Love And Betrayal | ✔️

55. Healing me softly

With shaky hands and clammy fingers, I pull out the ampoule from my pocket and fumble with the seal before drawing out the gold-like liquid with the syringe. Aden's breath grow erratic; just like his heartbeat. I lay out his palm open my thigh and find the delicate vein running up his arm into the pit of his elbow.

The antidote stings as it enters his bloodstream. Emptying the barrel, I pull out the needle.

I feel his gaze still boring into me as I rise to my feet.

"Come." I say quietly. "Let's get you to bed."

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The rest of the night is a blur.

To him at least.

To me, no amount of whiskey would help me forget.

I instruct one of the Omegas to bring us a first aid kit, while I rummage through his drawers. He stands behind me in silence, a towel slung around his hips. Water drips on the carpet as he waits.

"You can change." I say, wilfully keeping my eyes averted. "I'm not looking."

I hear sound of his footsteps moving towards the wardrobe. The sliding and shutting of sideboards. The soft exhale of breath once he pulls up his boxers.

My skin prickles. I ignore the flutter in my chest when I turn and see him without a shirt. Despite the smatter of dark bruises across his skin, like a burst of nebulae, he still manages to steal my breath away.

I pull back the duvet, waiting for him to slide between the sheets. He obeys wordlessly.

"Sleep, Aden." I dim the lights and sit by his bedside. His body shifts a little as if to make place.

"Stay with me." His hand reaches out to grasp my wrist. "Please?"

My heart constricts until it hurts.

"Okay." Slowly, I brush the hair away from his face, my touches lasting longer than necessary. "I'll be here when you wake."

His eyes close.

His breathing evens—his chest rising and falling in rhythm as he drifts off to sleep. A small content smile traces his lips.

A few moments pass before the door creaks open and someone enters the room. A tray of wet towels, some pills, sachet of ice and a basin is placed at on the bedside table. I turn when I feel a gentle squeeze on my shoulder.

Nellie.

Even in the dim light, I can see the emotion in her eyes. "You okay?" She asks me.

I nod mutely.

"It's late, you should get some rest." Her gaze travels briefly towards Aden's sleeping form before returning to me. "Finally. You should've seen him when he heard you had gone without him. Gods, he was furious."

I went for him, I want to say.

I don't, of course.

"Well, he has always been an obstinate bastard." I force out a light chuckle instead.

"Mhm." She hums with an all too knowing look. "Clearly, gets that from his father— who, hasn't stepped into the room even once since he fell sick. He was so afraid his son's contagious."