Page 100 of Bound Bride
Calvin shrugs with a sad smile. "I don't know. But I do know that what happened between the two of you was real for him. You just have to persuade him that it was real for you too. I don't think he can see that right now."
I can only nod as a deep wave of exhaustion crashes over me.
Twenty minutes later, I'm almost asleep in my bowl of soup.
Calvin stays with me until I can't keep my eyes open, then he escorts me to bed, where exhaustion thankfully knocks me out.
The next morning, Beatie finally wakes up.
I fly to her side the moment the news reaches me, barely able to even get dressed in my desperation to see my sister.
When I burst into the room, she flinches where she sits in the bed and blinks owlishly at me before her thin lips curve into a smile.
"Rose?"
"Beatie!" Hearing her voice after so long immediately triggers tears in my eyes, and they pour unhindered down my cheeks while I throw myself across the bed at her and wrap her in my arms. "Oh my god, you're okay! I was so worried, I was so fucking worried!"
The door is closed softly by Calvin who followed my race through the manor, and he lingers in the corner, trying to give us privacy.
"Rose!" Beatie's voice crumples slightly and she deflates into my grasp as my heart breaks.
She's thinner than I remember.
Her bony shoulders press into my chest, her arms don't carry the same warmth that they used to, and she feels smaller when she's tucked against me. But I don't care right now.
She's here.
She's alive.
That's all that matters.
"You're okay," I gasp, cradling the back of her head. "You're safe here, I promise."
"Everything hurts," she croaks.
"I know sweetie. I know. It'll get better. It will." Sniffling, I fight to stem my tears as I lean back and cradle her face. "You've no idea how good it is to see you."
Beatie sniffles and stares up at me with wide eyes. "Where am I?"
"You're in my home. This is where Konstantin and I live."
Her eyes widen further, so I continue on hastily.
"Don't worry. He's a nice man. I promise. He's done so much to take care of me."
"Is that him?" Beatie's eyes slide to Calvin.
"No, that's Calvin. He's my guard. Kon is…" Trailing off, I also face Calvin. "Where is he?"
"He's busy taking care of some things in the city," Calvin replies. "That's why the place may feel quieter."
By quieter, he means there are less guards around, which might actually help Beatie settle in.
"When he's home, I will introduce you," I say with a smile, wiping away a stray tear with the curl of my finger. "But Beatie… what happened?"
Confusion flashes in her eyes.
"You were supposed to be safe. You were all supposed to be safe while I was here. That was the deal. What happened?"
