章 14: Pain

A sharp pain tears through my left leg, jolting me from the haze of my dreams. My eyes snap open, and I grit my teeth to keep from groaning aloud. The pain is brutal, sharp, like the agony I felt after returning from the battlefield, each throb a cruel reminder of how broken I am.

I shift slightly, careful not to disturb Noelle, who's nestled against me in the crook of my arm. His breathing is soft, rhythmic, and peaceful, a stark contrast to the turmoil twisting inside me. I glance down at him, his face serene in sleep, and try to focus on anything but the pain.

The ceiling above me is nothing but old wooden boards, but I stare at them as if they hold the answer to my suffering. The ache is relentless, a deep, throbbing pulse that refuses to let me rest. I struggle to keep my breathing steady, to swallow the groans that claw at my throat.

In a desperate attempt to distract myself, I turn my attention back to Noelle. His warmth seeps into me, a gentle reminder that I'm not alone in this darkness. His pheromones wrap around me, subtle and soothing, creating a cocoon of comfort that battles against the pain. I focus on the rise and fall of his chest, the way his presence envelops me, grounding me in the present, pulling me away from the memories of war and suffering.

Noelle's here, and that's enough to hold me together, even as the pain rages on.

I often push through these bouts of pain, but today's is different—sharper, more unforgiving. It gnaws at my bones with a ferocity that forces a low groan from my lips. I try to suppress it, but Noelle is already stirring beside me. He wakes up with a jolt, instantly alert.

"Thorne?" His voice is thick with concern, cutting through the fog of my agony.

I try to respond, but all that escapes is a broken, painful moan. The sound makes Noelle's breath hitch. I hear the rustle of fabric as he scrambles to turn on the lamp. The soft glow floods the room, revealing the worry etched into his features. His green eyes, wide with fear, meet mine for just a moment before I squeeze my eyes shut, biting down hard on my lip to keep the scream at bay. The taste of copper floods my mouth as the pain starts to radiate, crawling from my leg up through my body like wildfire.

"Oh no, you're burning up!" Noelle's voice is frantic now, filled with panic. His hands fumble to unbutton my shirt, and when he pulls it open, a sharp gasp cuts through the air.

"What the hell, Thorne?!" Noelle's voice cracks with anger, a desperate edge to it. "I told you to tell me! Anything—pain, anything!" His words are filled with a mix of fury and fear, echoing in the room as he rushes about, trying to gather whatever he needs.

I feel the mattress dip as he moves, the sound of hurried footsteps and drawers being flung open blending with the pounding in my ears. I want to tell him I'm sorry, that I didn't mean to worry him, but the words won't come. The pain is overwhelming, drowning out everything else. All I can do is lie there, helpless, as Noelle does his best to save me from the torment ripping through my body.

No! No! No! The words pound through Noelle's mind like a relentless drumbeat as he rushes through the kitchen, hands trembling as he frantically searches for the herbs and remedies he's so carefully stored. Panic claws at him, a fear unlike anything he's ever known wrapping itself around his heart in an unforgiving grip. His breath comes in ragged gasps, every heartbeat thudding in his chest like a warning bell.

The image of those dark, ominous lines—black and twisted, crawling up Thorne's body—sears itself into Noelle's mind, refusing to let go. The sight of them sent a cold shiver down his spine, a sickening dread settling in the pit of his stomach. He's seen many things in his life, but nothing like this. Nothing that made his blood run cold and his hands shake so violently.

I'm not going to lose him,not today Noelle thinks fiercely, determination surging through the panic. Not today, not ever, not on my watch.