.

She placed her hand over the bleeding wound, a faint and familiar glow emitting from her palm as she once again used magic to heal him. Eskil watched her quietly, his energy sapped by the effects of the magic the gods had gifted her with. Her rage seemed to have subsided, and her expression looked tender as she sat beside him.

Eskil followed a tear that fell from her long lashes and traveled down her rosy cheek. Another tear followed, then another, and not long after, a current of tears she could not control rushed down her face. Instinctively, he pulled her into his lap and against his chest, stroking her damp hair and whispering comforting words to her.

"Calm yourself, my little elf, calm down," he cooed. "Shhh, I am alright."

Her body shook with her tears as her slender arms wrapped around his neck. He gently rubbed her back, his hand still needing to be healed as blood attempted to stain the red silk fabric.

"Shhh," he whispered again. "Calm down, I am alright! My wounds are not serious."

She sniffed back her tears, the effort futile as the salty liquid dampened his shirt.

He kissed her temple, a faint smile on his lips. "Libelle, easy now. Beloved, look at me."

She raised her head, her delicate fingers wiping away her tears before she made eye contact with him. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

Eskil kissed her forehead. "Beloved, you have nothing to apologize for."

"Gaalin, he-he hurt you. If I hadn't left—"

"If you hadn't left he would have grown suspicious, and like you said, we'd both be on our way to the chopping block if someone were to find out about us. I understand you separated us to protect us. Just because grey skin felt like throwing a tantrum, doesn't make it your fault."

He kissed her nose this time as she stared up at him, her eyes showing her pain.

"I felt it...I felt your pain and your anger. How is that possible?"

He pulled her back to his chest, his arms protectively wrapped around her. "Libelle, you're my lifemate."

Her arms wrapped around his neck even tighter. "What does that actually mean? I understand that it's similar to a soul mate?"

He slowly inhaled her scent. "Libby, beloved. A lifemate is so much more than what a mortal considers a soul mate."

"Explain it to me. Explain how I can feel this incredible attachment to you after years of fighting you. Explain how I lust over you, how I can't get enough of you, how I feel like I am growing to love you."

"I will. I'll explain everything." He pushed them apart so he could look at her face. "First though, let's tend to my wounds so I don't bleed all over your room. Alright?"

She lightly chuckled and nodded.