39. Easton
Even though the worst of the shaking had eased, a slight tremble still radiated through Hayden’s body. A tremble that had me wanting to slice that piece of shit to ribbons.
I struggled to keep my breathing even, not to let my fury win. Cillian, Maddox, and Cáel would deal with Brent. Hayden needed me right now.
I stilled at that thought. She needed me.
A war of fear and hope raged in my chest. But it was a war I was losing. It was too hard to stay away from Hayden. Especially now.
Guilt hit fast and hard. If I’d been in class like I should’ve been, Brent wouldn’t have gotten her alone. None of this would’ve happened.
“East,” Knox said softly.
My twin read me clear as day.
“I should’ve been there,” I whispered hoarsely.
“We all should’ve been.”
My throat worked as I swallowed. I’d never forgive myself for this.
Hayden let out another whimper as her body relaxed more against mine.
“She’s asleep,” Knox said quietly.
“Good. It’s what she needs.”
Knox studied us for a moment. “Let’s keep her in there for a few more minutes. She needs to get fully warm.”
“The shaking’s better.”
He nodded. “The adrenaline’s leaving her system.”
Adrenaline because she was fighting for her life, fighting not to be violated in the worst possible way.
The fury was back, and scales rippled over my arms. “Have you heard from Cillian?”
Knox pulled his phone out of his back pocket, scanning the screen. “They’ve got him in the shed.”
“Good,” I clipped.
I knew what the shed meant. He wouldn’t come out of that place breathing. God, I hoped Cáel took his time with the sicko. I hoped he made his ending as painful as possible.
Knox glanced at me. “I’m gonna get you both some dry clothes. You going to be okay for a minute?”
I nodded, and he headed out of the bathroom.
My fingers trailed up and down Hayden’s spine. Her skin was so unbelievably smooth. Delicate. Just like her. But that delicateness hid a strength.
Knox had told me that it had been clear Hayden had fought back. Fought against someone twice her size and had gotten in a few good licks. God, I wanted her to shift so that she had that increased strength. So that human assholes wouldn’t stand a chance against her. It wouldn’t help that much against other shifters, but at least it would be more of an even match.
Footsteps sounded, and Knox reappeared with a pair of sweats and a tee for me and some pajamas for Hayden. He set them on the counter. “Ready to get her out?”
No. I wasn’t. Because with Hayden in my arms, I knew she was safe. Whole.
“Sure,” I lied.
I brushed the hair away from her face. “Hayden?”
“Mmm,” she mumbled.
“I’m going to lift you out of the bath, okay?”
“’Kay,” she said, smacking her lips but not quite fully awake.
I stood, the air feeling cold after the warmth of the bath. Knox was immediately there with a towel, taking Hayden from my arms. But I didn’t want to give her up. The only thing letting me do so was knowing that she needed to get dry and warm.
I quickly shucked my soaking wet clothes and dropped them into the draining bathtub so they wouldn’t get water everywhere. I grabbed a towel, drying myself as fast as possible before putting on the sweats.
“Grab the pajamas,” Knox called.
I did and headed back to him and Hayden. Her eyes were glassy as she blinked up at me. “Thank you.”
A muscle along my jaw fluttered. “You don’t have to thank me.”
She shouldn’t. Not when I should’ve been there to stop it from happening in the first place.
I handed the pajama bottoms to Knox as I opened the top. “Let’s get this on you.”
I studiously avoided Hayden’s chest, focusing on getting her arms into the sleeves and then wrapping it around her. Slowly, my fingers fastened each button. But as I reached the top button, my gaze locked on the angry red marks on her throat. They were already deepening to bruises.
“Grab me the balm,” I croaked to Knox as he rose from getting Hayden’s pajama bottoms on.
He jerked his head in a nod and crossed to where I’d set the two jars. He handed me one. “This is for any bruising. I’ve got the one for her lip.”
I unscrewed the lid and dabbed a glob of it onto my finger. My gaze locked with Hayden’s. “Tell me if anything hurts.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
As gently as possible, I rubbed it over the marks. God, I hoped this erased any pain, any reminder of what had happened to her. The scent of it had a hint of rose. A hell of a lot better than the stuff we’d gotten our hands on before.
I finished smoothing it over Hayden’s neck and then put a dab on her cheek where another bruise was forming. “I’m so sorry, Hayden.”
“Not your fault,” she said hoarsely.
But it was. And I’d never forget that.
“Come on,” Knox said, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Let’s get you into bed.”
She let Knox guide her into the bedroom as I wiped my fingers clean on a towel. By the time I followed, Hayden was settled into the middle of the giant bed, and Knox was settling in next to her.
Hayden’s eyelids fluttered as she curled into Knox, already slipping back into sleep. It was what she needed most right now.
Knox’s gaze locked with mine. “Stay.”
My throat worked as I swallowed. Leaving was the first thing I should’ve done.
But I didn’t.
I walked to the bed and slid in on Hayden’s other side, Knox watching me the entire time.
“Are you okay?”
I shook my head. “But it doesn’t matter anymore.” I was going to have to learn to live with my raging demons. Because my heart chose her, even though my brain told me she’d bring me to ruin. I’d just have to go down in the flames.