Chapter 33 33- Never Let Him See You Lose Your Cool
LEXI
When Annie comes back, I immediately start pestering Blake until he agrees to go to his classes. He tries to argue that we don’t even have the same class, so it’s not like he can take notes for me or anything useful, but I refuse to budge. I point out that he should at least pretend to care about his academic future. He counters that his future will be just fine regardless. He kind of has a point. He’e clearly already wealthy as hell. He’s not studying to build some future career. Honestly, I think he’s mostly here because it’s kind of just… Expected of him. It’s no wonder that he isn’t super motivated. Still, we go back and forth for a good few minutes. Eventually, he gives in when Annie, very nervously, clears her throat and mentions that she’d like to apply another round of medication to my burns to make sure they’re fully healed by tomorrow. Which, by the way, is amazing. I did not realise healing magic worked this fast. The moment Blake processes that this involves me stripping down again, his jaw tightens and he abruptly decides that class is, in fact, very important after all. He reminds me, firmly, that he’ll be back the moment his class finishes, like he’s worried I might disappear if he doesn’t say it out loud. I wave him off, amused despite myself. Once he’s gone, Annie helps me carefully reapply the medication. As she works, she casually mentions something that makes my head snap up.
“When Blake comes back, you can actually leave the infirmary and head back to your room.” She says.
“Really?” I blurt out, far too eager to sound cool about it. She laughs as she smooths the last of the medication into place.
“Yes, really.” She agrees with a smile.
“Thank goodness.” I sigh happily.
“Not that I haven’t loved hanging out here with you, but I’m officially bored of lying around doing nothing.” I add.
“That’s a completely normal reaction. No one is ever really that excited to be in the infirmary.” Annie says kindly. She finishes up and steps back, hands on her hips, giving me a thoughtful look.
“Now, when you do leave, I want you to stay with your friend for at least a couple of hours. The numbing should start wearing off very soon. You’ll probably notice it any time now.” She adds. I grimace slightly.
“I should warn you, the burns aren’t fully healed yet. Once sensation returns, they may feel tender. Possibly uncomfortable.” She continues gently. That doesn’t sound great.
“Normally, I might offer you more numbing salve.” She admits.
“But considering you were essentially soaked in it earlier, I think we’ll give your body a break. You may feel some discomfort, but I don’t expect it to be severe. You’re healing beautifully.” She assures me. I let out a slow breath.
“Good to know.” I answer. She pats my hand lightly, warm and reassuring.
“You’ve done very well today. Go get some rest. And don’t be alarmed if things ache a bit, that’s just feeling coming back online.” She informs me.
“Alright. Thanks for the warning.” I say, already tired again. Sitting around here doing nothing should not be so tiring. I settle back against the pillows once more, staring up at the ceiling as the quiet returns. And then… Once again, I wait. While I wait, I basically replay that last interaction with Blake on an endless loop in my head. I knew that hanging out with a dragon could be dangerous, but I hadn’t realised it would be quite so hazardous to my heart. Seriously. What was that? I can’t decide if I’m completely freaked out or floating somewhere just short of the clouds. Maybe both. That has to be allowed, right? Excited and nervous at the same time feels… Reasonable. Healthy, even. Probably.
The next hour is… Uncomfortable. Not painful, exactly. Just wrong. As sensation starts creeping back into my arm and shoulder, it does so in waves, pins and needles spreading under my skin like prickles of electricity. My back feels tight and hypersensitive, like every nerve is waking up at once and arguing over who gets to scream first. I don’t think I’m really in pain, but I’m acutely aware of my body in a way that’s deeply unpleasant. Even the parts of me that aren’t red or visibly injured feel oversensitive. At one point I brush my finger lightly over my wrist, barely touching it, and I nearly flinch out of my skin at how intense the sensation is. I guess my body got used to feeling nothing. And now everything feels like too much. Annie checks on me a few times. I explain as best I can, stumbling over words, trying to describe the strange combination of numbness and too-much-ness. She nods knowingly and reassures me that it’s normal, that my nerves are just coming back online all at once.
“You’ll feel much more like yourself tomorrow.” She promises. That’s a relief. Blake arrives about a minute and a half after classes finish. Which is… Suspiciously fast. I strongly suspect he still skipped out early, but honestly? I’m too tired to care. And I’m not his mother. I can encourage him to go to class, sure, but hovering and lecturing him constantly isn’t my job. And I don’t want it to be my job. Note to self, stop nagging the dragon.
“Hey, Blake!” I greet brightly, pushing myself to my feet with more enthusiasm than coordination. His eyes immediately narrow.
“Are you supposed to be up?” He demands, scanning me like he expects me to collapse at any second.
“Yep, Annie said I can leave as long as you’re willing to hang out with me for a few hours.” I say cheerfully. His answering smile flashes, quick and pleased, but then his gaze sharpens again, shifting past me.
“You’re not completely well yet. Are you sure this is acceptable?” He says. The question is clearly aimed at Annie. She stiffens a little under his attention but answers calmly.
“It’s fine. There’s nothing more I can do for her here. I just want you to keep an eye on her until the numbness fades completely. If she bumps herself, drops something, or does anything that could cause an injury she might not feel, bring her back.” She explains. Blake studies her for a long moment, then gives a single, decisive nod.
“I will.” He says simply. He sounds like he’s accepting an oath. It’s… Weirdly adorable. For someone so intimidating, he takes responsibility with absolute seriousness. He has… Not exactly a soft side, but a side that is very careful and protective. Loyal in a way that feels deliberate rather than instinctive.
“I am so ready to get out of here.” I announce, grinning. Blake nods and, just like he’s done several times now, reaches down to take my hand, guiding it automatically to rest on his arm. The moment his skin touches mine, fire explodes up my nerves. I scream.
My scream is not a little yelp. Not a startled gasp. It’s a full, sharp cry that rips out of my throat before I can stop it. Blake freezes instantly, his arm jerking back as if he’s been burned.
“Lexi!” He snaps, already moving toward me again, but stopping short, like he’s hit an invisible wall. His hands hover uselessly in the air, fingers flexing.
“What did I do? Where does it hurt?” He demands. My heart is hammering, breath coming too fast, too shallow. The place where he touched me is buzzing violently, my arm alive with sensation, too alive, every nerve screaming its presence all at once.
“I… I’m okay.” I gasp, even as my skin prickles and burns and tingles all at once.
“It just… That was… I think I’m more sensitive than I realised.” I tell him. Annie is already there, steadying me by the shoulder I can actually tolerate being touched on, grounding me before my legs decide they’re done.
“That’s normal.” She says firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. She shoots Blake a sharp warning look. For once, she doesn’t seem nervous of him at all. I suppose her doctor mode is kicking in and this is where she feels confident.
“Your nerves are waking up. Light touch can feel very intense right now.” She reminds me. Blake’s jaw tightens. I can practically see the restraint in him, the instinct to grab me, to check me over, to make sure I’m whole, he’s keeping it locked down and forced still. His hands curl slowly into fists at his sides instead.
“I won’t touch you.” He says immediately. No hesitation. No argument. His voice drops, steady and controlled.
“Tell me how to help.” He adds. Something in my chest loosens at that. My pulse finally starts to slow. I take a few deep breaths, forcing air into my lungs until the panic ebbs enough for me to think again.
“It’s okay. I’m okay. It’s not you. I should have mentioned, the spots where the numbing is wearing off are basically super sensitive right now.” I say, softer now. He still looks worried. Tense. Like he doesn’t fully believe me yet. So I take another breath. Then, with my good hand, I reach out and grab his hand. He stiffens instantly, not pulling away, but not moving either, watching me warily. I guide his hand carefully, deliberately, the same way he always does with me, and gently place it against my arm. This time I’m ready. It’s still intense. The sensation blooms all at once, bright and overwhelming, like my nerves are ringing. I feel EVERYTHING. The faint roughness of calloused fingers, the steady heat of his palm, the subtle flex of muscle beneath his sleeve as he freezes himself in place. Every tiny shift, every minute change in pressure registers. A shiver slips through me before I can stop it. It isn’t pain. Just… Too much sensation concentrated in one place. Too real. Too vivid. Blake doesn’t move. Doesn’t press, doesn’t test, doesn’t adjust. He might as well be carved from stone, except for his eyes. They never leave my face, not my arm, not his hand, watching for the slightest change in my expression, the smallest sign that he’s gone too far. He’s ready to pull back instantly, like he’s holding himself on a knife’s edge. I hold it for a few seconds more, letting the feeling settle, letting my body accept the contact. Then I gently lift his hand away and let my arm fall back to my side.
“See? Fine.” I say quietly, my voice steadier than I feel. He studies me for another long moment, gaze searching, calculating, like he’s cataloguing the outcome rather than taking comfort from my words. Then, finally, he gives a slow, careful nod. This time, when he reaches for me again, he doesn’t touch my sensitive arm. Instead, he takes my good hand and places it on his other arm, solid and warm beneath my fingers. There. Balanced. Safe. And very, VERY deliberate.