Chapter 72: Nowhere is safe from Vale

It had been a week since Vale demanded that I enter the same dom-sub agreement I signed with Hawke with him.

Less than a week since Hawke also looked me dead in the eyes and peeled back the layers of my past like old, bloodstained bandages.

He told me my greatest ambition had been to kill Vale which didn’t exactly shock me. What did catch me off guard was learning I’d trained hard enough to handle the Vespera.

He told me everything, how we met, why we had that BDSM Agreement, the Nömad Ball, and how Vale kidnapped me at sight, how he imprisoned me for weeks in an underground cell for weeks, who turned Armen, and the situation that made him come back into my life like a ghost dragging chains.

He even explained how the Vespera dagger ended up in Mia Woods' possession and showed me her face. Just in case I stumbled upon her before I regained my memories.

He left for the gym and still hadn’t come back. I’m not clingy or anything, but I’m already on my way there to find him. He said he’d return within the hour but it’s been two. And honestly, I feel restless and bored without him.

He’s grown on me these past few days in ways I didn’t expect. I’ve come to love having him around. I like his piercing blue eyes, his dark, humorous laughter when I behave badly before he corrects me and kisses me, and the southern accent that slips into his voice when he’s extremely aroused.

We’d had more sex this week than I’d had in my entire life, and I wasn’t the least bit ashamed to admit I enjoyed every second of it. What fascinated me most was how every climax triggered a flashback of our past.

And it was always hot.

I didn't want to fully remember who I was, but I want to know who I was with him, and the nasty stuff we’ve done together.

When Hawke wasn’t with me in my private hospital suite, he was usually in the gym. Most days, he barely stayed there for 40 minutes. But today? He said he’d be gone for an hour.

What the hell was I supposed to do while I waited?

I didn’t have any books to flip through, and unlike everyone else, I didn’t have a phone to scroll mindlessly on either.

He brought me a journal last night after I complained about not having a phone. He said it was better to write down everything I do remember and try to piece together the rest, instead of being glued to a screen.

But if I had a phone right now, wouldn’t I have already called him?

I pushed the door open, and the scent of iron and sweat rushed up to meet me. It was empty but I could hear the sound of someone getting hit.

I frowned and picked up my pace, heading toward the noise.

Just as I turned the corner, Vale appeared from the hallway. He was shirtless, in a 2-in-1 gym shorts and his knuckles were smeared with dark blood.

The sight alone nearly made my knees buckle.

I didn't acknowledge him. I was too frightened to move or speak as he passed.

I feel rooted to the spot, fear clutching my throat.

The air was stiff and electric as our eyes met.

I didn't want to believe that it was Hawke’s blood staining his hands.

Immediately after he walked out of the gym, I rushed down the hallway.

That’s when I spotted the boxing ring. Inside, Hawke was slumped on the mat. He was paler than usual and struggling to breathe. His frame gaunt and his ruggedly handsome face bruised and streaked with blood.

He looked like someone had bled him dry and battered what was left to the brink of collapse.

“Hawke,” I breathed, hurrying to his side. “He did this, didn't he?” I said, knowing fully well this was Vale’s handiwork.

He looked up at me slowly, his blue eyes heavy-lidded and red-rimmed, but there was still a flicker of warmth in his gaze.

“I’m fine,” he muttered, coughing out blood. “This is nothing,” he added, trying to reassure me but I wasn’t feeling convinced.

Not when his face was split, his eyes barely open, and he looked like he had lost 30% of his blood.

A second later, his wounds began to heal right in front of my eyes.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away. I was captivated because it was the first time I would be seeing anything like it. It was horrifying. And beautiful. And completely unnatural.

The cuts had sealed themselves as if time had reversed. It had completely faded but his skin was still sheet-white and he didn't look like his energy was restored.

“Do you want to drink my blood? My blood might get you aroused, but it’s got healing properties too.”

For a second, he looked at me like I was the cure to everything eating him alive. Then he blinked, and his expression became unreadable.

“I can’t,” he said. “I’m not stable right now… If I start, I might not be able to stop.”

His gaze flicked to my lips, then quickly away. His jaw clenched like he was doing his darndest to maintain control.

“I have to rest in my coffin for a few days to properly recover my energy.” He said before he looked at me again.

“We will be moving into his house when I'm back.”

“Why? Let’s just leave here and the states in general if it's not safe from Vale.”

“Nowhere is completely safe from Vale.” He coughed again, and I gently helped him up.

“He has influence all over the world. People who would do anything to dine with him, or get turned by him. They’d betray their own blood for a single glance, and kill others for him to turn them. Love, family, loyalty. All of that means nothing when power like his is involved.”

He paused, his breathing ragged, but now standing on his feet on his own. I still had my arms wrapped around him, though, because I wasn’t ready to let go.

“Vale doesn’t need to lift a finger. All he has to do is let people believe they are alive due to his mercy and they’ll burn down cities just to stay in his grace.”

I shook my head. “I don't want to move into his home. I will be too close to him. I don't want to be around him.”

“I’m coming with you. That’s the whole point of this suffering. He’s agreed that I'm moving in with you.”

“But what about your role here? Won’t they need you?”

“Vale had temporarily released me from my duties as King of Miami.” He disclosed as we walked out of the ring, and a gasp escaped my throat.

“He’s a bastard.” I spat.

“You are right. He’s an unsympathetic bastard and he could have killed me today. But he wouldn't. He planned to abuse my little sister by selling her to the Harvesters if I disappear with you again” Hawke said, and showed me a picture.

In the image, a woman with rainbow-tinted hair was naked and covered in blood.

I was certain it wasn't human blood from the color alone. Yet it was the most degrading, and nasty picture I’d ever seen.

It was hard for me to believe this was Hawke’s sister and she was reduced to this by Vale.

“H-how could he be so insensitive and cruel?”