Chapter 92 Forever Isn’t Negotiable
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Three urgent raps echoed against the heavy bedroom door.
Ravial didn’t even glance toward it. His arms stayed locked around Leitana, pulling her fever-hot body flush against his chest. She was burning up, skin slick with sweat despite the stifling warmth of the room, yet she still shivered and whispered that she felt cold. He didn’t loosen his hold. Instead, he pressed her closer, one large hand gently wiping the damp cloth across her forehead in slow, soothing strokes.
Leitana tilted her face up to him, fresh tears slipping down her flushed cheeks, eyes red-rimmed and glassy. Ravial leaned down without hesitation, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead, lips lingering against her overheated skin.
“It’s alright,” he murmured, voice low and steady, though the words seemed to steady him as much as her. “You’re alright, little lamb.”
She gave a tiny nod, burrowing deeper into his chest like she wanted to melt into him, disappear inside the safety of his arms.
The door creaked open wider.
Rose stepped inside, balancing a tray carefully in both hands. The wave of heat slammed into her like opening an oven door—thick, oppressive, unnatural. She froze on the threshold, eyes widening at the sight: heavy curtains drawn tight against the moonlight, the air conditioner switched off, and Leitana curled tightly against Ravial’s broad chest, skin glowing fever-red, damp curls clinging to her temples.
Rose swallowed hard, the tray trembling slightly in her grip.
Ravial didn’t look up. His blindfolded gaze stayed fixed on Leitana’s face, one large hand cradling the back of her head, the other pressing a cool, damp cloth to her brow in slow, careful strokes. His shirt was soaked where she clung to him, but he didn’t shift away, not an inch.
Rose moved quietly to the nightstand, setting down the tray: a bowl of light broth, fresh fruit cut into small pieces, a glass of chilled coconut water exactly what the doctor had ordered.
She lingered a moment, uncertain.
Ravial’s voice came low, steady, without turning his head.
“Leave it. Close the door on your way out.”
No anger. No sharpness. Just absolute, quiet command.
Rose dipped her head. “Yes, sir.”
She backed out, pulling the door shut with a soft click.
The moment it closed, Ravial’s attention returned fully to Leitana. He shifted the cloth, folding it to the cooler side, and pressed it gently to the nape of her neck. She shivered despite the heat, burrowing deeper into his chest like she wanted to disappear inside him.
“I’m right here, baby,” he murmured again, lips brushing her temple. His voice, usually cold steel with everyone else softened just for her, roughened with something fierce and helpless. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Leitana’s fingers clutched weakly at his shirt, tears slipping silently down her flushed cheeks. “Mi cold… but hot… mi no understand…” Her voice was small, fragile, breath hitching.
“I know,” he said quietly, pulling her closer, one arm locking around her waist, the other continuing its slow rhythm with the cloth, forehead, cheeks, throat. “Your body’s fighting. But you’re safe. I’ve got you.”
She whimpered, pressing her face into the curve of his neck, breathing him in like he was the only thing keeping her anchored.
Ravial leaned his cheek against her damp curls, eyes closing behind the blindfold.
“You’re burning up,” he whispered, almost to himself. “But you’re still here. Still mine.”
He didn’t move. Didn’t speak again.
Just held her steady, strong through the fever, through the tears, through the terrifying fragility of time running out.
Because for her, he would hold the entire world still if he could.
Even if only for a little while longer.
Here’s your revised version with corrected grammar, improved flow, more natural dialogue, and a touch of emotional warmth to make it slightly more engaging and heart-tugging without overdoing it:
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A heavy silence settled over the room, thick and fragile, until Leitana’s soft, shivering voice broke it like the first crack in thin ice.
“M… mi scared,” she whispered, lifting her tear-filled eyes to meet his.
Ravial held her gaze, something ancient and unreadable flickering behind the black silk that covered his own.
“What do you fear, my little lamb?” His voice was low, almost tender. “Tell me… and I will crush it so it can never touch you again.”
A tiny, trembling smile curved her lips. She leaned forward and gently rubbed her forehead against the cool hollow of his throat, seeking comfort in the familiar chill of him.
“Mi Ravial,” she murmured, the two words carrying more weight than any confession.
For the first time in centuries, Ravial’s heart did something impossible, it stuttered, missing a single, startled beat.
She drew a shaky breath and continued, voice barely above a whisper.
“Mi will miss yu so much… when mi go meet Papa God.” Fresh tears slipped down her fever-flushed cheeks. “Mi not scared of dying. Mi scared of leaving yu.”
Ravial went utterly still.
The damp rag slipped from his fingers, forgotten, tumbling softly onto the bed. His next breath came ragged, an actual, audible hitch from a chest that had forgotten how to falter long ago.
Leitana’s small, burning palm found his cheek. Her thumb traced the sharp edge of his jaw with heartbreaking care. Those glassy, red-rimmed eyes looked straight through the silk, straight into him.
“Mi love yu,” she breathed, the words fragile yet perfectly certain.
“Not like sister loves brother.
Mi love yu… the way a woman loves a man. The way a wife loves her husband.”
The words hung in the thick, fever-heavy air.
Then something inside Ravial Ashbourne, something ancient, armored, unbreakable cracked wide open.
A low, ragged sound escaped him, half growl, half broken exhale. His arms tightened around her until she was crushed against him, as if he could fuse her into his very bones and stop time itself. His face buried in her damp curls, lips pressing hard against her temple, her cheek, the corner of her mouth, frantic, reverent, terrified….so terrified.
“You can’t say that,” he rasped against her skin, voice raw, stripped of every layer of control. “You can’t love me and then leave me. You can’t.”
His hand slid up to cradle the back of her head, fingers tangling in her hair, holding her like she was the only real thing in his endless existence.
Leitana’s tears soaked his shirt, but she smiled through them, weak and radiant. “Mi already love yu long time. Mi jus’… too scared say before. But now mi no want go without yu know.”
Ravial pulled back just enough to look at her, blindfold hiding eyes that would have been wild with panic if she could see them. His forehead pressed to hers, breath shaking.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he said, fierce and low, like a vow carved into stone. “I won’t allow it. Do you hear me? I’ll burn Heaven itself before I let it take you from me.”
She laughed softly, a tiny, watery sound and cupped his face with both hands now.
“Yu stubborn,” she murmured, thumb tracing his lower lip. “But mi happy yu mine… even if only small time.”
He made that sound again, deeper, almost wounded and kissed her. Not the controlled, possessive kisses of before. This one was desperate, messy, pouring centuries of hunger and fear and something achingly close to devotion into her mouth. She kissed him back with what little strength she had, fingers clutching his shirt like an anchor.
When he finally pulled away, both of them breathing hard, he rested his forehead against hers again.
“Listen to me, little lamb,” he whispered, voice rough with emotion he didn’t know how to name. “You are not leaving me. Not in five months. Not ever. I will find a way. I swear it on everything I am.”
Leitana’s eyes fluttered, exhaustion pulling at her, but her smile stayed.
“Mi believe yu try,” she said softly. “But if Papa God call mi home… mi wait for yu dere. Mi save place beside mi.”
Ravial’s arms tightened until she squeaked, then loosened instantly, terrified of hurting her.
He pressed his lips to her forehead, her eyelids, her tear-streaked cheeks, over and over, like prayers.
“Then I’ll tear the gates down and drag you back,” he murmured against her skin. “Because I’m yours, Leitana. And you’re mine. Forever isn’t negotiable.”
She sighed, a small, content sound, and nestled deeper into him, fever still burning but heart finally at peace.
And Ravial held her through the night, the devil clinging to his lamb with everything he had, refusing to accept a world that would dare take her away.