"Why did you do that?" I shout at him over and over, crying and trying to keep enough pressure on Asher's wound. Unfortunately I've seen wounds like this before and without immediate help, he will not survive. Lycans may heal quicker than humans, but even they are vulnerable to fae daggers.
"After what he did to me? I'd call us even." Answers Thomas easily, like he didn't just mortally wounded a person. "Besides, now you no longer have to choose, baby. I'm your only choice, like I always were."
"You're mad, Thomas." I shout at him and he just laughs.
"That's why we're meant to be, Adeline. We're both mad and madly in love." He jokes but I wish I could stuff his stupid mockery down his throat. "Now let's go back and continue what we're interrupted from."
He offers me his hand but I growl at him, blood boiling in my veins. How he dares tell me that, after what he has done? I knew I wasn't in my right mind in that moment, but I couldn't control myself. I started cursing him, wailing and calling on anyone who could help me, as Asher stopped moving at all. I felt his body heavier in my hands and I knew I have mere seconds to save his life. I wished to trade my life for his, for some miracle to happen and that he'll be found by someone who could help us... Kale. That darn witch is my only hope right now but his cottage is too far away for us.
Thomas kept talking to me, but I was only listening to Asher's weak heartbeats. I closed my eyes to hear them better and I imagined being able to carry him back to the pack where he would be saved. I dreamed of waking up right outside Kale's cottage, the witch rushing immediately at our aid. I visioned how he would get Hayder and Chase to carry Asher into his home and how I'd be left behind, until two strong arms would lift me up.
Surprinsingly I actually feel myself pulled on my feet and I prepare to kick Thomas somewhere he wouldn't like, but I'm surprised to find Phoebe looking at me in shock.
"How did you find us?" I ask her, then I search for Asher. My mouth opens when I see that I'm standing in Kale's vegetable garden, not understanding how I got here.
"Are you okay, Aline? What happened?" She asks but I don't have time for her silly questions. I leave her standing there and I run to the house.
By the time I entered, Kale already patched Asher's wound and put him an IV bag. I remember that he is a witch and probably just spelled the things there. I approach slowly the bed Asher was sleeping on and I nearly fall on the floor, after I stumble on my own feet. Hayder catches me and puts me on a chair a few steps away from Asher. I immediately get up and move the chair to stand right next to the wounded Lycan. I wasn't in control of any of my actions, my body was acting on his own, trying to make sure that he is fine.
"I'm sorry," I whisper to him, although I'm aware that my excuses are all in vain and that he can't hear me now.
The people around me were buzzing me with questions I didn't have the energy to answer to. I cup Asher's hand in mine and I lay my head on the bed, drifting off to a dreamless sleep.
***
Hayder puts another bowl of food next to me, but this time I don't even have the power to lift my head to glance over it. I can't even move my hand enough to push it away from me, I'm numb down to my soul and I can't wait to fall back asleep.
"If you don't eat, I'll get Kale to magic an IV on you." Says the Lycan and although I wish I could tell him to go away, my throat is too dry to blurb any words. I wish I could mentally tell him to leave me the hell alone.
"Fine," he tells me, finally walking away from me and giving me the few moments of silence I need to go back to sleep.
***
It's been a while since I last woke up fine. But today the sun was shining brighter through the cottage's windows, the light was richer and harder to block so I can't fall back to sleep. But, strangely, I didn't even want to. I stretched my legs and realised I'm no longer glued to that old chair, but I'm in a rather comfortable bed. I slowly lift my head and a wave of pain hits my head. I cover my forehead with my palm, swearing when another part of my body starts hurting. I look down my arm and found a fricking needle stuck in there. Hayder wasn't joking when he said that he'll put me on a liquid diet. Although I desperately want to rip it off, I know that only works in the movies and that IVs are not actually band-aids you can take off easily.
Ignoring all the pain in my body, I raise up and look around me. I still was in Kale's cottage and I was completely alone. My body tenses up when I realise Asher should be in the bed I woken up in and worry blind my mind in a moment. A drop of adrenaline revives my whole body and I jump on my feet... which wasn't a great idea. My knees hit the floor the second later and I succeed into ripping the IV off. The pole falls on the floor and the liquid in the bag spills all over the floor. Blood was slowly dripping down my arm but I still proceed to crawl on the floor and reach the door. I try to open it but I wasn't reaching the doorknob. I angrily hit the door and it magically opens.
"Adeline" Shouts Kale, stading in front of me with a bag of herbs in one hand and a few medical supplies in the other. He drops everything and helps me get on my feet.
He then ushers me back to the bed I left and I don't even try to protest. I wasn't strong enough for it. I stand on the egde of the bed with my feet barely touching the floor. Kale bandages my bleeding arm and proceeds to clean up the mess I made.
"Where is Asher?" I ask but he doesn't answer, which alarms me.
"Where is he, Kale?" I further ask but he silently walks to the door to gather the stuff he left on his porch. "Damn it, answer me!"
"He's fine," the bloody witch finally speaks.
"I didn't ask how he is, but where the hell is he!" I yell and he barely looks at me. This witch is clearly testing my patience.
"He'll be here when you wake up," he tells me, slowly approaching. I want to shout at him that there ain't no chance in hell I'll be falling asleep too soon, but my words are cut short by a cloud of sparkly, blue dust. I can't help but lay back on the bed and drift off yet again.