Page 165 of Remi's War (Four Dark Horsemen 2)

Remi

Penelope

Discomfort.

That’s the first thing coming to my mind as my eyes snap open, only to close again, because of the pain traveling throughout my head.

Wincing, I try to lift my hand to rub my aching forehead but can’t because something heavy keeps it in place.

Despite the strong smell of antiseptics irritating my nose and the beeping machines nagging my ears, I bite my lip and slowly open my eyelids once again, blinking several times to adjust to the sunlight coming from the huge window and brightening up the hospital room.

A quiet, muffled gasp slips past my lips as I study my environment, from the cast on my entire right arm to the one on my ankle and the IV attached to me. I whimper when pain zips through me, reminding me of what happened.

Breathing heavily, I manage to will enough strength into my uninjured arm to snatch the oxygen mask away and smile at my view.

The huge room has a TV hanging on the wall, a couch and two chairs with a small fridge on the side, and a round table with a vase of roses on it.

However, what has my whole attention are the people occupying the furniture.

Santiago sits on the chair, his legs kicked up on the table with Briseis sitting in his lap, hiding her face in the crook between his neck and shoulder. He gently runs his hand up and down her back, his eyes closed, but I know for a fact he is not asleep.

Jimena lies comfortably on the couch, her splayed palm on her stomach and her head on Florian’s lap. He watches her intently, his hand hovering over her face as if wanting to touch her, but at the last minute, he squeezes it hard and puts it beside him, glancing away.

She probably has no idea she has fallen asleep on him; otherwise, she’d never allow Florian to be this close to her.

Isla rests on the second chair, her legs under her, and Octavius sits on the floor, leaning back, his head against her knees as she traces her fingers over his scar while her other hand runs through his hair. In this moment, he seems almost content, despite him always growling at her.

To my knowledge, no one is allowed to touch his scar but her. Maybe that’s why he gave her that diamond necklace instead of a ring; he has the key to it on a chain around his neck as well.

None of them have even changed their clothes. They are all filthy, and their shoes have left dirty tracks on the floor. How did they even get permission to be here?

Although that’s a stupid question.

They are three heirs to powerful thrones after all.

These men are who society tells us to stay away from, and yet… they’ve shown me such loyalty by accepting me into their circle and risking their lives in order to save me. And through the years to come, they will do it again in a heartbeat, because once a horseman claims you, they consider you family by default.

Family might not like each other or support all the choices each makes, but they do stand by each other no matter what, so they’ll never be alone in this world.

Warmth fills my chest along with gratitude toward these people who welcomed me, even if the ways they went about it were quite dark and out there.

My father loves me, and I grew up in a loving environment, but we mostly stayed alone. So how great is it that fate has given me another family, and a deadly one at that?

After seeing the true evil of Duke Carrington, I’ll never consider them evil.

Not saints but sinners with their own moral code, and I can live with that.

Which obviously speaks volumes about me, since their actions can never be excused, but they can be understood.

And I have chosen my new family.

My gaze finally shifts to the heavy weight on my left, where my husband half lies on the bed as close to me as possible with all the wires and tubes. He breathes evenly, although even in his sleep, he frowns.

Love fills me to the brink, making it hard to breathe as I stare at my man who came into my life so unexpectedly and yet has given me so much.

My dark prince came in time.

I softly whisper, “Remi.” My throat is so dry I cough, and that instantly has him awake, his brown orbs clashing with mine, and they brighten.

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