Chapter 93. Waited

Elara POV

The sound of Phoenix arguing rouses me from my sleep. He is really pissed at whoever isn’t giving him his way. A chuckle rises in my throat, and it burns, causing tears to spring to my eyes.

“Don’t try to speak,” Zeke says softly. “Dwight sliced your voice box with his claw.”

My eyes flutter open, and my hand reaches for the stiff bandage around my neck. I had thought it was a dream, but it turns out it wasn’t. Zeke had slowed time to save me.

He is sitting at my bedside with a grave look on his face. I guess he has done this a lot lately. The people he cares about most have a way of stepping into the face of danger.

I reach for his hand, but he looks at me like I might break if he touches me.

“Please,” I beg with a painfully scratchy voice.

His reluctance to take my hand feels like a rejection, and I pull away. He inches closer, scooting his chair loudly across the floor.

“I love you.” The words fall from his lips in