Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 60

NADINE’S P.O.V

As I woke up with a pounding headache, I realized that the nurses were sneakier than I thought.

The last thing I remembered was a nurse saying she needed to give me an antibiotic shot. She must have lied because I woke up in a hospital bed feeling exhausted and groggy.

I looked around for Rowan, instantly sighing in relief when I saw him on the opposite end of the room. His leg was in a sling and it was wrapped better than I ever could have wrapped it. His eyes were closed and the steady rise and fall of his chest assured me that he was still breathing.

I dragged myself out of bed, ignoring the exhaustion I felt and dragged myself over to Rowan. It was only when I touched his warm skin that I allowed myself to breathe properly.

I brushed his hair out of his face and pressed a soft kiss to his head. "We’re safe."

I wasn’t sure if I was telling him or myself. I kissed him again and pulled back to grab a chair but his hand wrapped around my wrist.

"Stay." He opened his eyes and stared right into my soul.

"I’m not leaving," I assured him. "I’d never leave. You know that. I just need a chair."

His hold didn’t loosen. "Get in bed with me."

"Rowan, I can’t," I sighed. "You need to rest."

"I rest better when you’re next to me. Stay with me, princess, please."

I pursed my lips, debating how I’d tell him no but the look in his eyes was so vulnerable and soft that I couldn’t refuse. I murmured a small curse under my breath before gently climbing in next to him. I made sure to stay close to the edge, trying to give him as much space as possible but he wasn’t having that.

His hands wrapped around me and in one tug, he pulled me closer and nestled into me. His head lay on my chest and my fingers softly stroked his strands. It had grown out a lot and even though I liked it, I wondered if he would cut it short.

I opened my mouth to ask when the door opened. I tried to pull back from him but Rowan’s arms were tight around me, not giving me the chance to run.

I braced myself for the disapproving frown of the nurses but was left shocked by who I saw standing in the doorway.

"This is a surprise," General Trent drawled.

He hadn’t changed much since I last saw him. His greying hair was cut short and his eyes were still as harsh as ever but for once, I wasn’t scared of him. Before I would have cowered, rushed to my feet and greeted him with respect but now, all I felt was rage and frustration.

"Nadine, it’s a pleasure to have you back."

"It would have been nicer if I was allowed to come here with the original group instead of walking the whole way here."

His brows furrowed. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. We went looking for you and we didn’t find you in your room. We assumed someone had gotten you out."

"You didn’t think to check?"

To say he was shocked by my words would have been an understatement. I never snapped back, but then again, I wasn’t the girl he knew.

"I admit it was an oversight but seeing as things were tense, it isn’t our fault. You weren’t in your room."

"Maybe, but that doesn’t justify asking the guards to kill everyone you didn’t take with you."

His face betrayed nothing as he shook his head. "Once again, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Perhaps he was mistaken. I never gave those orders, right Caine?"

Rowan said nothing, he just stared at the general with blank eyes.

His face was stoic, not betraying anger or even suspicion. It was like looking at a statue and it was unnerving. I could read Rowan well, even on the days he tried to hide from me.

"I see the nurses have looked over you. They say you are healing well. Nadine could you give us a moment?"

"Why?

"Nadine, please leave."

I was shocked to hear the words from Rowan. I turned to him, my brows furrowed but he said nothing, merely gave me a curt nod as if to tell me that he was fine but I wasn’t worried about him being fine.

"Ro-"

"Anytime now, Nadine," General Trent cut in.

"I’m not leaving until one of you tells me what this is about."

"I would like a moment with my son. Is that enough of an explanation for you?"

The word settled in my stomach like lead. I turned to Rowan, expecting him to denounce the words but he didn’t. He just crossed his arms over his chest and refused to meet my eyes.

They looked nothing alike. The only features they shared was their dark hair but that wasn’t enough to know that they were related. A lot of people had dark hair. Rowan also never told me that they were family. He told me about his foster parents but not-

"I’ll explain later," Rowan whispered before pushing me gently to my feet. "Leave, now."

"Fine," I cleared my throat, ignoring the sting of betrayal. "Where do I go?"

"Joshua is waiting for you outside, he will lead you to your father. The poor man was riddled with guilt."

I didn’t bother responding, I just gave him a wry smile and walked out leaving the both of them in the room alone.

I couldn’t help but think about what they could be discussing.

I didn’t know the General well enough to know what he wanted to talk about. I couldn’t help but worry that Rowan was in trouble or that he would be thrown out.

"Nadine." Joshua’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He had changed out of his guard uniform into something more casual. "Are you alright?"

"I’m fine."

"Come, your father is waiting-"

"Why can’t he come to see me here? I am the one who was on the road for months. I could have died. The least he could do is come to see me in the hospital."

"Nadine, don’t throw a fit."

"A fit? I almost died. I lost people. I watched people die. Don’t you dare try to tell me how I can or cannot feel. The only reason I came out here is because Rowan asked me to. If he wants to see me, he can drag his ass over here and-"

"Language, Nadine." I froze at the voice. "I’d like to believe that I taught you better."

I turned around slowly, my heart pounding rapidly in my chest as I did. My dad stood behind me looking worse for wear. He looked tired and worn out, there were huge bags under his eyes and his face was sullen. He still managed to look stern and firm.

"Dad?"

He didn’t speak, he just took a step forward and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into a fierce hug.