Page 82 of His Sold Fated Mate

I wiped her hair back, tugging her body against mine. She felt cold even. I pressed my forehead against hers. “Aubrey, don’t go. Please, I need you.”

She coughed, and water spattered out of her mouth as she gasped for air. Her eyes opened, but they looked exhausted. She didn’t seem sure she was looking at me. “Klaus?”

I tightened my hold on her, feeling her shaking under my touch. “I’m here.”

She frowned. “You shouldn’t be here. That’s her plan.”

I didn’t care. I would give up everything if it meant she was safe. She was all that mattered to me.

I felt my anger spiking, and my mind glitched. I wanted to protect her, but another part wanted to shove her back into the cauldron.

I could hear footsteps around us, and I knew Victoria’s voice. But I focused on Aubrey. Her eyes were soft as she looked at me.

I felt her hand reach up, her fingers pressing against my cheek. “Is that really you?”

I nodded, grabbed her hand, and kissed her knuckles. Aubrey wrapped her arms around me, her arms shaking. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

I held her close, feeling everything she was feeling. I could feel her heartbeat and smell her. She smelled like vanilla. She was my salvation.

I pressed my forehead against her, and I felt my shoulders relax. I felt a shift as the air suddenly felt softer. Those hands that were clawing at me suddenly stopped. I didn’t feel that anger the way I did a moment ago. I opened my eyes, and Aubrey was staring into my eyes. I knew she could feel it. We were free.

Chapter 24 - Aubrey

“I’m taking her home,” Klaus said as he pulled me up in his arms. I frowned, trying to wiggle myself free.

“Klaus, I can walk by myself. I don’t want you pushing yourself.”

Jasmine shook her head. “We can’t have you guys leaving. We need to discuss what happened.”

“No, we aren’t discussing this right now. I haven’t slept in days. Aubrey nearly died. The last thing I want to do with you is stand here and discuss how you all fucked up!”

Klaus turned toward the door, slipping past everyone. His arms were holding me tightly against him. But I didn’t fight him. I leaned into his arms, inhaling his scent. I’d missed him.

I smiled softly as my eyes grew heavy while he walked. I wrapped my arms around his neck, letting his warmth wash over me.

“You should take a hot bath when I get you home. You’re soaking wet and shivering.”

I shook my head. I didn’t want anything but him and a warm bed. I wanted to curl up in his arms and just sleep. I didn’t want sex or his hands on me in that manner. I just wanted him and his warmth.

“I want to sleep,” I whispered, my eyes growing heavy. “Just deep sleep. Nothing else.”

I don’t remember falling asleep. But I woke up to Klaus placing me in his bed. He threw a shirt onto the bed and reached for my clothes. “Let’s get you out of these.”

He pulled my clothes off, stripping me naked. I held my arms up as he slipped one of his shirts onto me. He tugged the sheets over me, and I grabbed his arm, tugging him down.

“Don’t go.”

“I’m not.”

I moved the sheets, yanking at his shirt. “In bed now. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.”

He softly chuckled. “You give orders well.”

My eyes were too heavy. My body had nothing left to give. “Please.”

I felt the bed move as he crawled in next to me. His arms wrapped around me, and I rested my head in the nook of his arm. “I missed you,” I whispered, tightening my fingers around his shirt.

“I missed you, too.”