Blood Legacy Chapter 120: 118. The DarkHart boys pt. 2

The steady beeping sound of that machine attached to Carina's body through a cord slowly became deafening as it kept tearing through the gravely silence, with every heartbeat.

She looked so serene and ethereal, like an angel fallen into deep slumber, her chest softly rising and falling as she lifelessly laid there, on her hospital bed.

His brother's eyes remained trained on that certain singular action for the entire time, those dark eyes of his framed by growing tiredness and worry. Three days had already passed. Yet he refused to move. He didn't dare let go of her hand, or even leave her side for a single moment. He'd sat there, on that same plastic chair day after day, hour after hour, frozen in place as he restlessly watched over her like a fierce guardian. He hadn't slept. Hadn't eaten. Hadn't even dared to avert his attention from her feeble form.

It bothered him. He didn't like it. Because he couldn't understand why. What happened between them? Did they actually know each other? Why did he seem so...insanely attached to her? What was up with that?

Nathan's attentive gaze trailed from Darius' hunched form to the way he kept on stubbornly holding onto Carina's delicate hand, refusing to let go. His other arm possessively rested over her bed, looking like he actually wanted to crawl under those covers right next to her and hold her. He seemed so utterly...enraptured.

The door softly opened and his intensive focus dispersed, quietly watching Jess from his seat as she entered Carina's room. Her stance remained meek and obedient, timidly peering between Nathan's slumped form over the small couch and his brother's hunched one looming over Carina's bed. Two cups of steaming hot coffee occupied her hands and she visibly hesitated, nervously biting her lower lip as she threw another glance between the two brothers.

Nathan's brow raised, watching with curiosity as she lastly willed herself to move and brought him the first cup, quickly leaving it on the small table situated next to the couch before she rushed to Darius' side, gently placing the other cup on the nightstand.

"Thank you, Jessica," his brother kindly said and turned to offer Jess a grateful smile as he looked up at her, the little runt's face immediately turning red as she stupidly stared at him for a moment, seemingly taken by surprise.

Her eyelids fluttered and her face became even redder as she seemed to have finally realized that she'd been staring, her dark blue eyes immediately lowering to the ground as she squeaked out,

"You're welcome, A-Alph-" A gasp suddenly escaped her before she could even finish that sentence, her blue eyes panickedly darting to Nathan.

She looked so incredibly embarrassed and guilty now. And he definitely knew why. But he couldn't blame her though. No matter how hard he tried. That need to submit to his brother's powerful Alpha aura was way too potent. Too oppressive. And he knew that. Which was why he didn't mind and offered her a small nod of understanding instead, watching her quickly deflate with an exhale.

She didn't waste any more time sticking around, rushing to excuse herself and with hurried steps she made her way straight back to the door, quietly exiting.

His gaze hardened again as he directed his attention back to his brother, still eyeing that place where his and Carina's bodies connected with growing hostility. He didn't like it. He didn't like the way he looked at her, the way he'd spoken to her, the way he was touching her...He didn't like it. And he needed to know why. Why his own brother, his kind and ever righteous brother, presumably just-returned from the dead seemed to appear so incredibly taken with his mate. Yes, she was still his. Maybe that connection was already waning but she was still his nonetheless. She was his mate. Not his brother's. HIS destined one. His betrothed. His duty. So why did it seem like his brother was actually trying to stake his claim on her too?

"It was you," Those words swiftly came out, firm and accusing.

"You're the one who took her away, aren't you?"

Vivid green clashed with black as their gazes met, Nathan's remaining pointed and determined whilst Darius' seemed rather dull and defeated.

He didn't answer and Nathan's rage only increased, those memories of Carina's recent appearance and behavior ever present at the forefront of his mind. Something happened to her. He was so sure of it. He must've done something to her. Maybe the Darius he knew, the one he grew up with would've never stooped so low as to kidnap innocent and defenseless girls, and do hell-knows whatever else he must've done to her.

But this, this person sitting before him wasn't the Darius he knew. He could tell. He was changed. So glaringly different. Even his scent was slightly different. Maybe he didn't notice at first, but after three days in his presence, he could definitely tell. Hell, even his wolf felt different. It was as if an imposter had taken his place and was actually doing such a good job at imitating him. Well, almost.

He abruptly stood up from his seat and approached the other side of Carina's bed with menacing steps, his eyes flashing golden as he spit between gritted teeth,

"What.did you do to her?"

"I want you to tell me everything," He firmly demanded with a pointing finger in his brother's direction. He wanted to know. He needed to know everything. What happened, why he was alive and most of all, what he did to her. He was simply tired of waiting for Darius to come clean. Enough was enough. He needed to know and he needed to know it now.

"Very well,"

**

Darius watched as his little brother's expression morphed with few different emotions as he patiently explained everything, those few emotions ranging from shock to utter anger and even a twinge of betrayal.

He knew that it was bound to happen. Their inevitable clash. From the very moment when Carina's heartbreaking pleas reached him. He thought that he was doing the right thing by letting her go.

He thought that it was better if he let her return to her family. To Nate. He thought that it was the right thing to do. For everyone.

Until that gut-wrenching pain hit him full-force. Those sleepless nights. That agonizing feeling. The very life draining out of him as he suffered in sync with the other half of his soul. He thought that she'd heal, and return to her mate. The one she fell in love with first. He thought that it was better that way. He'd only wanted to protect her. From himself. From his selfish and wrongful ways. He wanted to protect them both. Their fragile and precious hearts. He didn't deserve her, and he still believed it, very much so. He didn't deserve her tears, the way her beautiful soul desperately called out for his. He didn't deserve any of it. He deserved to die all over again, and let them be happy. His brother and this precious beautiful angel that was his mate.

He'd done wrong. He'd wronged again when he took her away, even if he'd only wanted to save her. He ruined their relationship. He ruined everything, like he always did. And now he almost killed her with his absence. He was despicable. The worst mate and brother one could ever have.

And yet he was still getting to sit right next to her, and hold her delicate hand as she struggled to recover from heartbreak. He was still the only one who could mend her, the one having the honour of holding her heart. He couldn't believe how strong their bond was. How powerful. He could practically feel her soul yearning to be close to his. Her magic stretching out its tendrils to caress and comfort his. She needed him like she needed air. And him, her.