𝐒𝐲𝐧 ┃𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

126. 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑

Queen

I snuggled against the warmth. My entire body was cold- freezing. The moment I felt the heat, I clung to it. My entire body was aching, every movement I made was a painful one. I heard thunder. Then water hit my face and my eyes fluttered open. Green eyes met mine and rage filled me all over again.

I hit him. Hard. Then a searing pain shot through the side of my face. He winced. "That'll do it." He flexed his jaw in pain before looking back at me. "Don't hurt yourself, Princess."

My heart did a double take as recognition filled my eyes. I wanted to throw my arms around him and kiss him everywhere. My entire body was setting off pistons wanting the same thing...but my mind...something wouldn't let me. He said something and then raised a brow. I furrowed mine in return. "Can you stand?" he repeated, his voice weak.

I nodded and he moved to set me down. My sleeve rose as I held onto his forearm and I withdrew. Not any quicker than I usually did anything and a raw pain pulsed through it. I winced and Syn reached out. When I flinched away, he dropped his hand.

"I'm not wearing the bracelet." He held his arm up. "I didn't realize that inside the barrier...we'd be connected again. I'm sorry."

He was covered in blood, from his mouth to...My eye caught onto his hand over his abdomen and I realized my own was in the most pain I had ever experienced. But I couldn't focus on anything but him. His grey long sleeve was a dark maroon over below his hand. He was still bleeding.

I reached forward, moving his hand. He winced when I lifted his shirt. The sight shattered my heart into a million pieces and I became still. Dozens of gashes covered his toned stomach, red painted his tattoos, and above all else...he was still bleeding. How was he standing?

"Does it hurt?" I asked him.

A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips and he tilted his head. "Not any more than you flinching away from me every time I try to touch you. I know he looks like me...did he do something?"

I shook my head, dropping my hand to my side. He nodded, his eyes fluttering for a brief moment. He shook his head as if he were fighting sleep and I took a step toward him. I didn't want to hurt him.

While I tried to decide how and where to touch him, he pulled me against him. His arm wrapped above my shoulder, holding my head to his chest. He was being careful of my broken arm, but as I wrapped both arms around him, I realized the pain had faded. It was faint, the reminder of it still there but it wasn't as paralyzing as it was before.

I was healing, but he wasn't.

I relaxed a bit into him. Craving that warmth once again and I closed my eyes, giving in. It slowly began seeping into my cold skin- slowly drowning out that darkness. The feeling was addictive. He slumped against me. "Princess.." His voice was hoarse.

"Hm."

"D-did you kill Lilith?"

I nodded against his chest.

"Okay," he whispered, running a gentle hand down my hair.

"Why?"

"Oh. Only because you're killing me too," he grumbled out.

I frowned, moving out of his arms. His skin was pale, his eyes a darker green as he coughed up blood. I did this to him? My hands shook as I tried to touch him and panic filled me when I realized I couldn't. I couldn't touch him. "Why didn't you tell me?" I held my hands together against my chest to stop myself.

"You seemed hungry."

Tears pricked my eyes. "You're an idiot." My voice broke as I realized that this was my fault.