The moment I saw Ciara fainting at the castle entrance was etched in my mind. It was a whirlwind of panic and adrenaline. One moment she was standing there, bloodied and battered, and the next she was collapsing to the ground. Without thinking, I rushed to her side, shouting for help.
"Guards! Somebody, help!" My voice echoed off the stone walls.
Two guards immediately ran over, their expressions alarmed. Together, we carefully lifted Ciara, trying not to jostle her too much. Her injuries looked severe, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of worry. Despite everything, seeing her like this hurt more than I expected.
"Take her to the infirmary, now!" I ordered, my voice trembling slightly.
The guards nodded and carried her inside, with me following closely behind. My mind raced with a thousand thoughts. How had she gotten so badly injured? What had happened to her? And why did I feel such a strong urge to make sure she was okay?
We reached the infirmary, and the castle's healers sprang into action. They quickly assessed her injuries, applying bandages and salves, working with practiced efficiency. I stood back, feeling helpless, watching them work. She looked so vulnerable lying there, a stark contrast to the strong, defiant woman I was used to.
Leora arrived shortly after, her face a mask of concern. She took in the scene quickly, her eyes narrowing as she focused on Ciara's injuries.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice steady but tinged with worry.
"I found her like this, at the castle entrance," I explained. "I don't know what happened, but it looks like she was in a serious fight."
Leora nodded, her expression grim. She moved closer to Ciara, inspecting the bandages and the extent of her injuries. "She'll need time to heal. Make sure she gets the best care possible."
The healers continued their work, and after what felt like an eternity, they finally stepped back. "She's stable for now, but she needs rest," one of them said, looking at Leora and me.
Leora turned to me, her gaze intense. "Aeliana, I need you to stay with her and make sure she's taken care of."
I blinked, surprised by the request. "Me? But I—"
"No buts," Leora interrupted. "You're the only one I trust with this. Besides, it's clear you care about her, despite everything."
I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died in my throat. Leora was right. Despite all the friction between us, I did care about Ciara. More than I wanted to admit.
"Fine," I said, sighing. "I'll stay with her."
Leora's expression softened slightly. "Thank you, Aeliana. I know this isn't easy, but it's important. She needs someone by her side, someone she can trust."
I nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. "I'll do my best."
With that, Leora left, leaving me alone with Ciara. I pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down, watching her sleep. Her face was pale, and she looked so different from the fierce, defiant woman I knew. It was strange to see her like this, so vulnerable and in need of help.
End of the flashback
I shook off the memory, focusing on the present. It was evening, and I was feeding Ciara, carefully spooning soup into her mouth. She still looked weak, but the color had returned to her cheeks. Leora had insisted I take care of her, and despite my own reluctance, I couldn't deny the responsibility I felt. But right now, I really didn't want to be here.
Earlier, I'd received a message from Nathaniel asking if I wanted to go on a date. And here I was, feeding the girl who had a reputation for breaking hearts. Life had a twisted sense of humor.
"Open up," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.
Ciara rolled her eyes but complied, opening her mouth for the spoon. "You know, you don't have to do this."
"Yes, I do," I replied, a bit more curtly than I intended. "Leora asked me to."
"Ah, the mighty Leora," she muttered, swallowing the soup. "Always giving orders."
"She's looking out for you," I said, stirring the soup absently. "And so am I, apparently."
Ciara smirked. "You say that like it's the worst thing in the world."
I didn't answer, focusing on the task at hand. She continued to eat, and I kept feeding her in silence. The sooner this was done, the sooner I could get out of here.
After a while, Ciara finished the soup. I set the bowl aside and stood up. "I'm going to take a shower," I said, heading toward the bathroom.
"Don't take too long," she called after me. "I might need you to tuck me in."
I rolled my eyes, ignoring her. In the bathroom, I took a deep breath and turned on the shower. The hot water felt good against my skin, washing away the stress and tension of the day. But my mind kept drifting back to Nathaniel's message and the fact that I was stuck here instead of going out with him.
After my shower, I wrapped a towel around myself and stepped back into the room. Ciara was still lying in bed, watching me with an amused expression.
"Going somewhere fancy?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"None of your business," I replied, rummaging through my bag for some clothes.
"Oh, come on," she teased. "You can tell me. Hot date?"
I glared at her. "Like I said, it's none of your business."
Ciara laughed, a sound that was surprisingly pleasant despite her usual sarcasm. "Touchy, touchy. I didn't realize you had a life outside of being a pain in my ass."
I found a dress that I liked and started getting dressed. Ciara watched me, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"You're really going all out, huh?" she said, her tone teasing. "Must be someone special."
"Would you shut up?" I snapped, pulling the dress over my head.
She laughed again, clearly enjoying my irritation. "Relax, Aeliana. I'm just messing with you."
I finished getting dressed and turned to face her. "Why do you care, anyway?"
"Maybe I'm just curious," she said, shrugging. "Or maybe I'm bored out of my mind lying here."
"Well, enjoy your boredom," I said, grabbing my bag. "I'm leaving."
"Goodbye," she called after me, her voice laced with amusement. "Have fun on your hot date."
I didn't dignify her with a response, closing the door behind me with a little more force than necessary. As I walked down the hallway, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and frustration. Relief that I was finally free to go out, and frustration at how Ciara managed to get under my skin so easily.
Despite everything, a small part of me couldn't help but worry about leaving her alone. But I pushed that thought aside. Tonight, I was going to focus on myself. I needed a break from the chaos and confusion that came with being around Ciara.
I made my way to my car and started the engine, ready to leave the castle behind for a few hours. As I drove away, I couldn't shake the image of Ciara's teasing smile from my mind. No matter how hard I tried, she always seemed to find a way to stick with me.