Chapter 172: The Engagement Ring

Victor’s POV

Pain coursed through me. My body writhed with it, and there was a prickling feeling at the back of my neck. My body keeled over, and blood spewed from my mouth.

I sent a silent prayer out to my heart, thanking it for producing as much blood as I threw up, and then I apologized to it too, for doing to it what I was.

“Victor…”

Somewhere to my side, was it my left or my right, I didn’t know, I heard Axel calling out. He always did that, said my name in such a way that held the sharp edge of a knife, on it danced pity and pain, like a golden song playing in silver halls. I hated the way my name sounded when he found me like this.

He would ask me strange questions, like whether I was alright, what he could do to help, what he should do, who he should fetch. I never answered him, and so he answered himself with more questions, more water, more dry towels that I bloodied eventually.