Page 131 of Taint My Soul

“How long have they been in there?”

“Almost thirty minutes. The doctor says he lost a lot of blood.” Cross explains.

“Fuck.” I run my hands over my head.

“We just have to wait and see.”

After a while, the doctor appears through the door with a painful smile on his lips. “Is he okay?” I demand and surge to my feet, heart thudding ferociously in my chest as I await his verdict.

“Unfortunately, he lost a lot of blood, and—”

“Is he dead?” I ask.

“He died once, but we revived him.” He gazes at me. “The surgery was successful, and he needs time to rest and recover until he’s awake.”

“So, he’s fine.”

“Yes.”

Relief washes over me in a terrifying jolt. I extend my hand to the doctor, and he holds mine in a firm grip. “Can I see him?”

“Soon. The nurses need to move him out of the surgery room.”

“Hmm.” I smile at him and settle down on the bench in the hallway. The doctor returns to the room to finish up with his team while Cross comes to sit beside me.

“He’ll be fine,” Cross says confidently, and I almost believe him.

He died. He fucking died.

Cross swings his hand around my shoulder and leans closer. “I promise.”

I sigh and give him a nod, even though a part of me is terrified of losing him.

The hospital walls bleed back in, and my memories retreat. I had thought that after two days of sitting at his bedside watching over him, the hollow ache in my chest would lessen. But it hasn’t. I’d only stepped out a few times to take calls from my father and Prince Kane.

I have to admit an axe split my heart right at that moment I found Mason barely alive.

I lean backward on the chair, head hanging low as I cross my arms on my thighs. A soft whimper follows, and my gaze snaps upward, every sense on alert.

Mason grunts, eyes flickering open, welcoming the light. I pull the chair closer to him, and he turns toward me at the sound. My lips lift into a smile, but his face contorts with an unreadable expression. “Mason, are you okay?”

He doesn’t answer. His chest expands, and he exhales with a whimper. “My body still hurts.” He answers after a pause.

“It’s normal to feel that way. You lost a lot of blood.”

“I think I woke up before, but no one answered.” He mutters, looking up at the ceiling.

“I should call the doctor.”

“I’m fine.” He extends his hand toward me. “Just stay here.” Electric sparks against my skin, and life floods into every cell in my body. The unfilled ache in my chest lessens, making it easier to breathe.

“I’m not going anywhere.” I close my hand around his arm.

“Can I have your jacket?” His voice cracks. He finally looks at me.

“Yes, of course, anything you want.” I shrug off my jacket and get on my feet. I drape it over his body, and his lips stretch into a soft smile. His fingers clamp the fabric, and he pulls it closer. “Feel better?”

“Yes, thanks.”