Page 59 of Resolve
The advantage?
He leaves the room, and everyone, including the agent, follows him. Leaving me alone with Kellan.
As soon as the door clicks shut, I run to him. “Kell!” He drops his face on my shoulder, his body still trembling from the strain on his arms. Or is it residual pain from what they were doing earlier? His scales are fading, which means his extra strength is leaving with them.
He may be healed from the earlier injuries, but his body must be exhausted.
“How long have they been doing this?” I ask, stroking my hands through his hair and along the back of his neck.
“Not long after he took you,” he admits.
Fuck.
Hours and hours of this. Of torturing him until his gift takes over fully, then muting it so they can start over again.
I cradle his face and rest my forehead against his. The unrelenting quiver of his muscles breaks my heart. His eyes remain closed. He hasn’t slept then, either.
“I’m getting you out of this.” I press my lips to his, trying to draw him back to me. He barely reciprocates, but his lips part ever so slightly to invite me in. “You have to keep fighting.”
“Not with your life on the line, beautiful. I’ll face this a thousand times if it means you’ll be safe.”
“Well, I can’t.” I stand, leaving to grab the sandwich and water and then kneel before him. “Here.” I offer the water to his lips first, using my other hand to guide his chin up.
“Wait.” When he says that, I pause. “Have you had any?”
“Of course,” I lie. “I’ve got my own room and everything. Now, drink it.”
He guzzles half of it down, his throat working as some of it trickles to his beard and down his neck. His lips press together to block the remaining water, and I pull it away.
He refuses the sandwich.
I huff. “I already told you, I’m fine. Eat it.”
“Your stomach hasn’t stopped growling. There’s no fucking way I’m taking a bite until I see you eat some of it.”
Damn it. “I’m still in better shape than you,” I mutter, taking a single bite of the sandwich to make him happy, then hold it out for him again.
“More.”
“I ate some.”
“Eat. More.”
“Stubborn prick.” I take two more bites, then show him.
Kellan finally takes a piece the size of my three, and I could hug him. “Your turn,” he rumbles with his mouth full.
Sighing, I eat more until he’s satisfied, and we go back and forth until it’s gone. He makes me drink some water, too, before hefinishes it off.
It wasn’t a lot, but it was something, and I’m already feeling a bit better than before. I gently stroke his beard. “How do you feel?”
“Never better,” he teases, finally shooting me a smile. It’s not his playful grin, but I still take it as a good sign.
“I mean it, Kell. We’re getting out of here. I need to know if I have to find a way to carry or drag your ass out, or if you can walk.”
His smile vanishes. “Unless it's a sure bet, I’m not risking your life. Leaving this room isn’t it.”
I give him my own soft smile. “We’re together, Kell. Of course, it’s a sure bet. And I thought you were always up for a challenge.” His eyes widen, and some of the spark returns to them. Before he can reply, I walk to the door and peek through the window. “I don’t see any guards...” Gripping the handle for shits and giggles, I pull it down, waiting for the inevitable click as it hits the lock.
