She tied the bandage a little too tightly, and he hissed in pain. “You should be,” she said, her tone fierce but softening as she touched his arm. “You scared me half to death.”

He caught her wrist gently, their eyes locking. “I didn’t want to leave you. I had to. Reese—”

“Forgive me, Stefan, but I don’t care about Reese right now,” she said, wiping her tears and cutting him off. “I care that you’re here. That you’re alive.”

She pressed her forehead against his ...