Saving Calen

15.

Aylah's POV

I wake up curled in his massive arms.

I look up to see him awake and looking down at me. I sit up and stretch out my limbs.

"How long have you been awake?"

He shrugs, "never went back to sleep."

I stare at him in shock. "How's that possible? You need sleep."

He gets up with some effort and starts to take off his shirt to check on his wound.

"I have insomnia, beautiful. In this life, it's kind of hard not to."

My heart flutters at the nickname. He gets one arm out of his shirt, but has trouble with the other. I move to and stand facing him.

"I got it, I'm just being a baby."

His jaw clenches as he forces his other arm to bend and twist in a way that looks extremely painful. I step in and put a hand on his arm, slowly lowering it. I bunch the shirt up and slowly maneuver his arm through it. I feel his eyes on me as he watches me like a hawk.

Finally, his arm is through and I tug it up over his head. His eyes fall to the floor as I can see every single mark and scarred skin extremely up close now. Most of them look angry and painful. One stretches from his collar bone, down between his chest and disappears somewhere along his ribs. I can't help myself, I reach out and trace it with my fingers. His eyes close as I ghost over it.

"How'd you get this?" I ask.

He takes a deep breath. "I'm not sure that's great morning conversation." He chuckles dryly. He can tell I won't give up. He sighs.

"My brother Caden and I were learning how to handle knives. It was part of our training. One day he was feeling very...angry. He started a fist fight while we held the knives. I fought back and got a few good hits in, but he was much better back then," his eyes get a faraway look in them,"anyway, he swiped my feet with his and I ended up on my back. Before I knew it, he was on top of me. He drug the knife down my chest because he said I needed to 'toughen up.' I guess if worked."

My heart twists in my chest at the story.

"And this one? Did they make you do it like my father did?" I ask tentatively, running my hand along the side where his family brand his.

He nods, "gotta know who to return the body to when I die." He says grimly.

I don't know when it started happening, but tears slip from my eyes. I step forward and bring his eyes to mine. He reaches up and brushes away a tear.

"Don't cry over me, Aylah. Save those tears for someone more deserving of them."

I bring his head into my chest and hold him. He doesn't move and I start to regret my decision. I start to pull away, but his arms envelop my body before relaxing into me. I start to run my fingers up and down his back and he practically purrs. He slouches completely into me as his hands rest loosely on my lower back.

...

It's been half an hour and this man's eyes are still closed.

"Calen?" I say quietly.

"Hmmm?" He hums.

"We should get ready or someone will be suspicious."

"Mmhmm," he agrees but doesn't move.

"Okay, so you gotta let go."

"Okay." Still nothing. A slow smile spreads across his face.

"Calen!" I yell while laughing. "We gotta go!"

"Then go." Is all he says, his grip around me tightening.

I fight off his arms to no avail.

"You're like a damn snake."

"Aylah!" My father yells from downstairs.

Calen's good mood drops as he instantly releases me and stands up off the bed. He starts throwing on his signature black slacks and button up, tucking his gun in his waist band and sticking his knives in a pocket on the inside of his shirt. He heads straight for the door without a word and steps outside.

I quickly get dressed and we rush downstairs.

"Finally," my father grumbles. "I was wondering how yesterday went. I heard that there was an attack? And that Riot got shot?"

I nod my head. "Yes, but they did their jobs." Is all I say.

My father bobs is head. "Anything else you'd like to mention? Dorian said you two had quite a bit of fun?" He smirks.

My blood runs cold as bile starts to come up my throat. I glance at Calen who wears a blank expression, but his shoulders are all too tight and his jaw is clenched.

I don't answer as I stare blankly ahead.

"Well?"

I force my mouth to move. "Yes. It was fun."

"Good, then we'll start planning the wedding."

I turn pale.

"Yes, father. May I be excused?"

He waves me off and I head to my room, not glancing at Calen.

Once upstairs I enter my room and try to shut the door, but he's pushing inside before I can.

"What did he do?" He snaps.

The rage in his eyes is unlike anything I've ever seen. It's dangerous and all consuming.

"Nothing." I know that if I tell him, he'll hurt him. In turn, that'll end his life.

"Aylah." He says, his voice sharp.

I can't seem to look him in the eye. I glance around the room. He steps forward and grabs the side of my face, forcing me to look up at him.

Realization spreads across his face as that same eerie calm that I saw the other day replaces the rage.

He steps back through the door.

"Calen!" I whisper yell, running after him.

"Stop, please they'll kill you." He heads outside and reaches for the door of his jeep.

"He'll get his first. All the rest doesn't matter."

He slams the door and starts the car. I run around to the front of the car and try to plead with him, but he's so far gone that he doesn't listen as he peels out of the driveway.

Fuck.