"DO SOMETHING HENRIETTA!",Riven roared at the witch.
"I don't know what else to do!",Henrietta shouted in frustration, at a loss of what to do. She had never been so confused in her entire life.
Layla was thrashing on the bed as pain racked her body and Riven was holding her down, trying to soothe her.
"Maybe you didn't check her well. Try checking her again",Caleb suggested and Henrietta glared at the gamma in anger.
"What do you mean I didn't check her well?",she retorted angrily. "I'm a witch and I know exactly what to do in this situation"
"Well do something!",Caleb yelled angrily. He was stressed with the entire situation and Riven's murderous mood wasn't helping matters.
Henrietta was getting pissed and it showed in the way her hair glowed bright red. Her blue eyes burned with rage, rage she tried to hold back.
"I've tried everything I can",she said through gritted teeth, her fist clenched tight in anger.
"It could be dark magic",Cade suggested next. "Maybe you can't figure it out because you're not a Sorceress..."
"It is not dark magic you son of a..."
"ENOUGH!",Riven's voice came out guttural and filled with fury. His eyes were blood red as he turned and glared at the three figures behind him.
"Alpha..."
"Leave! All of you!",he ordered, trying his best to put a leash on his enraged beast.
Henrietta was the first to leave the room before Cade and Caleb followed behind her.
Riven was left alone in the room, and he held on to Layla's trembling body, praying to the moon goddess to save her.
...
Layla was put to sleep with some herbal mixture Henrietta prepared, so the pain would reduce. She looked so pale and thin on the bed, looking like she would take her last breath soon. Her brows were knitted, which meant even in her unconscious state, she was still in pain.
Henrietta looked like she had aged during this period Layla was sick. She had used a number of spells and potions to diagnose Layla's ailment but still, she found nothing. It was just like what happened the last time. Something was blocking her magic from working. And it seemed to be coming from Layla. It then made her wonder what Layla was exactly. They knew nothing about her, and Riven had forbidden anyone to ask her about her past. Not knowing about Layla's past made everything difficult because they had no idea what she was.
It had already been proven that she wasn't human. With her strange powers, it meant Layla was a Sorceress. A very powerful Sorceress. And it led to many other questions. If Layla was a Sorceress, who were her parents? Which of the Sorcerers or Sorceresses escaped the annihilation? Henrietta knew finding Layla's parents would reveal most of the answers they needed.
She looked over to Layla's pale form on the bed. The poor girl had been through so much since she arrived at the island. It seemed every creature was out to get her and Riven had to be prepared because his enemies would want to use her against him.
Riven was standing rigidly at the window, staring out to the distance. She couldn't blame him for snapping at her earlier because she had an inkling of what he was going through. Although she had no idea how the mate bond worked, but she had been in love once, a long time ago. So she knew what Riven was currently feeling.
He hadn't left Layla's side since her ailment started, four days ago. He hadn't eaten a bite, nor drank a single drop of water. The remaining dragon shifters he planned to punish were locked in the dungeons, forgotten totally because his entire attention was on his mate. Henrietta prayed for the quick recovery of Layla because if anything should happen to her, Riven would lose control and go feral.
"How is she?",Riven asked without bothering to turn around.
A deep sigh escaped the witch.
"Her temperature is still up",she said slowly. "But the pain must have released her totally"
Riven remained at the window. He was afraid to turn around because the sight of Layla's pale appearance tore at him. It hurt him greatly that he couldn't do anything to take her pain away. He didn't even know what caused her such intense pain and burning fever. It couldn't be food poisoning because he had been strict with Layla's food, making sure she ate only what he provided for her.
Why then did she have to fall ill?
Riven almost turned violent with frustration and anger, and it was Cade and Caleb that succeeded in calming him down. The other shifters were terrified to approach him because he was in a murderous mood and they had to report whatever they had to say to Cade, who would then report to Riven.
While Cade took over the running of the island for the moment, Riven locked himself up in his room with his mate and Henrietta, refusing to eat. Layla's condition got worse with each passing day and the thought of losing her was unbearable, not to mention he just found her after centuries of waiting.
It was now exactly a whole week since Layla lost consciousness. Henrietta had to stop the herbal potions because there would be side effects if Layla were to regain consciousness. The room was deathly quiet, even the entire mansion was quiet as everyone seemed to walk on eggshells, terrified of riling up the Alpha.
Suddenly a strange scent wafted into the room. It was strange, and yet familiar. It was the scent of lilac. The scent grew stronger, settling over the mansion and making the shifters alert to the slightest sign of danger.
Riven finally looked up from Layla's pale face as he heard sharp footsteps making its way towards his room. His nostrils flared, and something snapped in his eyes as he recognized the scent.
The door flew open and a young beautiful woman walked in, dressed in a black flowing dress and heels. Her hair was a mane of vibrant purple curls and her eyes were alight with purple fire. She looked absolutely breathtaking and powerful. Those sharp looking eyes landed on Layla's form and softened.
Henrietta flew up from her seat and stared at the woman with shock-filled eyes.
"Annabelle Hale",she whispered. The last pure blooded Sorceress was still alive?
Riven recovered from his shock instantly and in the next second, he slammed into the woman, arms wrapped tightly around her neck, pinning her to the wall.
"What do you want here?",he growled in her face. "How are you still alive? How did you get passed my warriors"
"Nice to see you too Riven",Annabelle said lazily without a hint of fear. Even after spending weeks in the vast ocean, travelling through stormy seas to get to the portal that led to the hidden island, she still looked breathtakingly beautiful. And powerful.
"I will have you killed on the spot..."
"You will do no such thing",Annabelle said while she looked straight into Riven's eyes. "You won't kill the only one who has the cure to your mate's ailment"
Riven pressed down on Annabelle's neck, choking her and yet, the Sorceress stared at him nonchalantly. She looked bored. Henrietta watched them in silence, her eyes still filled with shock at the appearance of the most powerful Sorceress.
"Why? Why are you interested in saving my mate?",Riven growled quietly.
"Because she is my daughter!"
...
Author's Note
Hello readers
I know this chapter came late, but I made sure I fulfilled my promise. Another chapter will be uploaded soon. Please keep voting and supporting the book. I love you❤️
BellaCupid