17. Zara
Zara
Hushed tones and whispers try to infiltrate my brain, but I can’t hear over the ringing in my temple.
This might be one of the worst hangovers I've ever had. Girl what the hell did you drink? Tequila?
But no memory of drinking springs to mind. Nothing comes to mind, period. It’s blank. Lost, almost… Ok. Ok. Let’s work backwards. See what we remember, shall we?
You sure you don’t want to come on holiday with us?
Why the fuck am I skiing?
Blurred, foggy flashes of the last few days fight their way to the surface. Something about magic, elves… a cult?
I am not your mate!
Mate! Xin! At the thought of Vixen, everything comes crashing around me. Rudy’s awful words. My botched escape. A freaking kidnapping, and ultimately my ass kicking. Oh fuck.
More flashes of booted feet stomping me in the face and kicking me in the ribs, explaining the pain radiating through my body, but for the life of me I cannot move or make a sound.
Does he still have me? What has he done with me? Has he given me something?
Panic wells up in my chest, and my ragged breathing is making it difficult to breathe right already. So I will myself not to have a meltdown that could kill me.
Try and relax. I know it hurts but we need to find out how much trouble we are in. See if we can get out of here. Does anyone even know I'm gone? Does Xin even care?
Sadness adds to my agony, and although I don’t want to show it, I feel the wetness of a tear run down my cheek.
Then another one.Then something inside me relaxes, as if my brain is trying to tell me something.
He is yours and you are his. The thought calms me in a weird way, and I know that he will find me. I just hope it’s not too late.
The brightness of the room starts to filter through my eyelids, and I wonder if this kidnapper has turned lights on in his hellhole.
Come to think of it, my back is on a softer surface than the floor I passed out on.
Oh God, I better not be in this predator's bed.
I will piss in it with no fucking qualms.
The voices get a little louder, and although I can’t hear them properly, I’m sure I can make more than one person.
Crap I am so scunnered right now. I beg the tears to stop falling and drawing attention to me…
At least they aren’t touching me. Or they weren’t.
A cold, soft hand turns my face, clearly assessing the damage.
“Cracked checkbone, burst lip, bruised neck and collarbone, bleeding lacerations.”
Wow, I’ve taken a proper kicking. Something wet touches my skin, and I scream inside when it begins to burn. ‘Aww ya bastard!’ A woman's voice snaps. My heart skips rapidly. The voices are familiar, but I can’t place them. So much has happened in such a short time, I can’t keep it all straight.
“We’ll need to remove what’s left of her clothes to see what else we are dealing with.” the first voice adds.
Oh hell no!
Adrenaline runs through my body. My instincts are screaming at me to fight back.
Throw a right hook at whoever’s touching me.
Thing is, if the guy is right, then I only have one shot.
These injuries will slow me down, and every move I make will suck.
I’m out numbered and will not only have to fight back, but run away.
I take a deep breath and wait for someone to make the first move. Then I’ll strike.
“The hell you will. If anyone is undressing her, it will be me. Do you understand?”
Xin? Relief runs through me just from hearing his voice. He found me. I’m safe. I don’t have to fight anymore.
“Well then, get to it, Vixen. We need to check her for more injuries. ”
I don’t want him to undress me in front of an audience. Can they not all just leave us? I wish I could open my eyes or communicate. Blink you stupid bitch.
“Santa, can you not just give her something? Surely there is some magic that can help her?”
“I can give her something for the pain, but I can’t heal her Vixen. The only person that can do that is you?”
“How do I do that?” he asks eagerly, but I note the pained sound in his voice.
Yes, how the hell does he do that?
“Mate her.”
“What?”
WHAT! I scream internally.
“Yes. If you mate with her, she will receive your power of rejuvenation. Then you will be linked, and she won’t age along with you, remember?”
Well I'll be damned!
“I can’t do that with her.”
What? Why? Do it, fix me.
“You don’t think she’s your mate anymore?”
My heart drops at Santa’s question. Well this is it, he’s going to admit it. And I'm too injured to block my ears or run away from the truth.
“She is my mate.” he growls with confidence, making my heart swell. “I am in no doubt about that. But I promised her, I would never mate with her without her consent.”
Fuck you Zara! Your big mouth might just be your fucking curse.
“I see. Well I can give her some pain relief. Maybe if you cuddle with her she will receive some of your essence. That should be enough to bring her around. Then we will reassess the situation, ok? But I want you to know, if the medication doesn’t work, you may have to go against your promise to save her life. ”
Do it, do it. I consent, Xin. Do it.
I fight inside myself to make any sound or movement instead of this locked in bullshit, but nothing happens. My body has been through a lot.
A sharp pain in my arm gets my attention before dizziness takes over again.
Please. I consent…
Heat radiates through me and I try to kick the blanket off my body, but I can’t move.
“I still can’t move. Fucking great” I groan, not realising I said it out loud until someone beside me flinches.
“Zara? Open your eyes if you can, Hunni.”
Xin’s worried voice makes me try to force my tired eyes open.
“Good girl. Just a little more,” he coaxes.
I grunt and push until I think they are fully open. Everything is fuzzy but I can see the shadow of Xin leaning over me, and I realise that’s where the heat is coming from.
As soon as it leaves me I miss it, and panic wells up inside of me.
“Don’t-” is all I can get out before the dryness and pain in my throat has me coughing. My stomach clenches and the ache in my ribs makes me wish I was still unconscious, because it’s miserable.
“Don’t move. I'll get you a drink.”
The bed dips as he gets off and I hear the bedroom door open as he leaves. A few moments pass and the panic that is rising reaches its crescendo and I start sobbing.
“Xin? Vixen!” I croak. The thundering of his rushed footsteps reassures me he’s coming back. It calms some of my body shakes, but not all.
“I’m here, baby,” he clambers onto the bed and takes my hand. The peace that runs through me at his touch is unreal. “I’m going to sit you up a little so you can take a drink.”
I give a little nod, and even though he is gentle, the tenderness of my body is unreal, making me wince.
“Sorry,” he mutters as he places the straw in my mouth.
My eyes are still drowsy, and they close as the cold water cools some of the burning in my throat. I want to drink it all, but I try not to be greedy because no doubt I'll regret it later. I pull back from the straw and he lays me back down.
“Don’t leave me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Hold me?” I whimper.
He doesn’t answer, he just shimmies down the bed and softly pulls me into his arms. My heart rate calms down straight away. It’s crazy to me how he can do that.
“Is this better?" He murmurs, kissing my head.
“Mmm,” I approve without saying a word.
“Good. I’m glad you're safe. I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner.-”
“Shhh.” I place my hand over his heart and we just lay in silence for a while.
I don’t want to talk about Erik just now. I just want to be with my mate. If he is my mate that is. There's only one way to find out, I guess.
“Xin?” I whisper.
“Yeah baby, what do you need? More water? Or I can get you some food?” he asks eagerly.
“Mate me.”