Chapter 43 The Slave Brand on Nick
Anna's POV
Isaac was totally ignoring me, his grip on Nick's shoulder getting tighter.
Then, out of nowhere, Nick's hand sliced through the air like a ninja, moving so fast it was almost a blur, aiming right for Isaac's face.
Isaac dodged to the side, but instead of backing off, he stepped closer to Nick.
They suddenly froze. Now, there was a cut on Isaac's face, making him look even more dangerous and, honestly, kinda hot in the backlight, while his hand was wrapped around Nick's throat.
"Isaac!" I yelled, trying to get him to stop.
But then, Nick kicked at Isaac's waist, dislodging the dagger from its sheath, and both of them reached for it as it flew through the air.
In the end, the dagger's hilt landed between Isaac's fingers, the blade pointing down. Even though he held it so casually, I knew no one could take it from him.
Isaac's mouth curled into a smile, the cut on his face still bleeding, making him look super dangerous.
I stepped in front of Nick, my hands shaking like crazy, but I forced myself to look at Isaac with as much courage as I could muster. "Don't... don't kill him."
Nick, who was already hurt and in serious pain, had a look of pure agony on his face.
Isaac walked right past me, and I grabbed his hand. The blade cut into my skin, and blood started dripping down, warm and sticky, until it touched his hand.
Suddenly, Isaac let go, and the knife clattered to the ground.
I stared at him, shocked that he dropped the knife. His gaze was ice-cold, but for a second, there was a flicker of something else.
Nick, struggling to stand, picked up the knife and handed it back to Isaac. "Isaac, Anna has feelings for me, and killing me won't change that. Go ahead."
I looked at Nick's defiant smile in disbelief. Even in pain, he still had that rebellious look on his face.
I stopped Isaac from moving forward and begged, "Isaac, please." I didn't want to make things worse for him, especially since he had already risked so much to save me before.
Isaac turned slightly, his eyes showing a hint of disappointment, but it quickly turned into a look of complete indifference. He tossed the knife to the ground, where it stuck, half-buried in the floor, and walked away without looking back.
As I watched Isaac leave, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart.
Nick's voice broke through my thoughts, "Anna, you didn't have to risk stopping him. If supplies and intelligence aren't delivered on time, he won't win the upcoming war easily. Without my help, he'll suffer heavy losses. For his sake, maybe you should take me to a doctor first."
I took Nick to the hospital, where the doctor put his shoulder in a sling and a splint to stabilize the fracture.
After getting some anesthesia, Nick slowly fell asleep, and I stayed by his side, helping him get more comfortable since the splint was so heavy.
When I took off his shirt to help him adjust, I noticed a mark on his waist that looked like a family crest. From what I knew, only the lowest slaves had those marks. But with Nick's status, it didn't make any sense for him to have a slave's brand.
Feeling uneasy, I fumbled with the USB in my pocket; Nick had given it to me, but I hadn't had a chance to check it out yet.
To get Nick to help Susan, I had sacrificed myself, not knowing that Nick had already found the evidence and planned to give it to me.
Just thinking about those intense moments with Nick in the classroom, six times no less, still made me hesitant to recall them.
Nick was still out cold, and my vision started to blur as I leaned on my elbow, trying to stay awake.
"Anna." Hearing my name jolted me awake, a reflex from nearly a year of maid training.
I panicked and tried to get off Nick, only to realize I had fallen asleep on him, thinking I had been lying carefully on the edge of the bed.
But Nick's uninjured hand pressed against my back. "It's okay. Just stay like this."
Nick's upper body was bare, covered only in bandages, and I felt like I was nestled in his embrace. His muscles were so toned, I couldn't help but touch them. I could even faintly hear his heartbeat.
When I looked up at Nick, his breathing quickened a bit.
As I wondered if his heart would race like mine if I kept looking at him, Nick suddenly grabbed my chin with his uninjured hand and pulled me closer.
Just as he was about to kiss me, I gently pushed his chest. "Nick, I can't do this here. You're hurt. And yesterday, I was impulsive. I really needed someone to help me out."
Nick's chest heaved, and I couldn't tell if it was from anger or excitement. There was a tense silence before he spoke.
He seemed to laugh angrily, then grabbed my chin hard, forcing me to look into his eyes. "You like Isaac so much, so why did you protect me at all costs?" His voice was filled with a mix of doubt and frustration.
I could see the conflict in his eyes, a flash of vulnerability that he quickly masked with a self-deprecating laugh. "I almost forgot that you were still a virgin when I... when I was drunk. Anna, can't you forget about me?"
"Nick, you bastard!" My fingers trembled, but I couldn't help but slap his handsome face.
"Yeah, I'm a bastard," Nick responded indifferently, seemingly unfazed by the pain, and bit my lip.
I tried to struggle, but I couldn't break free from Nick's grip. I accidentally touched his shoulder, causing him to frown in pain, but it only made him look more handsome.
If his fracture got worse, I couldn't bear the consequences from the Allen family, so I was careful not to touch his wound, letting him do as he pleased.
His kiss deepened, forcing me to tangle with him.
I didn't want to be completely controlled by him like before, so I tried to take the initiative.
But Nick unexpectedly let me take control, only to swiftly regain the upper hand once I did, making it impossible for me to escape his rhythm.
In the end, I could only cling to his neck, kneeling barefoot in his embrace. For the first time, he kissed me with his eyes closed—fierce and utterly focused.
I was left weak from his kiss, my hands slipping down to hold his waist, but I accidentally touched the brand on his lower back.