“It’s that good,” Liam confirms around a mouthful of food. I grab a piece for myself and take a bite. It really is great, but I just can’t seem to get past the emotions to enjoy it.
“We found a spell and all but one of the ingredients. It seems the last one is magical blood,” I tell Emmett and he nods.
“That’s how she finalized her spells. It’s the final touch that determines how well a spell works. I’m weak, but my bloodline is strong. Take some of mine. There are empty containers in that cabinet.” He says, pointing at the supply cabinet in the room. I get up and grab one and hand it to him.
“I couldn’t exactly bring a knife in here,” Liam says as he searches for something to prick his finger with.
“I’m good,” he says, pulling his sleeve up and peeling back a bandage. It’s an old IV site that hasn't healed yet. Without much prompting it starts to bleed again so he collects enough that we can pour a bit into the spell. I cringe as he sticks the bandage back on and shakily leans onto the bed, looking worse than before.
“I’m going to go take a shower at the hotel. If it’s alright I’d like to come back and stay with you, as long as you want me?” Thea asks softly. I hold my breath, hoping he won’t just push her away.
“I’ll take any time I can get with you before I die. You don’t have to be here for this, though. We don’t know how long I’ll last once it progresses. They still haven’t figured out what caused this sickness,” he whispers, a tear making its way down his cheek.
“I’ll be here,” she confirms and he pulls her in weakly. She snuggles into him for a moment before crawling out of the bed.
“Ready?” I ask and she nods. We give him a wave before walking out.
“Will staying be a problem?” Thea’s voice is panicky and Liam stalks away to the nurses station. When he comes back he gives her a smile.
“I explained that you were from out of town and they said that they will overlook visiting hours for immediate family. They marked you down as a sister,” he says with a smirk. Thea wrinkles her nose at the word sister.
“Tell me more about how you know him?” I ask softly while we drive to the nearest nice hotel.
“We’ve been seeing each other in the darkness since we were little. I didn’t have an easy life, so he was the closest thing I had to a friend. All this time, I thought he was just another soul. Anytime we found each other in the void, we talked. Sometimes it was minutes, but other times it was hours. He knows the best and worst parts of me. I was so angry when I thought he was a soul, because one day I realized how much I loved him,” she explains softly. She stops talking and we respect her need to process everything.
We check into the hotel and find our room. Thea hurries into the shower. Liam and I put on a movie while we wait. Halfway through, she still isn’t out and I go to her, knowing she’s not handling this well.
I knock softly on the door but she doesn’t answer. Finally I try the handle and step in slowly, giving her a chance to protest. I detect a soft sobbing as if she is trying not to be heard over the sound of the cascading water.
“Thea, honey?” I say gently, peeking around the curtain. She looks up at me with a broken expression, still fully clothed and sopping wet. I don’t hesitate to turn the water off and step into the shower and sit next to her. I wrap a towel around her and pull her into a hug.
“It’s not fucking fair. He doesn’t deserve this!” she yells with more tears streaming down her cheeks. “I can’t lose him, Luz. I just found him when I thought he was gone forever. I can’t lose him again. Now I get to watch him waste away from this awful illness? What the fuck did he ever do to deserve this life? What if he doesn’t come back as a reaper like us? What if I have to be alone again? I know I have you and my three big brothers, but you guys are your own family. I need something more than that. I need him.” She sobs harder while I rock her back and forth.
“The only thing you can do right now is be there for him. Help ease his suffering with your presence. Talk to him when he’s awake and get to know him even better. Hold him while you can. I honestly think he will join us,” I tell her, believing my words. I pray I’m right on this.
She lets me hold her for a few more minutes before I can tell she starts to feel awkward. I let go and step out, slipping on the tile and falling into the wall, smacking my head.
“You know, a similar accident is what almost killed me in that demon realm,” I tell her in a dry voice. She snorts at me.
“Somehow I’m not surprised. You are the clumsiest badass I’ve ever known,” she says, grabbing a towel from the shelf and tossing it to me before wrapping a dry one around herself.
I step out into the main room and get an odd look from Liam before I change my clothes. Thea joins us not long after, grabbing her tablet, headphones, and wallet.
“Let’s go,” she says with a weak smile. Liam walks up and gives her a quick hug before grabbing his keys.
After we drop her back off at the hospital, Liam and I head to a nearby store. I buy a bottle of whiskey and some shot glasses. We head back to the hotel room and pop it in the kitchenette freezer.
“Jacuzzi tub?” Liam asks with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Instead of answering, I slowly strip out of my clothes as he runs his hungry eyes over my body.
Hurrying into the bathroom, I bend over and turn on the water. With my wrist in the stream, I test the warmth before turning on the jets. Liam steps up behind me and splays his long fingers over my ass and shapes the curve in a sensual caress. Waves of desire shoot straight to my core at his touch.
Rising up and turning to face him, I tilt my head and press my lips to his. The kiss begins soft and sweet, but he deepens it quickly. His tongue swipes over the seam of my lips, begging for entry. I moan softly and allow him access. His hands grip my shoulders and then travel down my sternum until he finds my breasts. His fingers dance over my pebbled nipples, rolling them between his thumb and forefinger, tweaking them until I’m wet and needy.
The entire time he explores my breasts he’s kissing me, fighting for dominance and tasting me like a man starved.
Breaking away, I step back into the tub and sink down into the bubbles, moaning for a different reason this time. The jets of warm water lick my skin and ease my tense shoulders, relaxing me even further. Liam steps in and sinks down next to me, pulling me over his lap.
His hands pull my legs apart until I straddle his body, then his attention moves back to my breasts. Liam cups them and pushes them together like he’s testing how they feel in his hands, smiling down at them appreciatively. Clearly he’s a boob guy.