Page 192 of Bitten & Burned

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I nestled closer, focusing on his scent instead of the pain still coursing through me. Woods. Rain. Sweat. Iron.

My eyes fluttered closed.

Drip.

I was someplace damp.

Drip.

Someplace… cool.

Drip.

Damp. Cool. And?—

I opened my eyes. A cave.

I blinked, looking around, finding the source of the drip: a small puddle near where I was lying. In the distance, I heard rushing water.

I blinked again and tried to sit up.

“Whoa, wait a second, sweetheart.”

Quil was at my side in an instant, dark eyes full of worry. “Finally,” he breathed. “I was starting to think you’d never open your eyes.”

I nodded as the previous events came back in jagged pieces?—

The cold stone floor.

DunDrummond.

Silas.

How had he found me?

Oh, fuck. That’s right.

He’d found me at Blackthorn. I’d been naive enough to think I’d be safe there.

Gods, I was so stupid sometimes.

The tears came unbidden, but I wasn’t surprised to find myself crying. I sobbed, and Quil immediately pulled me into his arms.

That made me sob harder.

“Shh, baby, it’s okay. You’re safe now.”

I shook my head. “No, no… not that…”

His brow furrowed.

“I’m sorry… I was so…stupid.I thought I knew better than him; I thought he wouldn’t come for me in public like that. I should have listened to you, I’m so… gods…”

“Sweetheart, stop,” he said, tightening his grip on my hands. “You’re here. You’re safe. That’s all I give a damn about.”

“But it was my fault,” I sobbed, collapsing against him. “My fault.”

Quil held me close. “It’s not your fault. It’s his. Okay? It’s his. Please don’t cry. Please calm down, baby.”

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