Darius rushed to her side when she started whimpering in her sleep. Serena was tossed around in the bed. He saw droplets of sweat slide down her face as she clenched the sheets.
She mumbled something, he couldn’t particularly hear what she said. He knelt by the bed, quickly wringing out the cloth and laying it gently across her brow. It did nothing to calm her.
He sat on the chair, pulling it closer to the bedside, twiddling his fingers. It had been about four days since he brought Serena to the castle.
He kept all his business close to the castle. He had gotten through the mountain of letters stacked in his office, written necessary ones, and signed the ones that needed his signature. All his visits were short and within close distance to the castle.
The farther ones he had delegated to Ryker, and the ones that needed his presence would be put off until he was sure Serena was okay.
His eyes returned to Serena. He adjusted the pillow beside her, even though it didn’t need fixing, it was a distraction, a way to make his helplessness feel useful. Serena clenched her teeth and grimaced before remaining silent.
Darius stood up, leaning over to check on her and to adjust the cool cloth on her forehead. She moved quicker than he expected.
Her hand shot up in a blur, fingers clamping around his throat with startling strength. Her grip on his neck made it difficult to breathe.
His eyes widened as he pried her hand off of his neck. Serena’s eyes fluttered open, and she remained silent, taking in the scene before her.
She gasped and pulled her hand away. Darius took some time to catch his breath. He turned to her, looking at her hands. Serena held her hands, trying to keep them from trembling.
He stepped forward, his voice low and gentle. "Are you okay?"
Serena turned to meet his gaze slowly. She shook her head and burst into tears. She let her head fall into her hands as she cried quietly.
Darius stood still for a few seconds, unsure of what to do. He had never seen her cry before, his heart ached for her.
Carefully, he sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her hands. She didn’t resist. When her red-rimmed eyes met his, he said nothing. He only squeezed her hands gently and then pulled her into his arms.
He felt Serena clutch his shirt, her tears soaking into the fabric. Darius held her, one hand smoothing over her back in slow, steady motions.
She pulled away from him, slipping her hands out of his grasp. He missed them, they were so warm in his constantly cold hands.
Serena wiped her face, exhaling in a defeated way. Darius watched her curiously. She had just suddenly woken up, grabbing at his neck and bursting into tears.
"The Moonseeker said it was a miracle that you were alive," Darius began. He wasn’t certain how to start the conversation, but he wanted to speak to her.
Serena licked her cracked lips, her gaze distant. "She is right," she said softly.
Darius tapped on his knee absent-mindedly, looking at the blonde woman. She seemed so down. Maybe he would get her a room full of apples to cheer her up.
"She didn’t tell me... what happened there..." he trailed off.
Darius had been stuck on the thought for the days Serena lay unconscious, finding her wolf so late in her life. By his assumption, she wasn’t younger than he was. So how exactly did a rogue survive without her wolf, seeing as her parents had died?
By some stroke of luck, that was what got her laughing. Serena wiped the last of her tears and looked at Darius.
"She is strange but kind," she said quietly. "I tried to shift." Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novelꞁire.net
Serena rubbed the back of her neck, and Darius was quick to prop a couple of pillows behind her.
"I could see that," he said. "You’ve been unconscious for four days now."
He didn’t miss the way her eyes widened and her brows furrowed. She shot up from the relaxed position she had been in. "Four days?"
He nodded. "I was starting to worry."
She scoffed, turning her face away from him, arms folding. "You worry about me? I doubt it."
Darius ran his hand across his face. She was right to still be angry at him. He had been an ass to her, treating her in an unfair way.
"I really was," he said, voice low as he reached a hand toward her shoulder. He hesitated then let it fall back into his lap. "Serena, I’m sorry."
She glanced sideways, eyes narrowing slightly as though she was weighing her options. Then she shifted to face him fully, her posture still guarded but less rigid.
"And how do I know you’re truly sorry?" she asked.
He rubbed his chin, his fingers brushing the stubble he hadn’t bothered shaving in the days she’d been down.
"How many green apples would convince you that I’m truly sorry?"
Darius held his mouth to stop himself from laughing at Serena’s face. Her body language shifted. She turned to face him fully, her eyes lit up, and she had a half smile on her face.
"A cart full," she said, after pretending to give it some serious thought. "Then I’d know you’re serious."
"Then it will be done," he chuckled.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked him up and down like she was assessing him for any kind of deception. When she was satisfied, she nodded.
"Well then, Darius," she said, voice lighter now, "I accept your apology."
"What happened with you?" Darius asked, leaning back in the chair he had pushed to the bedside.
Serena tilted her head, one brow arching. "With me?"
"Yes, you were moving around a lot just before you woke up."
Her gaze dropped to the pillow beside her. She fluffed it once, then again, as if stalling. "A bad dream," she said at last, her tone clipped.
"Ah, I see," he replied. It didn’t seem like she wanted to speak more, and Darius felt it was best to let sleeping dogs lie.
"Oh," Darius said, scratching the back of his head. "You’re in my bedroom."