It’s early morning when I finally wake up enough to make sense of my surroundings. Alexei’s asleep where he’s sitting on a chair with his feet resting on the side of the bed. Turning my head to the left, I find Ariana staring at me, curled up on the far side of the mattress.

“Hey,” I murmur.

She pushes herself up, and scooting closer to me, she places her hand on my forehead, then asks, “How do you feel? Do you need anything?”

It feels as if every drop of moisture is gone from my mouth, and I whisper, “Water.”

I watch as she picks up a glass from the bedside table, and then she pushes her hand beneath my head and helps me so I can take a couple of sips.

Fuck, this is frustrating. I’ve never been helpless before, and it makes my temper spike.

“Alexei,” I snap, and he startles awake. “Help me sit up.”

He darts up, and placing his hands beneath my armpits, he gently pulls me up. Ariana positions pillows behind me, and then he settles me against them.

And I fucking hate it.

Christ.

Anger flares hot through me.

Alexei places his hand on my shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head.

I’m the one who takes care of them. It’s not supposed to be the other way around.

Pissed off that I’m useless to Alexei and Ariana, I push my body hard and try to get up.

Alexei grabs hold of my right shoulder. “Why are you angry? Calm your ass down and relax.”

It takes more energy than I have to smack Alexei’s hand away, and then I glare at him. “I’m not staying in this fucking bed.”

When I try to move again, Ariana takes hold of my left arm to hold me back, and my head turns to her as I bite out, “Let go of me.”

There’s a flash of hurt on her face, and then she moves closer and pushes me back down.

It makes a frustrated growl ripple from my chest.

Ariana places her hands on my jaw and leaning over me, her face is right by mine. “Shh…” She presses a kiss to my mouth. “Calm down. Please.” She kisses me again, and it douses the anger, making the fire die down to a smolder. “Don’t push yourself like this.” Another kiss, and then she brushes her nose over my cheek to my ear. “I’ve got you, baby. Let me look after you.”

Lifting an arm, I take hold of her wrist. “Stay next to me.”

“I’m right here, baby.” Ariana lies down against my side, careful not to jar my body, and places her palm against my jaw again.

She continues to whisper to me until I’m dragged away by sleep once more.

Chapter 29

ARIANA

I only managed to keep Demitri in bed another day, and then he wouldn’t have any of it no matter what I said.

Holy crap, he’s a difficult patient.