Darkest, BK 2 of Lightwalkers (completed)

XV

Sin

The room was mostly dark when I woke again. Moonlight filtered in through a tiny skylight in the ceiling. I hurt, a lot. The lingering burn of silver in my veins ate away at what little strength I had left. I could feel the weight of the collar around my neck, but the metal wasn't touching my skin anymore. I reached up, hesitant to touch it, but brushed it with a finger anyway. It had been wrapped in a thick cloth.

I caught the sound of voices, maybe from the other side of the door.

"He's improving now, but it's too early to tell if there will be any permanent damage." It was the Italian.

"Thank you, Trey. For flying out here." There was a pause in the conversation, filled with what sounded like a kiss.

"Anything for my bella Christina."

I shuddered at the sweet exchange and turned over onto my side. That's when I noticed the guy sitting next to the bed. I tried to jump back in surprise, but all I could manage was to roll back, biting my lip in pain.

"Sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to scare you."

That voice. Even in the haze of pain, I knew that voice. I turned my head to look at him again, closer. His dark hair was longer than the last time I'd seen him; it fell loose, well past his shoulders now. The delicate features of his face were strongly contrasted by the stern glare in his silver eyes. He wore a black suit, the white dress shirt open at the neck to reveal a hint of silver at his throat. He sat still, with his back straight and one leg crossed over the other.

"Alexander?" my voice was rough from screaming. "What the hell—"

"Shh," he said, raising a thin finger to his lips. "Rest now, while you have the chance. We'll have to leave soon, and I don't think you'll enjoy the trip."

I struggled to sit up, my weak arms refusing to hold my weight. Leaving soon? I'd be leaving right now. I couldn't believe that he was here, but we could deal with our past later. We needed to get away.

"We've got to get out of here, Lex! These people, they're dangerous!"

Alexander shifted to sit on the edge of the bed, gently trying to push me back down. I could smell his cologne, the old smell comforting until my eyes fell on the collar around his neck. I couldn't pry my gaze off the cold metal or the thin line of old scars that lay under it.

I remembered wishing a thousand hells on him that night we'd fought and he'd walked out, but this?

"Sin, you're still unwell. Lay down."

I reached up, my hand shaking with the effort to touch the collar he wore. I fought to keep my voice even, but it still wavered. "Is that why? Is that why you never came back?"

Alexander's icy hand caught mine, his head dipping to catch my gaze as well. Those bright silver eyes, I thought they would burn my soul as sure as the metal did my skin.

Exhaustion rolled over me, and I closed my eyes. I couldn't believe that just sitting up had taken everything I had. Blood. If I could get some fresh blood it wouldn't be so bad. We could leave...

"Lex."

He pressed me back against the bed, and replaced the quilt from where it had fallen, gently smoothing out the wrinkles.

"Sleep, Sin," Alexander said.

And as I drifted off, I thought I felt a hand brush my face.