A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166

FAYE

I tried going back into the house, but along the way, I found myself sitting at the training ground instead. I knew I should be inside with him right now, but I was a coward. I didn’t know if I could face him without crying. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sitting there.

The forest behind me was quiet. The only sound was the wind weaving through the trees…the faint rustle of leaves brushing against each other.

My tears had dried on my cheeks, leaving behind the salty sting of exhaustion. I’d screamed until my throat felt raw, until I had nothing left to give but silence.

I didn’t even flinch when I heard footsteps behind me…slow, uneven ones. My heart didn’t believe it could be him; my head refused to hope. But when I turned, I saw him standing

there.

Alexander looked paler…if that was even possible…almost translucent under the moonlight, the color drained from his face. He was trying to stand tall, but even from where I sat, I could see the tremor in his stance, the faint wince he tried to hide whenever he took a breath.

“Remember the first day we met? It was right here. You just couldn’t stop staring,” he said, trying so hard to keep a smirk on his face.

I just stared at him. I couldn’t believe he was standing there, talking like that. Talking like everything was fine.

How could he sound so calm? How could he stand there pretending that his world…and mine…wasn’t about to fall apart?

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said with a small, weary smile as he made his way closer. “I’m not a ghost… not yet, at least.”

“Alexander…” I started, but my voice cracked halfway through his name.

He lowered himself beside me slowly, with a quiet groan, and finally sat down on the cold earth. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, softly, he murmured, “I’m not going to spend my last hours brooding and feeling sorry for myself. That’s not me, Faye. You know that.”

I turned sharply toward him, my chest burning. “How can you even say that?”

He smiled faintly, not meeting my eyes. “Because it’s true.”

His voice was steady, almost casual…but that calmness broke me even more. He wasn’t trying to be brave; he was simply… at peace.

I swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that threatened to rise again. “How did you find me?

His lips curved slightly. “You forget who you’re talking to. I could smell you from a mile away if I tried.”

That almost made me laugh. I let out a shaky breath and gave a dry smile. “Right. Of course you could.”

We sat there for a while in silence. I didn’t know what to say, and maybe he didn’t either. The air felt heavy…thick with things we both wanted to say but didn’t dare.

Finally, he broke the silence. “I’m not worried about dying,” he said softly. “Just about what happens after. To you, to Irene, and to Moon Crescent.”

My chest tightened. “What about your mother?” I asked, my voice low. “Helen?”

He gave a faint, almost wistful laugh. “Helen will be fine. She always is.”

That made me laugh too, though it came out half–choked, half–broken. The tears I thought were gone returned without warning, sliding down my cheeks uncontrollably as I tried to wipe

them away.

“Don’t cry,” he whispered, reaching out to brush the tears from my face. His fingers trembled against my skin. “I hate it when you cry.”

I wanted to tell him that I couldn’t help it…that he didn’t get to ask me not to cry while calmly talking about dying. But the words caught in my throat, and all I could do was watch him…memorize the shape of his smile, the quiet warmth in his eyes, the way his hand lingered at my cheek as if trying to reassure us both that this moment was real.

After a while, we just lay back on the ground together, staring up at the pale blue sky.

I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady, slowing rhythm of his heartbeat. It was faint but still there…proof that he was alive, that for now, he was still here.

He coughed suddenly, and his whole body tensed beneath me.

“Alexander?” I sat up quickly, my heart leaping into my throat.

He winced, pressing a hand to his side. “Just… a bit of pain.”

I shook my head, tears brimming again. “Don’t,” I whispered. “Don’t try to act like this is

nothing.”

Ignoring me, he tried to adjust himself, but I caught his shoulders and guided him down gently until his head rested on my lap. “You’re not moving another inch,” I said, forcing a small, shaky smile. “It’s my turn to watch over you now.”

He looked up at me with that same faint grin…the one that had once melted me and now shattered me instead, “Is that so?”

“Yes,” I said softly.

Instead of answering, he reached for my hand. His skin was cold. He brought my fingers to his lips and kissed them lightly, the gesture so tender.

For a moment, I forgot to cry. I just sat there, my hand in his, the forest silent around us. The anger and despair that had consumed me earlier began to dull, replaced by something quieter, deeper…a terrible calm that came with acceptance.

Then, as the silence stretched, I found myself whispering, “Alexander… the one who stabbed you… is he still alive?”

His body tensed just slightly.

“Did you see his face?” I pressed. “Can you describe him?”

He hesitated, and that hesitation was enough for me to know he didn’t want to tell me.

“Faye,” he said quietly, “no.”

I looked down at him. “No?”

“No, I’m not giving you a name,” he said. “Because I know exactly what you’re thinking. Please, don’t.”

He was worried I was going to attempt revenge.

I tilted my head, my voice calm. “If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine,” I said slowly. “But I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’ll have Blood Crescent declare war on the entire Moon Claw. We’ll storm the territory, and this time, Alexander, not even an insect will be left alive.”

His lips curved faintly upward, a ghost of amusement flickering in his eyes. “My warrior queen,” he murmured.

The way he said it made my chest ache. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to laugh or cry again. Then, suddenly, he said, “There’ll be no need for that.”

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