Chapter 46 Once Kissed, Twice Shy
Being in pain didn’t stop Lyra from checking up on Dax. She couldn’t wait to see with her own eyes that he was alive and healing well.
Lyra stood outside Dax’s recovery room for a full ten seconds before she finally lifted her hand and knocked.
Her knuckles barely made contact when the door cracked open and a short, round-faced nurse poked her head out.
“Oh, it’s you,” the nurse said in a flat tone that almost suggested she didn’t like Lyra or expect her to be there. “Go on in, he’s awake.”
Lyra stood there stupidly, then exhaled, slipped inside, and shut the door behind her.
Dax was sitting upright in his bed with his torso wrapped so thoroughly in white bandages that he looked like someone who attempted a half-hearted mummy costume.
His hair was messy, falling over his forehead, and a small grin curved his mouth when he saw her.
“Hey, Dax,” she greeted softly.
His face lit up completely. “Hey. Look who’s alive.”
“I should be saying that. I wasn’t the one bleeding out, you know,” Lyra rolled her eyes. “Glad you’re alive too.”
He chuckled, then winced when the laugh pulled at his ribs. “Don’t make me laugh. I might bleed out again.”
Lyra shook her head and walked over to the chair beside his bed. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you’re very stubborn,” he shot back.
She raised a brow. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” He pointed weakly at her. “You didn’t have to carry me all that way. I told you it would hurt you more. Now look at your arm. You can barely move it.”
“Yeah, well,” she said, shrugging, “it’s just a little injured. You can thank my stubbornness, by the way. It’s what kept you alive.”
Dax’s grin softened. “Then I guess I owe you my life. Again.”
Lyra handed him the cup of water on the bedside table. He tried to lift it and failed, so she steadied his hand and helped him drink.
He sighed after swallowing. “I won’t be able to transform into my wolf for a long time. The silver from the bullet got into my bloodstream.”
Lyra’s stomach sank. “Dax, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
“No.” His voice sharpened instantly, surprising her. “Shhhh. None of this is your fault.”
“Yes, it is.” Her throat tightened. “If I hadn’t been taken—”
“Lyra.” He squeezed her hand. “I would never forgive myself if we didn’t find you. Or if, goddess forbid, something actually happened to you.”
Lyra stared at him, really looked at him. She could see the exhaustion, the paleness of his skin, and the stubborn determination in his eyes.
“How did you know where to find me?” she asked.
Dax shrugged lightly. “Let’s just call it intuition.”
She snorted. “Intuition?”
“That, and your scent.” He grinned. “You smell like moonlight, and that’s hard to miss.”
Lyra rolled her eyes, but her cheeks warmed. “Dax, thank you. You’ve always been there for me since I was reborn. I’m grateful for that.”
Dax’s smile softened into something deeper. “I’m always here, Lyra. I’ve always been here, and I’ll always be here. Anytime.”
As he spoke, his voice cracked and his eyes drifted over her face slowly, too slowly. She could feel them like warm fingers brushing her skin. Then his gaze stopped squarely on her lips.
Her lips tingled instantly. She remembered the kiss, his desperation, his trembling hands, the way he clung to her like she was the last breath he’d ever take.
She looked down, suddenly unable to meet his eyes.
But Dax’s fingers slid under her chin, lifting her gaze again.
“Are you afraid to look into my eyes, Lyra?”
“I am not sure—” Her voice cracked. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t even know what she felt.
But before the awkwardness could get any worse, mercifully, the door swung open.
“Sup, corpse boy!” Rex announced loudly.
Lyra practically jumped away from Dax’s hand.
Rex walked in with her braids bouncing and her face twisted into a fake scowl. “You really didn’t die, did you?”
Dax smirked and shrugged.
“I bet twenty-five bucks you’d die from that silver bullet. Now I’m twenty-five bucks poorer. You suck.”
Dax burst into laughter, then groaned in pain, clutching his side. “Gods, you’re terrible.”
“Good to see you too.” Rex marched over and pulled him into a hug despite his wince.
“Rex! My ribs!” he complained.
“Oh, shut up. Don’t blame it on the wounds. I’ve always been stronger than you.”
“Lies,” he muttered.
“Facts,” she countered.
They bickered like children, and Lyra found herself smiling for the first time since waking up.
After a minute, she stood. “I’m going to get some air.”
“Yeah,” Rex said. “That reminds me. I saw Ryker near the training grounds by the garage tank. In case…” She raised a brow knowingly. “…you want to see him.”
Lyra’s stomach flipped. She wasn’t sure she was ready to see him, and she sure as heck wasn’t sure he wanted to see her at all.
But she nodded and stood.
As she walked toward the door, Dax called after her, “Hey! Come see me more often, Lyra. After all, I nearly died for you.”
Then he winked at her charmingly.
Lyra shook her head, smiling despite herself. “I will.”
She stepped outside into the cool corridor and let out the breath she was holding.
Trying to regain some form of composure and dust away thoughts of Dax, Lyra decided that air would actually do her some good.
She took a few steps before she ran into one of the pack warriors. She’d seen him before and recognized him. He was a broad-shouldered man with a scar splitting his eyebrow down to his chin.
He looked her up and down with something ugly in his eyes. “So when will you stop causing trouble here, half-breed?”
Lyra blinked. “What?”
“You heard me.” He stepped closer, towering over her. “First you almost get Ryker killed. Now Dax?”
“Almost got Ryker killed?” Lyra’s heart kicked. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“Oh please.” The warrior scoffed. “Be careful, abomination. The IronFangs might tolerate you for now, but we don’t answer to some bloodsucker. Ex Luna or not.”
Then, with a menacing growl, he brushed past her, and she stumbled back as he left