Chapter 43
Don’t cry!
Reyland!
Marian wanted to say all the words at the same time, but no sound could come out from her dry lips.
Instead, she wailed in her mind as she stared weakly up at her giant.
But Reyland was not crying.
He just stared at her with damp, sorrow-filled eyes and a knotted brow.
The silence expanded, then, Reyland inhaled.
“I’m sorry,” he breathed; his voice low.
“What…what for?” she whispered, barely able to form the words.
“Everything that happened to you. To your father. Four years ago, and every day after that,” he replied, his voice heavy.
He had not moved a muscle.
He continued to sit as he had been when she woke, with two fingers resting beside his mouth.
Similar to how he had sat just hours earlier when he had been talking to his father, back at his home in the woods.
Marian recalled those moments as she gazed at him now.
She recollected what Dax had demanded of him and how he had refused both his father and her with one simple word – ‘No’.
“Why?” she moaned aloud. Not sure which Reyland she was asking.
The one in front of her, who sat unmoving, or the one from hours earlier, who had said he would not come to the pack compound, but for some reason was right here, in her bedroom – in the pack compound.
She recalled his tone, his face, and his voice when he had rejected her, pushed her away.
If he is here, something…something must have happened.
To his father, or his brother, or someone in his beloved family, she mused, almost bitterly.
“Because I couldn’t stop him. I couldn’t stop my father. Not then, and not now,” Reyland replied, his cleft chin quivering as he clenched his teeth.
Marian stared.
“Rey…land…” she whispered, almost desperately.
She wanted to touch him, to tell him everything was fine.
To hold his large soft hands in hers, or better still, wrap her arms around his plushie body and tell him that everything would be okay.
But her damn body wouldn’t move.
No. It’s not that I can’t move.
I can’t FEEL anything.
That’s worse…isn’t it?
She mused.
I can’t feel anything...
Why…?
Reyland stared at her, his fingers resting at the bottom of his lips.
“Could...you…my…dad…” she gasped, struggling to speak.
“Where…my…fa-ther?” she rasped, her voice phlegmy.
“He’s outside, with mine,” Reyland replied swiftly, not moving from his position.
“Wha-t happ-end?” she stressed; her eyes tired as she gazed up at her pale giant.
“You don’t remember?” he asked slowly.
She swallowed, with difficulty, then rasped, “No.”
“You went berserk, Marian. You attacked your Alpha,” he whispered, leaning toward her.
“No,” she rasped.
“Yes,” Reyland replied firmly, watching her carefully.
“But –” she tried to protest.
“In front of the whole pack, Marian. In front of everyone!” he whispered hoarsely, cutting her off.
“No!” Marian whined weakly.
“My…dad…where…Gravan…no! I –” she continued, her heart must have been racing, but she could not feel it.
Her voice, however, was shaking, and her breath was short.
“It’s okay, Marian,” Reyland said placatingly, shifting forward in his chair.
“How?” she whined, tears streaming down her face as she stretched the word out.
“I promise you, on my life. Everything will be fine,” He replied firmly, his sapphire eyes clear in the dampness that filled his sockets.
“Rey…land…please,” she pleaded, her green eyes wide but tired as they darted about as if searching for something.
Her face reddened.
She tried again to reach for his hand, but still could not feel her arms…or her legs.
Suddenly realizing that the loss of feeling might be more than a short-term lack of sensation, a different panic started in Marian’s mind.
“Rey…land,” Marian gasped.
Reyland leaned closer, staring at her.
“I…can’t feel…my…body!” she rasped.
A single tear escaped Reyland’s eyes.
He inhaled and swallowed.
“Marian. You will be fine. The doctor has looked in on you. Blood had been given. You will be fine,” he said encouragingly.
Marian swallowed nervously.
“Reyland,” she whispered, “come closer.”
Reyland obeyed. He rose from the chair, one step enough to get him from the sofa to her side.
Marian stared into his eyes, using him as she had used her father for almost all of her life. She gazed at her reflection, her wolf eyes clearing the dimness of the room.
Her jaw clenched, and she paled.
Reyland blinked.
Realizing what she was doing, he turned away, but she had seen what she wanted – her reflection.
She was lying on her bed, in her dorm, wrapped in bandages, basically in a body cast, only it was made of cloth, not plaster.
There was no single item of clothing on her body.
Someone, something, had broken her.
There were splints on both her arms and on one leg. Her torso was braced, and her head was wrapped as well.
She breathed in, a short, shallow breath.
“Goddess, help me. Please.” She whispered hoarsely.
Opening her eyes, she stared at her sole companion.
He brushed her cheeks with the back of his fingers, wiping her tears away, his eyes gentle, his touch sending shivers through her mind.
His large palm hovered near her face as he stroked her cheek with his thumb, not touching her more than he needed to.
His eyes were fixed on his hand, closely monitoring his actions.
Marian turned her face to his palm and rubbed her cheek against it, her eyes on him.
Reyland jolted, and his eyes snapped to hers.
She stared at him, keeping her face against his hand, her tears slowing.
Reyland rested the full weight of his hand against her skin. She closed her eyes, taking in the warmth, exhaling into his palm.
She smelled blood. Her blood.
“Land?” she said hoarsely, opening her eyes and staring tiredly at him.
“Hmm?” he replied gently as he leaned forward, his palm still keeping her cheek warm.
“Would…would it be too…crazy…if I,” she breathed in and held her breath for a moment, her head beginning to swim with the strain of keeping awake and talking.
She exhaled and closed her eyes again.
Reyland did not move or speak.
Her eyes still closed, Marian continued slowly, “Would it be alright if I ask you for a kiss?” she rasped, all in one breath, opening her eyes at the end.
Marian gasped.
Reyland was crying now, but he was smiling.
“Land…” she murmured.
Before she could continue, Reyland placed his lips on her, kissing her lightly.
Fresh tears fell from her eyes as she kissed him back weakly.
Reyland pulled away but stayed close, his face inches from hers.
“What? I did as you asked,” he whispered, still smiling gently at her.
“Why the tears?” he asked, his warm breath brushing her lips.