Page 124 of Malachi
“I didn’t even think about it. Malachi, can we borrow your truck to get home?” Gideon asked.
“You think I’m letting any of you leave? Not on your life. The guest rooms are both made up down here, and you guys can draw straws for which couple has to sleep on the pull-out in the office.” I explained, gesturing down the hall with a nod of my head. “For tonight, I’d rather keep you all close. If you’re willing, that is.”
“Thank you,” Levi said quietly, his lips pulled into a tight smile. “Let’s head that way, love.”
Two by two, each of the couples headed off to their prospective rooms for the night, until no one was left but Eden and me.
“Hey,” I said, pulling her to my side. I set my glass on the side table, making a mental note to clean up the plates and glasses tomorrow morning. They could wait. Eden could not.
“Hey,” she sighed, her head dropping onto my shoulder. With gentle guidance, she curled into my side.
“What can I do?” I muttered. I was starting to crash myself, and the feeling of helplessness was damn near overwhelming.
“I don’t have the slightest idea,” she sighed.
“There’s got to be something. Anything. Just give me something I can do to make you feel better, even if it’s just for a few minutes,” I urged her. After a long pause, she lifted her head, her eyes finding mine.
“Take me to bed. Take me to bed and just hold me.” Her eyes searched mine as she whispered her gentle plea.
“Your wish, my command,” I muttered through tears prickling at my eyes. I lifted her hand, kissing the back of it in a sweet, humble gesture.
Standing from the sofa, I pulled her up, not stopping when she had gotten to her feet. I lifted her into my arms. For once, she didn’t protest.
I carried her through the living room, carefully stepping around the scattered dishes on the floor until we reached the base of the staircase. I took each step with care, her head resting on my shoulder as I carried her. The smell of forest, blood, and sweat was evident even in her hair.
I wanted to bathe her. Not just to help her feel clean, but to help wash away the trauma that today had brought her. It would be the start of it, of cleansing the trauma of this life from her. From both of us.
I walked through the bedroom, eyeing the bed longingly, but continued on into the bathroom. With all the gentleness and care I possessed, I sat her on the edge of the sink, kneeling before her and carefully removing the wrap on her ankle. It was bruised to hell and very swollen, but I was grateful it wasn’t broken. It could have been worse.
It all could have been so fucking much worse.
I started the water running in the oversized tub, plugging the drain and letting the water fill.
“Shower first. Then bath,” she stated slowly, fatigue lacing every word. I understood. She was caked with mud, grass, and blood. I started the shower as well, letting the water warm as I quickly removed my clothes. She lifted her arms up so that I could help remove her dress, but I simply shook my head. Instead, I opened the drawer at the sink, finding a pair of trimming scissors I used for my beard. I took her dress in hand and carefully cut it away from her body.
“Kai…” she fought weakly, but I shushed her.
“You won’t be wearing this dress ever again, Eden. I’ll buy you a million other dresses if you want, but this one should be burned.”
She simply nodded, acquiescing to my demands. I wanted to burn anything and everything that served as a reminder of this night, of this place.
With her clothes thrown into a pile dedicated as trash, along with my own, I carried her into the shower. She balanced on her good foot as I bathed her quickly, washing away the dirt and grime.
As the water ran red below us, her tears began anew.
I spoke not a word, and neither did she. As the water began to run clear again, the soap suds washing away all the filth down the drain, I turned the water off. I dried myself off only enough that I wouldn’t slip or drop her on the way to the tub.
I stepped carefully out of the shower with her. The bathtub was almost full as I slipped her small frame beneath the steaming water’s surface. I slid in behind her, settling into the water and letting the heat sink in past my skin, and soothe the aches that seemed to have settled into my bones.
Pulling her back into me, I wrapped my arms around her. Her head fell back against my shoulder as we relaxed in the water. I turned the faucet off; the water having reached the point that it was going to spill over the rim if I didn’t.
“It’s really over,” she whispered into the quiet of the bathroom.
“It really is,” I sighed, feeling the relief start to settle in further.
“What now?” she asked, her fingers trailing lazily over my forearm, making the water ripple around her gentle movements.
“Now? I don’t know. But—” I cut off, almost afraid to voice the words I wanted to say.
