26

The second I got Max through the front door, I didn't let him go.

"Sit," I said, pushing him gently onto the couch. He didn't argue, but he winced, every movement making him hiss through his teeth.

"How can I help you heal?" I asked, already scanning the bruises, the burns that hadn't closed, the angry red slashes across his ribs.

Max gave me a crooked grin. "Just give it time, darling."

"That's not good enough," I muttered, already heading to grab the first aid kit. "How the hell did they even catch you?"

"Oh, you know, the usual. I let my guard down, followed a hot guy into the woods, got ambushed by your boy scout best friend." He tilted his head like it was some hilarious anecdote.

I didn't laugh.

"I'm serious, Max. How did they catch you?"

Max sighed, leaning his head back, lips quirking. "I was... distracted. Thought I'd be the one doing the chasing. Turns out, it was a trap. Classic rookie mistake." He grinned at me. "Guess that's what I get for being too pretty."

I didn't even hesitate. I pressed the alcohol-soaked cloth directly onto a gash on his side. Hard.

"Fuck!" he hissed, jerking forward. "That's abuse, darling."

"Shut up." I grabbed his jaw, turning his face toward me to check a cut on his cheek. "You're an idiot."

"You like my idiocy." He waggled his brows.

I pressed the cloth against the cut on his cheek. Harder than necessary. "I said shut up."

He laughed, though it was strained, and leaned into my touch anyway.

Every time he made another dumb joke, I "accidentally" pressed a little too hard on his wounds. He never complained. He just laughed more, even as his body tensed in pain.

"Seriously, though," he muttered when I was wiping blood from his collarbone, "I've been tortured by worse. At least Scott didn't monologue about being a hero the entire time."

I shot him a look.

"I mean," he smirked, "not as much as he usually does."

Another press of the cloth. Another hiss of pain.

"You're lucky you're cute," I said, sitting back on my heels.

"Lucky? No, darling. You're lucky I'm here, gracing you with my presence."

He laughed, but it cracked this time, thin, strained. The act was slipping, and I could see how much it actually hurt.

I sighed, softening, leaning in to kiss his temple. "Just... stay here, okay? No more hero complex bullshit."

"Wasn't trying to be a hero," he murmured, eyes fluttering shut. "That's your boyfriend's job. I was just trying to keep them away from you."

I froze.

That hit deeper than I wanted to admit.

"Idiot," I whispered, kissing him again, softer this time.

He smiled, a little less cocky, a little more human. "Your idiot."

"How are you even planning to go outside without your ring?" I asked, tossing the bloody towel into the sink.

Max, who was sprawled lazily on my couch like he wasn't half-burned and covered in healing wounds, just gave me that smug grin of his. "Well, that's the tricky part, isn't it? I need to get another one."

"Oh sure, just pop by the vampire ring store and grab a new one, right?" I said, rolling my eyes.

He chuckled. "Not exactly. But I do have a friend. She's a witch. She can get me a new one."

That got my attention. "A witch?"

"Mhmm." He stretched his arms behind his head, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at his not-yet-healed burns. "I think you'd like her. She's a little chaotic, has a thing for lost causes. You'd get along."

"Is she here? In Beacon Hills?"

Max laughed, a full-bodied laugh that made his eyes crinkle, even though it probably hurt. "No, darling. She's in New Orleans."

I blinked. "New Orleans?"

He sat up, leaning forward with that dangerous glint in his eyes. "Yeah. What do you say? Road trip? I've got a house there. We can stay for a while. I know people there who may help you with... whatever's going on inside you."

I narrowed my eyes, crossing my arms. "How many houses do you have, exactly?"

He hummed, pretending to count on his fingers. "Hmm... I don't know. A lot? I lose track. Got one in Italy, another in Prague, oh, there's a nice little farmhouse in Brazil if you want to get a tan." He waggled his eyebrows.

I couldn't help but laugh. "You're impossible."

"But charming," he said, pointing at me like he was scoring points.

I shook my head, biting back a smile. "First stop: New Orleans."

He froze, then grinned wide, fangs peeking slightly. "Really? You're in?"

I shrugged, but my heart was racing a little. "Why not? It's not like Beacon Hills has been giving me much to stay for lately."

Max's grin was nothing short of victorious. "Perfect. I'll call Davina. She's going to love you."

"Davina, huh? Sounds like a lot of trouble."

"Oh, she is. But so are you." He grabbed his phone, already dialing, but his eyes didn't leave me. "New Orleans, darling. You're going to love it."

fin...

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Thats it for now, hope you guys liked it!