World of Ashes: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series (Stone World Saga Book 3) by Cassiopeia Fletcher

Author:Cassiopeia Fletcher [Fletcher, Cassiopeia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2021-05-24T22:00:00+00:00

17

Jayden Brown

Athens, Washington

July 31, xxx6

11:52

Bright lights flashed and pain followed; a blinding headache, burning in his chest. The world tilted beneath his feet and disappeared. He scrambled for purchase, his fingers scrapped bloody against the nothingness that swallowed him up as he fell and fell and fell.

Emmett woke with a gasp. The steady beep of Mercy’s heart-monitor cut through the chaos in his brain, and he breathed deep. The smell of cedar pine permeated the quilt Emmett rested on, and he closed his eyes again. It was the soap Mercy used.

A hand stroked his neck just below his cotton cap, and he looked up into Mercy’s concerned eyes. He gasped.

“You were dreaming,” she said. “You were saying things, but I couldn’t understand.”

His eyes traced her tired features. The lines of pain that had etched her sleeping face were gone, leaving only the Mercy he remembered. He raised a hand, aching to touch her and match her reality with his memory. Her same high cheekbones and pert nose, the same wide brown eyes and full, Cupid’s bow lips.

She leaned into his hand, concern etching lines in her face. “Emmett?”

Pushing up on the bed, his hand never leaving her face, Emmett kissed her. He lingered, the kiss long and sweet, but stayed mindful of her wires and tubes. Pulling back, Emmett rested his forehead against hers.

“I love you.”

Mercy hummed, her eyes contentedly closed. “That’s nice.”

Emmett chuckled and kissed her forehead.

“Is that why you’re back so early?” Mercy opened her eyes with a tired grin. “Because you love me?”

“If I said yes, would you hit me?”

“Probably.”

“That’s not why I’m back so early.” Emmett sat back on the plastic hospital chair. “But I do love you.”

“Hm.” Mercy was too tired to summon her usual flippancy. “I love you too.”

Emmett’s brow furrowed, and he blinked hard to clear the burning in his eyes. Reaching out, he ran a hand down the side of Mercy’s face. She sighed, leaning into his palm with closed eyes.

“You really scared me, Mercy.”

“I really scared myself.”

He stroked her cheek with his thumb. Mercy gasped, and her eyes flew wide.

“The baby?!” Her heart monitor spasmed as she tried to sit up; Emmett pushed her back.

“He’s fine. Coral’s watching him.”

Mercy sighed then settled back in her bed with a groan. “I think I popped a stitch.”

Emmett’s heart lurched. “Should I call Aslan?”

“Don’t you dare! That poor boy’s suffered enough.”

“But if you—”

“I was kidding, Emmett. I didn’t pop anything. It just hurts.”

“Do you want morphine? Aslan said he could set up a drip—”

“I’m nursing.”

“We have formula—”

“Not a chance. I’ll feed my own baby, thanks.”

Emmett huffed. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?”

“You love that about me,” Mercy said without the slightest insecurity. His shoulders hitched with a laugh, and Emmett took her hand, careful of the IV.

“Yeah. I do.”

They sat in silence, their hands entwined as Mercy regulated her breathing; the heart monitor slowed to a steady pulse. Pain lined her face, and Emmett grimaced. He would give anything to change places with her.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.