Right before I blacked out , I felt a warm , solid embrace . Ciel's voice brushed my ear , low and rough . " Idiot . " +25 Bonus When I came to , it was already dark . My shoulder was cleaned , wrapped tight in thick bandages . I sat up , scanning the room , and spotted Ciel in the hall , a line of people kneeling before him . One of his men was shaking so hard he looked ready to fall over . " Mr. Clementine , you said you just wanted to scare your wife so she'd back off . We didn't think she'd actually run in- " Ciel spun a dagger between his fingers , his voice icy . " Do it yourself . " The blade clattered to the floor at the man's knees . He didn't argue . Jaw tight , he picked it up and , eyes squeezed shut , drove it into his own left shoulder - the same spot I'd been shot . I squeezed my eyes shut , but something strange stirred in me . Was he ... actually standing up for me ? That night , thunder cracked the sky wide open . I jolted awake to shattering glass and a furious shout . In the study , Ciel sat slumped on the floor, shards of glass digging into his palm . Blood ran down his fingers . " Stay back ! " The second our eyes met , his expression iced over . I froze , but the sweat on his forehead gave him away . Lightning flashed again . He squeezed his eyes shut , teeth grinding . " Seeing me like this - does it make you proud ? " It clicked - thunderstorms freaked him out . I wasn't stupid enough to say it . I grabbed the med kit and crossed the room . His hand clamped around my wrist , eyes shot red . " Get out . " I didn't move . Just grabbed the alcohol and poured it over his palm . " You're my husband . You're hurt . I'm fixing it . " He hissed , but the edge in his gaze dulled . I leaned in , working the tweezers , pulling the glass out one shard at a time . *** 1/2 Chapter 7 Watching Vivienne work , Ciel's glare slowly eased . She didn't notice her sleepwear strap sliding off her shoulder , the thick bandages showing . +25 Bonus He remembered her stepping in front of him , taking the bullet meant for him . His throat tightened . " Why did you save me ? " Vivienne looked up , confused . " If I died , you'd be free . So why take a bullet for me ? " He'd been the unwanted bastard from day one . His mother killed herself at the family gates just to force his father to acknowledge him . When he was seven , she died on a stormy night , whispering with her last breath , " Ciel , never love anyone . The moment you love , you hand them your weakness . And they will destroy you . " Even after she went cold , his father didn't open the door . He hated his father . But he hated his mother more - how could she love someone enough to throw away her life ? Yet Vivienne had risked hers for him . " I told you , " she said quietly . " I'll play the good wife . That includes protecting you . " Thunder cracked outside . Ciel curled in on himself , tension obvious . This time , Vivienne pulled him into her arms before he could fight it . Her warmth , her heartbeat against his ear- For the first time since his mother's death , Ciel closed his eyes and actually slept . Support Share