Chapter Thirty Three-Ready

My heart beat in my ears and synced to the rhythm of my heels on the slick tile flooring on the emergency room as I followed Robert down the hall.

As soon as the door to Logan’s room opened, Jacob stood from his chair, but all I saw was the pale, sweaty man on the bed, and my knees gave way. Jacob’s arms were around me before I hit the floor, and he pulled me into the chair on his lap. “He’s alright, just sleeping.”

Logan was passed out cold, a stack of bloodied bandages affixed to his chest and shoulder.

I couldn’t look, but I couldn’t not look either. I peeked up from Jacob’s arms, and whimpers came from my nose as I leaned over the snoring man. “Oh, Logan. Baby, I’m here.”

Jacob’s hand met my back and rubbed little circles on my skin.“It’s serious, but he’s going to be fine. It went straight through and didn’t hit anything important. Needs a couple days of some sweet little witch taking care of  him to set him straight.” 

I licked my lips and glanced back over my shoulder. “Do you know any?” He grinned, and his lip squished between his teeth until I collapsed onto Logan.

As Jacob hovered over me, his fingers went through my hair as I caught my breath. “They gave him something for the pain, and it knocked his ass clean out. You should have heard him talking out of his head, Tess. It was hysterical.”

“Did he..” I turned back to face Jacob, and my hand patted my chest. I was falling more under this Lycan’s hold, and I could barely believe what I was asking. “Did he ask to see me?”

His eyes narrowed before he smiled and nodded. “Of course, he did. You’re all he ever talks about.” His hands pulled me away and brought me to his lap. “Come on and sit down, Darlin. It’s been a long night.” He kissed the side of my forehead, and I rested my cheek against his chest. “You must be tired.” His thumb swept over the ring on my finger. “You know, I was hoping the night would end a little differently.”

I tangled my fingers with Logan’s as his hand hung over the side of the bed. “I could have helped you. This didn’t have to happen.”

Lips rubbed into my neck when he shook his head. “I know you like the action and shit, but this isn’t Savannah, and these aren’t witches. You’re at a disadvantage here. Up in these mountains and trees, there's a million hiding places. Without a good sense of smell and knowing the terrain, that hunter would pick you off in a second.”

Jacob was right about that; we witches liked to do our killing with more savoir-faire. Guerrilla warfare lacked a certain grace and dignity- at least what we considered graceful. Basically, anything that drew a person in and got you their trust so you could be up close and personal when they died. It’s all about the mind fuck with witches; psychological torture was an essential skill among our kind.

A twitch started in the finger wrapped in an oxygen sensor, and I brought my face to Logan’s. “Baby, I’m here.”

After a few blinks of his eyes, they finally stayed open, and he smiled for just a second before his finger met my cheek. “Sorry, Sweetheart, that shit they gave me kicked my ass. How long have I been asleep?”

I must have been just the ugliest sight the way my lips quivered uncontrollably, and tears dripped from my nose. “Oh, I don’t know, awhile. You were out cold by the time I got here.”

Jacob sat on the edge of the bed beside me. “I told her she was going to have to be extra nice to you for a few days.”

Windy, deep breaths came from Logan’s mouth as his eyes bobbed up and down, and he struggled to stay awake for me. “Yeah, that’d be nice.”

I brought his hand to my lips. “I was so scared, Logan. I thought you were going to make me a widow before I even got the big ole cake.”

Between drunken snores, he smiled and nodded. “Whenever you’re ready, Tess.”

I brushed the hair away from his wet forehead. “I am ready.”

His eyes snapped open, and he yanked the tube from his nose. “What did you say?”

Marriage meant not a damn thing to me at all, but I knew it was all they wanted. If it would bring peace and happiness to our home, I’d give it my best shot. “Yes, I mean it. I’m ready. Whenever you’re all better, we can have it in your parent’s garden or fly to Vegas or whatever the fuck people do. I don’t need to wait.”

Logan’s eyes darted behind me to Jacob. I knew if it were possible, if he wasn’t bound by his birthright and his loyalty, that he’d disappear with me tonight. I felt the sick in his belly over having to share me, but I wanted Logan no matter what. “Are you sure, Tess?”

I couldn’t tell him what I wanted to say, not with his brother in the same room. But this is our life now. In my experience, the fates are a bunch of twisted bitches who live to make you suffer, but I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction anymore. I was going to have what I wanted, even if it destroyed all three of us.“100%.”