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My head is dizzy, and every bit of energy I have seems to be dwindling fast. Inhaling the night air, I push forward once again.
I finally stumble into the tree line I’d been admiring this morning and find a thick bush, burrowing my way into its center. Collapsing into the ground, I suck in gasps of air. I can’t keep my eyes open anymore.
“Aelina?” a familiar voice calls.
“Hunter?” I ask breathlessly, choking on his name as a ball of emotion clogs my throat.
I need to keep my eyes open. Is it Hunter, or am I dreaming?
“Where are you?” It’s the same voice, and I pray my mind isn’t playing tricks on me.
“Here,” I croak out.
I push and kick my tender body along the ground through the thicket of bushes. A rush of footsteps crunches on the surrounding debris and stops at my head. A deep voice curses, and then I’m being lifted against a familiar body.
“I’m sorry, Little Red.” Warmth is pressed to my forehead before white bubbles dance in my vision, and darkness swallows me up.
* * *
“Will she be okay?” Hunter’s concerned words break the blanket of silence.
My eyelids are too heavy, and I can’t force them open. Who is he talking to?
“She will be. Just a few stitches on her side, a couple of cuts that aren’t too deep. The bullet wound is a through and through, so it will heal nicely. I would recommend rest.”
I’ve been shot? What happened last night?
“Yeah, okay,” Hunter says, and a hand gently presses onto my forehead.
“I mean it, Hunter. She needs rest. After everything you’ve told me that’s happened these last few days, I’m concerned she’s going to burn out and harm herself somehow.”
How much more could happen?
It’s been three damn days since Hunter wormed his way into my life, actually, more like inserted. I’d hate to see what years or even another week together would entail. I’m positive I’ll die.
“Yes, I will make sure she rests. May will make sure as well.” Hunter sounds irritated at being told what to do, and it kind of makes me want to laugh.
Instead, a sudden bout of drowsiness clouds my mind, and my body becomes weighted to the bed.
Darkness envelops me once more.
17
Finally, my body feels as though a weight has been lifted from it, and my eyes slowly open. I don’t move too fast as I’m unsure how I feel.
So far, if I’m not moving, I seem to be okay.
My eyes dance around the area in front of me. I’m not in the original room where I was staying. This one has the same features as my own, though.
Someone groans beside me, and my head flicks toward the sound. My eyes bulge at the sight of Hunter lying there shirtless with his eyes shut. I can’t help but admire him. There’s a peacefulness to his features that I haven’t had a chance to witness.
He always seems so serious, like something is haunting him. His expression is always that of concern.
My eyes are drawn to the defined six-pack he has. I chew my bottom lip, my hand becoming twitchy, wanting to reach out and run my fingers over those smooth bumps. But I have an urgency that needs to be met—the bathroom is calling me.
I shift slightly, and pain radiates through my body, causing me to wince. Glancing down, I groan. A light sheet sits over my tender limbs.
Hunter springs up like a jack-in-the-box. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” His hands hover over my body, and his wild eyes inspect every part of me to check that I’m intact.
