CHAPTER 22

Poppy sniffled. 

"Don't say anything. Just…don't, please. It's going to hurt the more you do, please…"

"I'm not going die." Xavina snorted a pained laugh. "Relax a little bit—" 

"How can I relax?" She lost it, silencing him. "You took a bullet for me, and now you're like this, and I feel like I'm in a strange sort of pain, something I don't understand! I am scared, freaking scared, more than I have ever been before. I don't want you to die, but you don't even want to go to the hospital, and it hurts to know there is nothing I can do. I don't know what to do, I don't have any idea of what I can do for you. I'm scared…I'm scared it's going to happen all over…again!" 

All over…again? Xavian stared at her, taken aback, pupils dilated and lips parted softly. His gaze was heavy, possible to fall unconscious in a few more seconds, and he averted his eyes, snorting a short laugh under his breath.