Page 54 of Heal Me

I feel bad for refusing him to go in there. I would rip apart any person trying to keep me from her. But that’s the way it has to be.

A knock at the door has Rex going into high alert, ears pointing into the air as he turns. He remains by the bedroom, though, standing guard, ready to protect my songbird.

“Good boy,” I tell him, making a detour to scratch him behind the ear on the way to the door.

I bristle too, preparing to protect, as I open and see Dax standing there—with his girl a step behind him.

Seeing my reaction, Dax lifts his hands. “I come in peace. This is not for me. Emma would really like to see Lavinia.”

“Get the hell out of here,” I say in a low snarl, hoping Lavinia won’t hear. Rex follows my cue, giving a low growl.

Dax sighs. “Mikhail told me she’s not doing well.”

Fucking Mikhail.He came in here a few days ago to check on the situation. He seemed genuine enough, asking if I needed anything and even accepting the whole Zoltan situation. I don’t know why he was so accommodating, but he seemedalmost regretful when he watched Lavinia’s unmoving body and muttered something about Dax under his breath. His expression was almost wistful when he slapped my shoulder on his way out and said,I’m happy you’ve found someone to take care of.

“I think Emma might be able to help,” Dax adds.

“Fuck you.” I slam the door in his face. But apparently, I can’t get any peace around here. An hour later, there’s another knock at the door. This time, it’s Mikhail, the meddling motherfucker,andDax’s girl.

“What?” I snap. “Don’t you have a fucking sale to tend to or something?”

The fucker tries to mosey past me and into my quarters, but I slap a hand to the door frame, blocking his way. “You might own this fucking castle, butthis”—I gesture to the space behind me—“ismyplace. As long as I do my part around here, you have no right to come in here.”

Despite everything with Lavinia, I’ve been in the dungeon every day, keeping an eye on Mikhail’s goddamned incompetent trainers—and paying Zoltan a few visits. He’s the perfect outlet for my pent-up rage these days, although it’s been hard to keep myself in check enough to not just end him with one quick slash of my knife.

“It’s your place, all right,” Mikhail agrees. “But I suggest you let me in. Unless you want your girl to wither away in there forever.”

Rex parrots me as I make a low growl. “Who the hell are you to come here and—”

I’m about to give him the full brunt of my rage, but Mikhail cuts me off with a sharp command that stuns me into silence. “Quiet!”

As much as I hate this nosy bastard, I respect his authority. He’s the only man I could ever answer to. I have no idea howmany jobs I’ve lost because I fucked up my boss in some way or another because I don’t do well with authority.

“I’m not here to stick my nose in your business. I’m here to help.” He points at the girl behind him, who has retreated three steps down the stairs and is cowering. “She is too. And before you tell me she’ll just bother Lavinia and make everything worse, turn on that brain of yours. I know it’s in there.”

I sneer, but let him continue anyway.

“Remember how Lavinia wanted to take the punishment for Emma? Well, that means she cares about her. So maybe—if you can find it in your thick skull to accept some help—it would do her some good to see her friend. That’s why I told Dax about Lavinia’s state.Notto meddle.”

I watch the quiet girl, who’s wearing a little black dress that seems to have become her new uniform after Dax decided to make her his. Her hands are obediently gathered behind her back, but I’m not sure they’re cuffed, and she’s not even wearing the muzzle.

“Cuff her and put the muzzle on her, and I might let her see Lavinia.” I won’t risk anything.

Mikhail scoffs. The fucker goddamn scoffs. “Do you really think that’s the best way to let Emma help her?” Biting his lip, he looks off to the side. “You know, when I first found out about your new little project, I was pissed you wasted your time, not thinking it would last. But as it turned out, you do have a bit of humanity left in you. If you want your girl to get better, you’d damn well better tap into that, or you’ll lose her for good when she becomes an irrevocable shell of herself.”

I think back to that time when I found Dax’s girl by Lavinia’s cell. How Lavina begged me not to hurt her. The fierce determination that I mistook for a death wish. This girl means a whole lot to Lavinia for some reason I can’t comprehend.

I don’t like this—in fact, I hate the idea of someone other than me helping Lavinia. But she’s stuck. Seeing her new surroundings and the sun took her a small step out of her paralysis. Maybe this will do the same.

“Okay,” I relent. “But I’m staying at her side the whole time.”

Mikhail lifts a brow, and I gnash my teeth. There’s no way Dax is letting me near his girl. Actually, I can’t even believe he offered her help. No less letting her be here without him present—only Mikhail.

I stare at the girl again, noticing the hope lighting up her eyes as she casts a quick glance at me. I wonder if Dax has gone so soft that he’s let her convince him to help.

“Fine,” I say and take two steps back, giving Mikhail enough space to herd the girl inside without getting within my arm’s reach.

“Stay in the living room,” Mikhail orders as he steers the girl toward the bedroom. I don’t know why the hell I obey. Maybe he’s right—I do have a shred of humanity left. Or maybe I’m just selfish and want Lavinia to do better so I can have her back.

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