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“Hey…” she says softly, grinning. “You’re awake.”
My heart tightens. “Mal?—”
“Is okay,” she cuts me off gently, her smile widening just a bit. “He lost alotof blood, but he’s out of surgery. He’s going to be okay.”
The relief that slams into me has my entire face crumpling, tears slipping down my cheeks. Anni starts to cry as well as she reaches for me, taking my bandaged hand in hers.
“Kir and Hana are okay, too,” Annika continues, her voice soft. “Kir came…close,” she says through a choked throat. “Like, really,reallyclose. He was septic when he came in. So he’s going to be here a while, but he’s through the worst of it. They’re both going to be okay, Frey.”
My chest heaves with a mix of emotions. Relief, exhaustion, the lingering ache of everything that’s happened. I turn my head slightly, taking in the sterile white walls of the room.
“We’re in London,” Annika explains. “Kenzo had everyone airlifted from that farm in Norway. You’re in one of the best hospitals here.”
I nod weakly, too tired to say much.
“How long was I out?”
“Three days.”
I’d bolt upright, but it would hurt too much. Instead, I wince, glancing down at myself.
Fuck, that’s a lot of bandages.
“It looks worse than it is,” Annika says softly. “That’s what your chief physician told me, at least. Mostly second-degree burns, but a few were third degree. Those were bad.” Her mouth twists. “You’ll have some scars, Frey.”
“I dunno,” I wince, grinning wryly. “They say chicks dig scars. Think Mal will, too?”
She snorts and smiles widely. “I know he will.”
Annika looks at me for a long moment, her expression shifting. “Hana told me…you know,” she says quietly.
I swallow hard. I know exactly what she means. I spent hours down in that basement wondering how I’d talk to Annika about the Kir thing if I ever saw her again.
“I don’t even know if it’s true,” I mumble.
Annika raises an eyebrow and smiles. “Well, if it is… That’s one hell of an upgrade.”
I grin, but before I can respond, the door creaks open. I turn my head, my heart skipping a beat when I see Mal shove it the rest of the way open and stagger inside, leaning on a crutch.
He’s pale, his face drawn, but he’s walking—if barely.
Annika leaps to her feet. “Are you fucking serious?!” she blurts, rushing to him, “Mal! You’re supposed to be in bed! You’re supposed to beunconscious, actually!”
“Yeah, not happening,” he growls, his eyes locked on me as he pushes past Anni.
When he reaches my bedside, I can’t hold back the tears. He grabs me gently, pulling me into his arms, careful not to hurt me, but I can feel the fierce desperation in his touch.
“Hug me harder,” I blurt, my voice thick with emotion.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he murmurs as his lips brush over my hair.
“I don’t care if it hurts,” I sob, clinging to him as tightly as I can. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he whispers back hoarsely.
Annika stands in the doorway, watching us. “Um, maybe youbothcould take it easy?” she teases, her voice soft and affectionate.
I laugh through my tears, burying my face in Mal’s chest, feeling his warmth, his heartbeat steady against mine. His mouth finds mine, and I whimper, choking out a sob as our lips crush together.
