Page 157 of I Will Mend You
As we pull apart, our breaths coming out in ragged gasps, I know we haven’t just crossed a threshold. We’ve forged a bond that no other can break.
And I will do everything in my power to protect it.
SEVENTY-FIVE
AMETHYST
The exhaustion of the night catches up with us, and we spend the rest of the day sleeping. Xero assures me that his Chief Medical Officer and Isabel will make sure the children we rescued get help with their trauma.
For the first time since leaving the asylum, it feels like I’ve regained pieces of my past I thought were lost forever. Xero was extremely patient, allowing me to navigate my feelings at my own pace and not pushing me beyond what I could handle.
He stirs beside me, his arms tightening around my waist. Gratitude swells in my chest, threatening to spill over in tears. I turn toward him and bury my face in the crook of his neck, wanting to stretch out this feeling of closeness and safety and warmth.
“Awake?”
His soft murmur sends a tingle down my spine. I hum against his skin, never wanting this moment to end. His fingers trace a slow path along my bare back, eliciting a quiet sigh.
“Thank you,” I murmur into his neck. “What you did for me earlier meant everything.”
He draws back and places a kiss on my temple. “Any time you feel the urge to come, I’ll be there with my body at your disposal.”
A giggle bursts from my chest. “You’re volunteering to be my personal sex toy?”
“I’m the only man for the job. Always eager and ready to satisfy my little ghost.”
Heat rises to my cheeks. I squirm against his chest, wanting to give him the same assurances, but the words die in my throat. I feel great right now, perfectly capable of enjoying Xero’s touch, but what happens if I reach my limit? What happens if I can’t handle any more?
“Hungry?” he asks, pulling me away from my thoughts.
“What time is it?”
Hesitating, he shifts on the mattress and pulls his phone off the bedside table. “Five.”
My stomach chooses this moment to rumble, answering Xero’s question. I finally open my eyes, finding the room dimmed by fading light. Through the window, the sun sets behind the distant trees, casting long shadows across the lawn.
“Is this the same safe house from before?” I ask, remembering its vast gardens.
“It’s a secondary facility a few fields away from the first one.” He eases us both up to sitting. “It’s even more difficult to approach from the road.”
We shower together, taking time to explore each other’s bodies before changing into matching jumpsuits. Xero’s maintenance crew—the same people who kitted out my crawl space—keep them stocked in all their hideouts, along with basic underwear.
I study my reflection in the mirror, still unable to look myself in the eyes. The woman on the other side looks more vibrant,with reddened lips and flushed skin. I feel stronger, more capable, more in control.
Xero comes up from behind, his hands settling on my hips.
“You’re perfect,” he murmurs, pressing his lips into the nape of my neck, and sending shivers skittering across my skin. His palms glide up my sides, warming the cool fabric of my jumpsuit.
Turning around in his arms, I look up into his eyes, finding them filled with adoration and a hint of mischief. I give him a peck on the lips. “I could say the same about you, but that would just give you a big head.”
His blond brows quirk. “That’s not the only thing about me that’s big.”
“Your ego?” At his grin, I place a palm on his chest and add, “Your heart.”
Gaze softening, he brushes a curl off my forehead. “That’s one of the reasons why I love you so much,” he murmurs. “You look beyond my monstrous acts and see the man.”
“You’re not a monster, Xero,” I murmur.
He breaks eye contact. “I’ve been killing since I was a child, and I run an organization that murders strangers for money. That at least makes me a villain.”