Chapter 63
The bruises still throb when I wake. Every breath is a reminder of what Amel is going through. What Mara is doing to him.
1st plowly old twin bed creaks even though I don’t weigh much. Cold light filters in through the curtains, and there’s no / Beta is already up. He stands at the window, shirtless, the pale morning casting silver across his bareback
The scars from the dungeon are gone. But the weight of everything is
He’s staring out over the frost–covered yard. Silent Still. The muscles in his shoulders flax every time he breathes
“Couldn’t sleep?” Task sohi
He doesn’t turn. “Didn’t want to ”
my arms around myself as I join him. The house smells
Inse, wrapping my a
hollow. Like something waiting to be filled.
“We need to leave soon,” I say “if we’re going to wach the valentine park by the full res
Axel finally turns. His green eyes are dark with purpose. “can’t p
I narrow my eyes. “Then we better pr
The backyard is covet
frigid wind biting at our skin
I shed my jacket.
Jarl is standing
Axel in bed with me. My
ut I’ve gotten used to it again and more like dust. It feels
til we’re ready”
the skaletal apple from and don’t give a flipping fuck about the
Body is carved muscle, solid, and imposing whetting sculpted by ancient gods. Hugs, calm, powerful
“Ready?“he
“As I’ll ever be
We begin. Stoke Dodge Pivot i swing but he grabs
shocked at how fast I’m defeated, but I shouldn’t
Datora i can blink. My back hits the ground with a soft mud. I’m
thens, towering över me
We train fox hours. My body aches, but I keep going Awel doesn’t go easy on mot en when he notice how red Lam. He teaches me with patience, though Connects my stance, guides my hips) chow to use my smaller frame to my a
“Thinki
At one point, he pita me
“Quick Sharp, Aim for soft spots. Breatha before the hit.”
, and i can barely move. His body is so much larger than minai thị
u’re dangerously close to flirting
o hin, legs, finally krigsking him off balance. He lands in the show with a grunt and a surprised laugh
Chapter 63
gin “Thanks 1 imagined you were Paris.”
He laughs again. “I’m happy you’re more angry at her than with me.”
What is he talking about? “I’m not angry at you.”
Surprise fill his face. “No“”
Seriously? We have been through so much, and he thinks I’m mad at him?!
“I’m over the past. Avel.” And he should know that.
“Oh…so then you’re not just keeping me around because I’m big and strong?”
“What? No! Of course not!” He can’t be thinking that, right?
“What’s the reason for keeping me around then?”
“Uh, your loyalty and the fact that we’re… I trail off when I realize he is grinning and most definitely messing with me.
His grin is huge. “Friends”
My face burns. “You’re just fishing for me to say sweet things
He chuckles. “I’m not
“You are because you already know that you’re my best friend!”
Instead of grinning, he smiles. “And you’re mine.”
…he is too charming for his own good.
We keep training for a while, But fighting Axel is exhausting. Soon we both collapse on the snow, panting. My arms are resting on his chest while he is down on his back. It feels…right. Like a rhythm we’ve found together.
“I’m proud of you,” he says.
My chest tightens since I am not used to compliments. “For what?“)
“For surviving. For not letting the world break you.”
I blink hard. “You helped.”
He nudges me gently. “You didn’t need me. You just needed someone who believed in you.”
Later, we go inside and warm our hands near the fire. The soup is bland, but we eat it gratefully. I stare into the bowl. Steam is rising from it in ghostly
bendrils
“You think, Azriel’s still holding on?” I ask
Axel’s voice is low. “He’s too stubborn to die”
My lips twitch, but on the inside, I fear for him
Mara better not kill him.
That night, I shower and slip into a hoodie two sizes too big. We both sleep in the same bed again, fully clothed, When i lie down, Axel is already under the blanket, on his side, watching me.
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Chapter 63
“You good?” he asks.
“No,” I whisper. “T’m scared.”
1 curlup. He doesn’t touch me, but his warmth is enough.
Sometime later, I fall into another dreams about Azriel.
He’s still nailed to the wall. Chains digging into his flesh. His wings torn. Blood soaks the stone floor.
Mara’s voice is cruel. “Where is she? Just give me a nansel”
Ariel doesn’t speak.
She steps behind him, whispers something, then slices opens his back again. The mate bond makes us share the pain, and I wake up screaming
Avel grabs me instantly, wrapping his arms around me. “Eden! What happened?”
“Another dream… He’s dying,” I gasp. “He won’t tell her where I am. And she’s… she’s tearing him apart.”
My nose bleeds. My back burns like something invisible just carved into it. I curl against Axel, and for a moment, all I want is to be held.
He doesn’t say anything at first. Just pulls me closer
“What are we even doing, Axel?” I whisper. “We said we were going to defeat Logan and take over the Valentine pack, but.. it feels the we’re wasting
figured we needed to train.”
“I agree, but…I don’t think we have time.”
He breathes in slowly, like my words hurt. “Then I promise that we will go to the Valentine pack tomorrow. If Logan won’t help us willingly, I’ll challenge
him. That was always the plan.”
“And if you lose?”
won’t”
A long silence.
Then a knock at the door downstairs.
Hook at Axel. He stands, and I follow him down the stairs. He opens the door with every muscle tense and ready for war,
What I see
Traitor
makes my stomach churn.
Former best friend.
Elvira
Soaked. Bruised. Shivering. Her blonde hair is a freaking mess. Her once perfect eyeliner smudged.
- I have no idea what happened to her. It almost looks like she has been in a prison cell herself.
My eyes narrow, but I don’t ask what she’s doing here. She answers that question hersell
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“You’ll need more than strength to beat Logan,” she rasps. “You’ll need me.”
