When They Beg I Rise (Lemira) novel Chapter 1030

She stood there, frozen like a statue, while the tears finally broke and streamed silently down her face.

Suddenly, the world went dark. A hand clamped firmly over her eyes, shielding her from the horrific sight of the burning wreckage.

Operating purely on primal grief, Lemira opened her mouth and bit down on the boy's hand with every ounce of strength she possessed.

"It's okay. I've got you," that same gentle, cracking voice whispered against her ear.

Eventually, she let go.

She looked up, finally seeing the face of the boy who had dragged her from the wreckage.

It was a teenage Orion Everhart.

His features were youthful, his eyes wide with shock, his clothes ruined with her parents' blood.

As Lemira reached out to touch his face, the nightmare shattered.

Her eyes fluttered open. The blinding white lights of the hospital room assaulted her vision, accompanied by the sharp, sterile scent of antiseptic.

Was she still dreaming? She honestly couldn't tell anymore.

"You're awake?"

Lemira slowly turned her head. Sitting right beside her was the adult Orion Everhart. The man before her was strikingly handsome, hardened by time, far different from the bleeding boy in her memories.

She lifted a trembling hand and touched his cheek.

Orion didn't pull away. He leaned into her cold palm, his gaze incredibly soft.

Lemira slid her hand to the back of his neck and weakly pulled him down.

Orion didn't resist. He let her guide him until their faces were inches apart.

"What is it?" he murmured.

Instead of answering, Lemira pressed her lips to his. It was a hesitant, desperate kiss. She bit down on his lower lip.

"It's real," she whispered, pulling back slightly to look at the faint mark on his mouth. "This isn't a dream."

Orion paused, his heart doing a complicated rhythm in his chest. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. "It's not a dream."

"Did it hurt?"

Lemira shook her head. "No. I'm just really thirsty."

The water soothed her raw throat.

Her voice was still raspy when she spoke. "Did anyone at the dorm get hurt?"

"I didn't think about it. People were asleep. But I made it out fine, didn't I?"

"You passed out. Does that look fine to you?"

Lemira lowered her gaze, the steady, comforting beat of his heart thumping against her ear.

"I just... really hate fire," she murmured softly. "Can't a girl faint from a panic attack?"

Orion looked down at her. "Because of the car crash?"