Tristan paced across the nursery, staring silently at Sophia in her bed. She was pale and sweating, groaning softly every few minutes as her grandmother sponged her forehead with water.
He stood next to the bed and rested a shaking hand on the little girl's leg. She was so small and fragile, and he gazed helplessly at her as she opened her eyes and stared at him.
"It hurts, Papa," she whispered.
"I'm sorry, baby." He swallowed hard and rubbed her leg. "You'll feel better soon."
She closed her eyes and groaned again as he crossed the room to the window.
"Tristan, sit down." Victoria put a cool hand on his arm. "You cannot even see the west field
from this side of the house."
He shook her hand off as Hendrick approached him from the other side, glancing at his sister.
"Lord Tristan, I don't mean to question your judgement, but should we not be going for the
doctor? I do not understand why you have sent for the Red. Sophia needs medical care, not some spell from a witch."
"Avery isn't a witch," Maya said. She was standing at the end of Sophia's bed and her face was pinched and worried looking. She boosted Nicholas up on her shoulder and patted his back as she glared at Hendrick.
Hendrick ignored her and continued to stare at Tristan. "Let me go and get the doctor."
Tristan turned abruptly and stared at him. Hendrick took a step back, holding his hands up as Tristan snarled, "The nearest doctor is in the village – a half day ride at least. Sophia will be dead before you return."
Victoria put a hand on his back. "Tristan, darling, do you think it's wise to let the Red practice her magic on your child? If she is indeed a witch like the humans believe she is, what is to stop her from -"
"She is not a witch," Tristan ground out. "She is -"
The door to the nursery flew open and Avery ran into the room, followed closely by Marshall. Her face was bright red from the cold, and she had a large smear of dirt on her forehead. She ran to the bed, tearing off her coat and gloves as she looked at Maya.
"What happened?"
"She fell off her horse and at first she seemed fine. She bruised her knee a little and she said her stomach hurt a bit, but other than that she was perfectly normal. Then an hour ago, she started complaining of a stomach ache. I was about to tuck her into bed when she just – just collapsed," Maya said. She started to cry, and Marshall put his arm around her, kissing her forehead.
Tristan took his mother's shoulders and urged her away from the bed. "Mother, let Avery look at Sophia."
Vivian allowed herself to be led away. Her face was grey, and her hands were trembling. She had seemed to age ten years.
As Tristan watched, Avery put her cold hand on Sophia's forehead. It was like touching a furnace and she kicked off her boots as Sophia opened her eyes and stared blearily at her.
"Hurts, Avery," she whimpered.
"I know it does, my love," she replied. "I'm going to make you feel better, all right?"
The little girl had already closed her eyes. Her breathing was harsh and shallow, and she had
dark circles under her eyes.
Avery carefully pulled back the covers. Sophia was dressed in just her underwear and Avery
sucked in her breath, a small cry escaping from her lips. Sophia's belly had swelled to twice its normal size, and bruising was blossoming like dark malignant flowers across her skin.
Tristan made a sound like a wild animal caught in a trap. Avery glanced at him and squeezed his arm for a moment before standing. Just her brief touch soothed him a little. Ignoring the others in the room, she quickly stripped out of her clothes and eased into the bed next to Sophia. She gathered the little girl into her arms so that Sophia's entire body was pressed against her. Sophia shrieked in pain as Avery moved her, and both Vivian and Maya gave their own cries of distress in response.
"I'm sorry, my love," Avery whispered into the little girl's ear. She placed her hand on Sophia's swollen belly and kissed the girl's mouth and pale face continually as Tristan crouched on the floor next to them.
He and the others watched as Avery closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the little girl's. She winced and shuddered but pressed her body even closer against Sophia.
"It will be a while," she murmured without opening her eyes.
"Can you save her?" Tristan asked hoarsely as his mother wept steadily behind him. "I do not know," she replied.
"Tristan, sit down, darling." Victoria reached for his hand and he shook her off. He had been restlessly pacing the nursery for the last hour, staring silently at Avery and Sophia. They were a quiet, still lump under the covers. Maya had pulled the bedcovers up until just the top of Avery's head was visible and he could not see Sophia at all. Twice he had nearly approached the bed and looked under the covers, but his fear that Sophia would look exactly the same, pale and close to death, kept him away. If he could not see Sophia, he could hold on to the faith that Avery was healing her.
"This is my fault," he said as his mother crossed the room and placed a worn hand on his arm.
"It is not," she said. She glanced behind her at the bed before turning back to face her son. "Tristan, we must prepare ourselves. Sophia is gravely injured. I know you want to believe that Avery can help her in some way, but the humans' tales of the Red's being witches are only stories. We need to make arrangements -"
She stopped, her face twisting and Tristan glared at her. "She is not going to die. Avery will save her."
"Tristan, you're mad with grief," Victoria said. "It is foolish to let the Red share in your child's last moments while you watch from a distance. You and your mother should be the ones holding Sophia and soothing her right now. Would you deny your mother her last chance to be with her grandchild?"
Tristan took a deep breath as he stared at his mother. "You don't know what Avery can do. You were sick and close to death. You collapsed and fell into a deep sleep that we could not wake you from, until the next morning when you miraculously awoke feeling completely normal. That was because of Avery."
Vivian frowned at him. "Tristan, I don't know what you're talking about. Aye, I was feeling sick but my Lycan healing finally -"
He shook his head. "No, Mother, it was not your Lycan blood that helped you heal. Avery snuck into your bed the night you collapsed and held you until you healed. You owe her your life."
There was movement under the covers and coughing could be heard. Maya stood up from the rocking chair, one arm cradling Nicholas and the other held tightly by Marshall. She looked at Tristan and he nodded grimly before approaching the bed.
A combination of dread and hope filled his body as he reached out with shaking hands and tugged the covers down to Avery's shoulders. Avery, her hair very red against the extreme paleness of her skin, was lying still with her eyes closed. She didn't stir when the cold air touched her bare skin. Sophia, her eyes closed and her cheeks flushed with colour, was lying against Avery's breast.
"Sophia?" He whispered.
Her eyes popped open and she smiled at him. "Hi, Papa. I feel much better."
Tears running down his face, he pulled her from Avery's embrace. As he lifted her, he
looked at her belly. It had returned to normal, the swelling completely gone, and there was no trace of the bruising seen. He hugged her against him hard until she squirmed and complained loudly. "Papa, you're squishing me. I can't breathe."
"Gods be damned." Hendrick said faintly as Vivian staggered forward and stared at Sophia.
"I – Sophia?"
"Hi, Grandmamma!" Sophia said. "My tummy doesn't hurt anymore."
"I'm glad," Vivian whispered. Her face was so pale, and she was trembling so hard that
Tristan was afraid she would pass out. Still holding Sophia, he wrapped his other hand around his mother's arm.
"Take some deep breaths, Mother." He kissed Sophia's soft cheek.
"I'm hungry, Papa," Sophia said.
"Then we will get you something to eat, my love. Whatever you want." He smiled at her,
knowing in this moment that he would have given her anything she asked for.
Maya was wrapping Avery in a blanket, and Marshall lifted her from Sophia's bed and
carried her toward the door. As Vivian and Hendrick approached, both of them staring with wonder at Sophia, Tristan called Marshall's name.
"Is she all right?" He asked as Marshall paused in the doorway.
"I'm fine. Stay with Sophia." Avery's voice was weak but steady.
"Maya, go with your sister," Tristan said.
Maya handed Nicholas to Vivian who took him without a word. She was still staring at
Sophia, her face a combination of shock and delight.
Tristan watched them leave the nursery, as Sophia ran her small hand over his long hair.
"Papa, I'm hungry."
He grinned at his child. "Let's get you something to eat."