#Chapter 199 – The Long Night

Rafe carefully places Victor on his side of the bed while I pull back the sheets. The two brothers cheerfully joke about the battle and the siege, about what happened next and how poor Rafe had to clean up Victor’s mess while Victor had what Rafe calls a “nice four-day nap.” Victor laughs at this and teases his brother, but I can see that his heart isn’t in it.

He just wants to sleep, I know.

But he’s honestly so sick, so tired that…I don’t know if he’ll wake up.

It’s a horrible realization to come to as I tuck the blankets in around him. I see that Rafe comes to it as well and does his best to keep the knowledge of it off his face. As Victor looks between us, I know that we’re both failing.

“Thank you,” Victor says, smiling at Rafe. “You’ve been a good brother to me. I’m glad that we have…fixed things. Between us. After so many years.”

“Yeah,” Rafe says, a little awkward, running his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry that I…poisoned you during chess. And hung you upside down from a tree. And all that.”

Victor and I can’t help laughing at this and Rafe smiles at us and then heads for the door. I walk with him to it.

“The boys?” I say quietly, looking towards their room where I can hear them playing. “Will you put them to bed? And…stay with them?”

He nods quietly to me and I can see the grief plain on his face now. No need to hide it anymore – not now that he’s out of Victor’s sight.

“Thank you,” I whisper, and then press the door shut. I turn back to Victor, leaning against it.

Victor sits in the bed, his face still so pale, but he smiles at me. He glances quickly at the closet. “Will we be expecting any…phone calls? Tonight?”

I can’t help the laugh that bursts out of me. “I mean,” I say, shrugging. “I can hook it back up, if you want to. Who knows who might call.”

and then opens his arms.

me as I rest my head against his chest, which rises faintly. I can feel a slight tremor in the muscles

know how grateful I am to have had you in my life. To have had at least

so that he can feel my refusal against his chest even if he can’t hear it. “No goodbyes, Victor. It’s not time for that. Not for

after a moment, whispers, “all right. Come and give me a kiss, and then we’ll

his. The kiss he gives me – it sweeps through me,

feels as strong and willful as he’s ever been – a force of nature

makes sense to me, though. His love for me is

can see that his eyes are half closed

moment to go and change into my pajamas.

to him,

the hours pass,

chest rising less and less with each passing breath. I keep my hand on his wrist, my fingers

Finally, eventually, I panic.

being home would invigorate him, bring him the peace and comfort he needs to heal. But things are

when I can barely feel the pulse at his wrist. “No, Victor. This is not

shaking him. I have no idea what I’m doing, obviously, and I am

what the hell else am

falls to the side. “Wake up!” I say.

asleep, or worse. Passed

my panic overtakes me. s**t, s**t

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