Vampire Mine - Kerrelyn Sparks [82]
She touched his cheek. “I’ll just say this while you’re asleep, so it won’t complicate matters. I love you, Connor Buchanan.”
His mouth curled up.
She sat back with a gasp. “You’re awake.”
His eyes flickered open. “Now why would ye want to waste such words on a sleeping man?”
Chapter Eighteen
She loved him.
Connor’s heart filled with joy. It was not a feeling he’d felt very often in his four hundred and ninety-nine years of existence, so it came coupled with fear. Fear that it wouldn’t last. It couldn’t last. She would eventually return to heaven where she belonged. But for now, he would try to savor the moment.
She loved him.
He smiled, recalling the night they’d walked in the park and ridden the carousel. He’d bought her ice cream and gotten hard, watching her eat it. He needed to stop distancing himself from her. Instead, they should create more beautiful memories that he could cherish after she was gone.
She loved him.
He chuckled. Marielle looked so embarrassed. She should be embarrassed. A beautiful angel like her falling for a coldhearted old undead bastard like him. How could he be so fortunate? Better not question it, and just enjoy the moment. Here he was, lying beneath a tree with—
His smile faded. Where the hell was he? He struggled to remember, but his thoughts were fuzzy.
A memory flashed through his mind. A blaring horn and bright headlights. “The truck!” He sat up and winced at the tenderness in his ribs.
“Careful.” She touched his shoulder. “You may still be a little sore.”
Sore from what? He looked her over. “Ye dinna get hit?”
“No, you saved me. And I know I should be grateful, but really, Connor, it makes me angry. You left yourself right in the path of the truck. You have to be more careful. It would have killed me if you’d been run down.”
His mouth twitched. “Because ye love me?”
“I’m serious. Don’t you dare put yourself in danger like that again.”
“How did I get here?” He touched the thick white robe that had fallen into his lap. “And where did this come from?”
“Bunny gave it to you.”
His eyes widened in feigned horror as he examined the length of the robe. “That’s one hell of a big rabbit.”
She laughed. “It’s from Buniel. My friend, the Healer.”
“I figured that.” His jaw shifted as he imagined her perfect angelic boyfriend. “Why was he here? And why was he taking off his clothes?”
“He healed you.” She gave him a wry look. “You can thank him later. You had a fractured skull, a concussion, cracked ribs, multiple contusions—”
“I was injured?” He rubbed his rib cage. No wonder it seemed a bit tender. “I was hit by the truck?”
“No. I managed to move you out of the way with a blast of air.”
“Och, that’s good. Thank you.” He smiled. “All yer hard work and practice paid off.”
“I suppose.” She ducked her head, still looking embarrassed.
He felt his head. There was dried blood in his hair. A fractured skull? No wonder he couldn’t remember much. “How did I get injured then?”
“You . . . uh . . .” She pointed up a rocky incline. “The road is up there. You . . . fell down here.”
“I fell off a bloody cliff?” How could he have been so clumsy? Why hadn’t he simply teleported to safety?
“I . . . it was my fault.” She hung her head. “I may have used a little too much force with the blast of air—”
“Ye blew me off a cliff?” he shouted.
She winced. “It’s not really a cliff. It’s more of a . . . slope.”
He huffed. “Is that how ye treat the man ye love?”
“Well, yes.” She lifted her chin. “I was desperate to save you. And when Darafer froze you—”
“What?” Connor jumped to his feet. “Darafer was here?”
“Up there.” She stood and pointed to the road. “He froze time. He froze you right in front of the truck.”
Connor shook his head. This was too strange. “He froze time?”
“Yes. Darafer froze everything except himself and . . . me.”
Connor’s heart plummeted. She’d been in terrible danger, and he—he had been completely helpless. “I—” He stumbled back, knocking against the tree.
“Careful.” She grabbed his arm. “You may be a little dizzy from the concussion.”
“Nay.” He moved aside,