Free Gilded Wings by Cameo Renae Page B

noticed you locked the bathroom door from the inside. What if the others try and get in?”
    “There is more than one entrance to this place. It’s like a maze to throw off the Darkling, in case they get in. I guess Alaine has a thing with secret mazes.”
    I grinned. He shifted, and I noticed blood dripping down his arm. As I followed the trail of crimson, I noticed a rip in his shirt, and a gash about three inches long on his bicep which continued across to his chest. It looked deep, and I could see his flesh.
    “You’re hurt,” I said tugging at his arm. “Let me see that.”
    “No, it’s fine. Just a scratch.”
    “A scratch? That is not a scratch,” I said, pulling him closer. I sat up and took in a deep breath. My ribs felt much better, so I stood up from the bed. “Sit,” I instructed.
    He narrowed his eyes and plopped down on the bed in front of me. “It’s nothing, really. I was just scraped by some damn shards of glass when I pushed a Darkling out the window.” He tried to make light of it.
    I leaned over for a closer look and swallowed as I saw the depth of the wound. “It’s pretty bad and needs to be taken care of immediately,” I sighed. I took the vial from his hand. “I’ll need you to take your shirt off.” He glanced at me with a crooked grin, so I held up the vial and smiled. “So I can apply the medicine.”
    “Sure,” he exhaled, pulling his shirt over his head. My eyes wandered to his chest and continued down to his perfect abs, lingering there a little too long. “Ahem.” He cleared his throat, making me blush.
    I lifted his muscular arm with my hand, and slowly poured the liquid magic over the wound. I watched in awe as the tissue began to mend right before my eyes, but it was so deep it would still need a bandage, or possibly stitches. I then moved to his chest, which wasn’t nearly as bad. “You’ll have to lean back a bit.”
    He obliged, his eyes never leaving mine. I swallowed hard trying not to look directly at him. I knew if I did, at this close proximity, I’d be a goner. I focused on his chest, and poured the liquid over the cut. It wasn’t deep, so it instantly sealed. I gasped, instinctually grazing my fingers over the healed wound.
    Kade took hold of my hand, and our eyes connected. That was it. My heart did a twist, and before I knew it, he let himself fall backward, bringing me on top of him. He locked his arms tightly around me, our bodies fit perfectly together, our faces inches apart.
    We were alone, the two of us, secluded in a safe room, far from the others. The only sound in the room was that of our hard breathing. This was something real, something true, something the bond didn’t have any part in. I looked deep into his beautiful eyes, and saw something I’d never seen before.
    Unconditional love.
    A rush of sadness overwhelmed me as I thought of a life without him in it.
    “Emma?” Kade whispered. My emotions took over, and tears instantly welled, burning my eyes and spilling out onto his cheek.
    “I’m sorry,” I sobbed. I shook my head and rolled to my back, off to the side of him.
    “What’s the matter?” His chest pressed up against my side, and his fingers gently brushed the dampened hair from my cheeks.
    “Nothing,” I lied.
    “You know you can tell me anything,” he said.
    “No, I can’t. I wish I could, but… I can’t.” I wept openly, feeling horrible. My insides ached with not being able to tell him why I couldn’t speak.
    “Why? I don’t understand.” His saddened eyes gazed longingly into mine, tearing my heart apart.
    I turned away from him, but everything inside me wanted to turn toward him, feel his arms wrap around me, and tell me everything was going to be okay.
    Instead I whispered, “I’m sorry.”
    “Is it because you don’t want to be with me?” His voice sounded weak. “If it’s true just tell me now. I will promise to stay away.”
    Hot tears streamed from my eyes as my heart was being pulverized