Chapter 52. The Last One

Lotus’s POV

The Winter palace is quiet except for the wind clawing at the shutters and Levi’s soft breathing. He sits beside my bed, sleeves rolled up, hands stained with herbs and bandages. He refused to let the healers touch me, insisting that he wanted to care for me himself. Every touch of his hands are careful, as if my skin is made of glass and might fracture under his touch.

His slow deliberate movements stir something within me. It is something that I have felt with Louis and Lennox, but not yet Levi. We spend so much time fighting there isn’t much time for a bond to build between us. It is something I regret and plan to fix as soon as he will let me.

“I’m not going to break,” I whisper. My voice is still hoarse from the lack of water. Levi’s eyes flicker to mine, dark and dangerous daring me to defy him.

“I almost lost you,” he says, as if that explains his gentle touch. “I’m not ready to…” He stops himself from confessing his feelings and he