46

ALINA

I woke up much later, feeling unusually relaxed, a soft smile curling at my lips. There was this strange lightness in my chest, like I’d set something heavy down in my sleep but couldn’t quite name what.

I was alone in Rhysand’s room.

It didn’t really register until I said it again in my head. I was in his room. I’d meant to stay in bed like he’d insisted, rest like a good patient, but my curiosity was already buzzing beneath my skin. I had to look around. I needed to.

Because there wasn’t just one Rhysand.

There was the cold, calculating alpha the world saw, the man who never smiled unless it was edged with warning. And then there was the man who held me all night, just to make sure I wouldn’t get cold. In a room warm enough to melt ice. I bet even the cold was scared of him.

I had take the covers off because of how it had gotten. It was like I was being cooked alive and that didn’t sound good even to me.

What immediately drew my attention was the wall-sized bookshelf dividing the bedroom and the sitting area. I slipped over to it, fingers trailing across spines like they held secrets. Predictably, it was filled with titles on history, economics, and war strategy. Not a single romance novel in sight.

I almost laughed, imagining Rhysand curled up with a cheesy love story or some steamy fantasy novel. He’d probably throw the book across the room after one page. I blushed hard, the image of him striding around naked flashing across my mind.

Books definitely got that part right, the size, the swagger. My body gave an involuntary shiver at the memory.

A knock at the door startled me. Reflexively, I called, “Come in,” then immediately regretted it. He hadn’t said anyone else could enter. But then, he had mentioned a doctor…

The woman who stepped in, dressed in a white coat, smiled kindly at me. That calmed me a little.

“Hi, Alina. I’m Amanda, your doctor.” She extended a hand and I shook it, wary.

“Hi,” I mumbled, voice small.

“You’re looking better already,” she said, eyeing me with professional scrutiny. “I just need to run a few checks, nothing major. A quick exam, then some bloodwork.”

Bloodwork. My stomach twisted.

“Do you really have to? I feel fine,” I said with a nervous laugh, lifting my arms like I could prove it.

She smiled again, warm and calm. “Nothing’s going to hurt. You’ll be done before you even notice.”

I didn’t believe her for a second.

Doctors at the camp used to say that too, just before it all went to hell. I didn’t trust them. But the idea of her calling Rhysand if I refused? That had my fear biting down hard. So, I nodded stiffly and tried not to flinch as she pressed a thermometer to my forehead.

“You’re new here, right?” she asked, voice light, like she was trying to distract me.

I nodded again, trying not to hyper-fixate on the Velcro cuff she was wrapping around my arm.

“The alpha’s girlfriend?” she asked, teasingly. I looked up, startled. Whatever she saw on my face made her chuckle. “He was worried. I’ve known him a long time and I’ve never seen him like that with anyone.”

“I’m not his girlfriend,” I said quickly. The idea almost made me laugh.

I was mismate. Not his lover. Not his choice.

Probably never would be.

And honestly, I didn’t want to think about that too hard. Especially not with women like Cassandra in the picture, polished and perfect, the kind of woman Rhysand was supposed to be with. I was… not that. I’d barely scraped my way out of survival mode.

This was just novelty. A phase. When that wore off, I’d be forgotten. So no, I wasn’t going to get used to this.

“You’re in his room,” she pointed out with a smile. “That’s a first.”

I glanced around the space again, like I needed confirmation. The bathroom, the bed, the way his scent lingered on the air said it was definitely his. I shrugged, but a sudden sharp prick in my hand made me flinch.

“It’s alright,” Amanda said gently, stroking the skin under my arm as she drew blood.

My eyes went wide. I hadn’t even noticed her getting the needle ready. I tried to jerk away but she spoke firmly.

“No, no, no. Don’t move.”

Tears welled in my eyes. I hated this. I hated how it made me feel small, trapped, scared.

“You’re doing great,” she said softly. “Almost done. Feel that pain?”

I looked up, blinking through the blur, and saw the vial of blood slowly filling in her hand.

“No,” I whispered.

“You did very good,” she said with a smile, even though we both knew being scared of a shot wasn’t exactly impressive.

“Now just these pills,” she added, holding out three colorful tablets. “Will that be a problem?”

I stared at them like they were laced with poison and sprouted arms. She was busy pouring water, thankfully missing my internal freak-out. I clenched the pills in my palm and when she handed me the glass, I faked swallowing and took a long drink.

“That’s better,” she said, satisfied. “I’ll head out. When the results come in, I’ll let the Alpha know.”

“Thank you,” I said with a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

As soon as the door clicked shut, I stood up, ready to get rid of the pills for good. I only made it halfway across the room when the door opened again and I froze.

“You’re already up,” Rhysand said with a low growl. “Didn’t I say stay in bed?”

A reluctant smile tugged at my lips. I knew that growl now. I could tell when it was real and when it was just for show.

“I wanted to go to the bathroom,” I said. He nodded, gesturing toward it.

But I didn’t move.

Something about the way I stood there must’ve clued him in. His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Everything okay? Do I need to call Amanda back? I think she’s still nearby.”

I shook my head too fast.

He tilted his head. “You know I’ll figure out what’s wrong the moment you open your mouth, right?”

He glanced me over, and his gaze stopped at my clenched hand.

“What’ve you got there?”

“Nothing.” I licked my lips, heart thudding.

“Alina.” He said my name like a command. And like some string inside me tugged, I opened my palm.

I didn’t know what kind of reaction I expected but I braced myself anyway. Holding my breath.