Chapter 53 Patient 21

Chapter 53 Patient 21
After Alex took care of my injuries and took a vial of blood. She labeled it “Mystery Patient 21” So if anything came about it, I would be protected until she could talk to me about what it all means. 

The adrenaline was gone now. What remained was pain.

Every step I made made my body ache. My ribs burned. My muscles trembled with exhaustion. The cuts on my arms stung beneath the bandages Alex had wrapped around them. Even breathing felt heavy.

I passed everyone on my way back to my room but Luka stayed close beside me without touching me at first, like he was holding himself back on purpose.

“You’re limping again,” he said quietly.

“I noticed,” I muttered.

His mouth twitched faintly, but the humor didn’t reach his eyes. Not after tonight. Not after almost losing me. When we reached the stairs, I stopped dead.

“Nope.”

Luka blinked at me.

“I hate stairs now,” I informed him. 

A tired huff of laughter escaped him. “Fair.”

Then, without another word, he bent and scooped me into his arms.

“Luka—”

“You fought vampires tonight,” he said calmly as he carried me upstairs. “Let me carry you to bed, beautiful.”

I didn’t argue after that. Mostly because I was too tired. Partly because being in his arms felt dangerously close to safety. The bedroom door opened softly.

Warm amber light spilled across the room. The blankets were turned down already. Someone had lit the lavender candle near the window. The familiar scent curled through the air, softening the sharp edges inside my chest. Luka lowered me carefully onto the bed like I might break. 

Maybe I already had.

“You okay?” he asked immediately.

I almost laughed. That question felt ridiculous after tonight.

Instead, I nodded weakly. “Just tired.”

His jaw flexed like he didn’t believe me. 

“I’m going to grab you water and your medicine.”

“Okay.”

He disappeared into the bathroom for a moment before returning with a glass and the ibuprofen Alex left earlier. I swallowed the pills while Luka watched me like he expected me to vanish if he looked away too long.

“You don’t have to stare at me like that,” I mumbled.

“Yes, I do.”

The answer came too fast and too honest. Heat flickered softly through my chest.

Luka exhaled slowly and rubbed a hand down his face. “Sorry. I just…” His voice roughened. “I can still smell their hands on you.”

The room went still. My throat tightened instantly. He noticed. Of course he noticed.

“I’m here,” I whispered.

Luka closed his eyes briefly like the words hurt him somehow.

“I know.” His voice dropped lower. “But you almost weren’t.”

Silence settled between us. Heavy. We were Breathing and we were Alive. 

Then Luka carefully adjusted the blankets around me, making sure my injured side stayed supported.

“You should sleep,” he murmured.

Probably.

But the second he stepped back from the bed, panic flared alive inside me so fast it stole my breath. The memory of waking up alone in that stone room crashed into me. Chains. Blood. Cold hands. Darkness.

“No.”

Luka froze instantly. I hated how small my voice sounded.

“I…” My fingers twisted tightly in the blanket. “Can you stay?”

His entire expression changed. It soften in aa way I knew was only for me. Like something inside him cracked open at the question.

“Danni…”

“I know it’s stupid,” I rushed out quietly. “I just… I don’t want to be alone right now.”

A flash of pain crossed his face.

“Beautiful,” he said softly, moving back toward the bed immediately, “that is the least stupid thing you could’ve said tonight.”

Emotion burned hot behind my eyes. Luka sat carefully beside me.

“I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”

Relief hit me so hard it almost hurt.

“Okay.”

He shifted lower against the pillows before gently opening one arm toward me. The invitation was hesitant and gentle. Like he’d never force me closer.

I moved anyway.

Even though I moved Slowly, I was so happy to be able to lay in his arms. I sorely, I curled against his chest.

The second Luka wrapped his arms around me, tension I didn’t even realize I was holding started unraveling piece by piece.

Warmth and his scent surrounded me. Sandalwood and Citrus.

Him.

His fingers slid carefully into my hair, moving slowly against my scalp.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured.

“I know.”

His hold tightened slightly.

“You scared me tonight.”

Guilt twisted painfully inside me. “I didn’t mean to leave the deck.”

“I know.” His lips brushed lightly against the top of my head. “They tricked you.”

“I should’ve known better.”

“No.” The word came sharp enough to make me look up at him. “None of this is your fault.”

The intensity in his eyes stole the air from my lungs. Moonlight spilled across his face, catching in those impossible blue eyes.

God.

He looked at me like I mattered. Like losing me would destroy him. The thought felt terrifying. And warm. And dangerous all at once.

My hand rested lightly against his chest, right above his heartbeat it was Still fast and uneven.

Because of me.

“You came for me,” I whispered. Luka looked almost offended.

“Always.”

The word wrapped around my ribs and squeezed. My gaze dropped to his mouth before I could stop myself. His breathing changed instantly. Just slightly. But enough. His hand stilled in my hair.

“Danni,” he said quietly, like a warning and a prayer all at once. I should probably stop this. I was exhausted. Hurt. Emotional. But every soft thing inside me kept pulling toward him anyway. I was so selfish.

“I didn’t think I was going to see you again,” I admitted. Pain flashed across his face.

“Don’t say that.”

“But I thought it.” My voice shook. “And the only thing I could think about was you.”

The confession settled between us. Luka’s thumb brushed softly across my cheek.

“So what does that mean for us?” he asked carefully. I swallowed hard.

“I don’t know.”

The Truth. The Terrifying truth.

“But I know,” I whispered, “that when you’re near me… everything feels quieter.”

His eyes closed briefly like those words hit somewhere deep. When he looked at me again, the heat there made my stomach flip. Slowly, giving me every chance to pull away, Luka leaned down. His forehead rested gently against mine first.

Breath mingling.

Bodies warm beneath the blankets.

“You tell me to stop,” he murmured softly, “and I will.”

I didn’t tell him to stop. Not even close.

The kiss was soft and Careful.

Nothing like the chaos of the night.

Luka kissed me like I was something precious. Like he was terrified of hurting me. My fingers curled lightly into his shirt as warmth spread slowly through my chest. The world outside disappeared for a minute.

No vampires.

No fear.

No destiny.

Just him.

Just this.

When he finally pulled back, his nose brushed mine gently.

“You should sleep,” he whispered again, though his voice sounded wrecked now. A sleepy smile tugged at my mouth.

“You keep saying that.”

“And you keep distracting me.”

I laughed softly for the first time since the attack. The sound seemed to undo him a little. Luka settled back against the pillows, pulling me carefully against him again. His hand rested protectively against my back.

Steady and Certain.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured against my hair.

And for the first time since my world shattered apart… I believed someone actually did.