It takes the last of my strength to turn my face away from them and to mutter, “Leave.” Still, I don’t fall asleep. Drowsily I lie, feeling paralyzed, and it makes everything worse. “It’s going to take a month or two until she’s fully healed,” Alexei grits the words out. Carson says nothing. Still. And it hurts so much. I can’t stop the tears from falling. Eventually, Carson whispers, “I’ll sit with her.” “I’m not leaving. I promised Hailey I’ll keep her safe.” Alexei takes a deep breath. “Until she’s ready to leave, consider me her personal guard.”
