Mixed blood

Chapter 16 : Cockroach

A drop of blood fell into the water, the deep crimson spreading like ink in water, staining everything in its path.

There was a whisper—a soft, ghostly voice-stay quiet

Luana jolted awake, gasping.

“It’s just another nightmare,” he murmured, brushing damp strands of hair away from her forehead. “You’re safe.”

But she hadn’t felt safe. She had reached out blindly, her fingers tangling in the fabric of his shirt, gripping it.

His breath hitched slightly at the desperate way she held onto him, but he didn’t pull away.

Instead, he let her clutch him, his hand moving to the small of her back, steadying her.

“It’s okay,” he whispered again, voice softer this time. “I’m here.”

And he was. All night.

When her fever spiked, he carefully pressed a damp cloth to her forehead.

When she whimpered in her sleep, her body wracked with chills, he draped an extra blanket over her.

At one point, she had cried. She didn’t even remember why, only that the weight of exhaustion and sickness had become too much. William had sighed softly, shifting closer. He rubbed slow circles on her back, “It’s just the fever. You’re okay.”

She barely remembered mumbling something—maybe an apology, maybe nothing at all—before exhaustion pulled her under again.

By the time morning came, her fever had broken. Disoriented, she blinked against the dim light of the unfamiliar room.

Beside her, he was sitting close, his hand steadying her arm, "You're okay. It's over, just breathe."

She blinked, focusing on him, her fear slowly ebbing at the sound of his voice. "Where...where are we?"

"We're in northern Italy. I rented a cottage for us to rest until the jet arrives."

She nodded. Her eyes moved to him, and she saw the exhaustion in his features. He looked like he hadn't slept at all.

For a moment, she just watched him, feeling a strange mix of confusion and gratitude. Her enemy. Her forced husband. He had stayed by her side all night, watching over her, trying to get her fever down.

There had been no distance between them, no coldness,  just the quiet presence of someone who genuinely cared for her well-being.

What was this?

Why was he doing this for her?

Why would he go to these lengths?

After everything, after the tension, the fear, and the betrayal, here he was, tending to her like she was someone worth caring for.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

William gave her a small, tired smile. "Get some rest. You need it."

She nodded and returned to sleep.

---

Luana stirred awake. She glanced around and found William fast asleep on the sofa, his head resting at an uncomfortable angle.

Quietly, she got up, took a spare blanket, and carefully draped it over him. For a moment, she watched him, noting how different he looked when he wasn't guarded, before heading to the bathroom.

The hot shower was refreshing, washing away the remnants of her fever and the chills from her nightmare. After drying her hair, she felt renewed. Stepping out of the bathroom, she saw William stretching, now awake and watching her.