Chapter 62 Shades Of Blue

Chapter 62 Shades Of Blue
INDIE
    My arms throbbed as I carried Lila back through the pack house, her small body far too hot against my chest. She was still limp, her breathing uneven, every exhale sending fresh terror racing through my veins.

I couldn't stop shaking.

West's words kept echoing in my head non-stop.

I didn't know what to believe anymore. All I knew was that my daughter was burning up, and I had no idea how to fix it.

The hallway blurred in front of me. I was so focused on getting Lila somewhere safe that I almost didn't see him.

Zade.

He was lying on the floor just outside our bedroom door, completely unmoving.

My vision blurred for a moment.

"Zade—!"

The scream tore out of me, raw. I dropped to my knees, still clutching Lila tightly with one arm while my free hand frantically reached for him.

He was on his side, one arm stretched out as though he'd been trying to crawl somewhere. His skin looked deathly pale under the dim hallway light, and his lips were tinged blue.

"No, no, no—" My voice cracked as I pressed my trembling fingers to his neck, searching for a pulse.

It was there. But it was too weak and far too slow.

He was only asleep.

Relief hit me so hard it made me dizzy, but it lasted less than a second.

Because he was shaking.

Uncontrollable tremors rolled through his body, his muscles jerking as if something was trying to rip him apart from the inside. His teeth chattered. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite how cold his skin felt.

"Zade," I whispered, my voice cracking. "Zade, wake up."

He didn't stir.

Tears flooded my eyes instantly. The weight of everything, including Sweetpea's death, West's confession, Lila burning in my arms, and Zade collapsing on the floor... it crashed down on me all at once.

I couldn't hold it back anymore.

A sob ripped out of my throat, raw and ugly.

"Zade... please," I cried, shaking his shoulder as gently as I could while still holding Lila. "Please wake up. I can't do this alone. I can't—"

My voice melted into loud sobs. I leaned over him, pressing my forehead to his chest, feeling the too-slow beat of his heart against my skin.

"I'm so scared," I whispered between gasps. "Everything is falling apart. Lila's sick. You're dying. I don't know what to do anymore..."

The tears came harder, soaking into his shirt. My whole body shook with them.

A weak, raspy sound came from Zade.

"Indie...?"

His voice was barely there, slurred and exhausted, but it was him.

I lifted my head instantly, tears streaming down my face.

His violet eyes cracked open, hazy and unfocused, but they found me. For a moment he looked startled, like he didn't understand why I was crying over him on the floor.

"Bunny...?" he rasped, one trembling hand lifting weakly towards my cheek. "Why... are you crying?"

The sight of him trying to comfort me while barely conscious broke me.

I sobbed harder, pressing my face into his neck, careful not to crush Lila between us.

"You were on the floor," I cried. "You weren't moving. I thought—I thought—"

"Shh." His hand found the back of my head, his fingers slipping weakly into my hair. "I'm here. I'm... still here."

But he was still shaking. The tremors hadn't stopped.

I pulled back just enough to look at him, my voice thick and desperate.

"You're shaking. You're so cold. We need to get you back into bed. Please. Let me help you up."

Zade tried to nod, but the movement was sluggish. His eyes fluttered as if he was fighting to stay awake.

"'M fine..." he mumbled, the words slurring together.

"You're not fine!" I snapped through my tears, the fear turning into something frantic. "You collapsed on the floor, Zade. I can't—I can't lose you. Not like this."

I let out another sob.

Zade's hand slid down to cup my face, his thumb brushing clumsily at my tears even though his own hand was trembling.

"Hey..." he whispered. "Look at me."

I did, my vision blurry.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said. "Not yet. Especially not while you still need me."

His eyes held mine for a long moment, that dangerous, possessive violet piercing through the haze of exhaustion.

Then his gaze dropped to Lila, who was still unconscious and burning up in my arms.

His expression changed instantly, something dark and protective flashing across his face.

"...What happened to her?"

I shook my head, fresh tears spilling over.

"I don't know," I whispered. "West came. He said his mother did something to her. There's supposed to be an antidote but... she's dead. And Lila won't wake up properly."

Zade's jaw clenched. Even while he was half-conscious, the predator in him stirred.

"Bring her here," he rasped, trying to push himself up.

"You can't—"

"Indie." His voice was weak, but the command was still there. "Bring her."

Zade's arms trembled as I carefully placed Lila against his chest. Even weak and shaking, he wrapped one arm around her small body like she was the most precious thing in the world.

The moment she settled against him, his breath hitched.

A low, pained sound escaped his throat.

"She's in pain," he gasped, his eyes widening. His hand pressed gently to her back, his fingers spreading over her spine. "Gods... it's bad."

I watched in stunned silence as Zade closed his eyes and concentrated. A faint violet glow appeared under his palm... that strange resurrection magic he rarely used. He was pulling the pain away from her and drawing it into himself.

No...

He was killing himself faster...

And the thought filled me with so much grief and pain.

His face twisted. Deep lines formed between his brows as he frowned, breathing through clenched teeth.

"She's been poisoned," he said. "It's not natural. Something dark... It's spreading through her blood."

My heart slammed against my ribs.

"Zade—"

He opened his eyes, his violet irises bright despite how exhausted he looked.

"What happened with West?" he asked.

That was all it took.

Everything I'd been holding back broke loose.

I collapsed beside them on the floor, tears flooding my eyes as the words spilled out in a frantic, terrified rush.

"He showed up at the gate," I sobbed. "Lila was burning up. She wouldn't wake up properly. West... he looked ruined, Zade. He said he has some kind of mental disorder. He claimed that there was another part of him, something cruel his mother created and encouraged. He said that part hated me. That it took over for months, maybe years."

My voice cracked.

"He said his mother poisoned Lila. That there's an antidote, but she's dead now. He begged me to go with him to find it, but I... I didn't know what to believe. I brought Lila back as fast as I could. She's so hot, Zade. She's not waking up right, and I'm terrified I'm losing her—"

A whimper slipped out of me.

Zade listened in silence, one hand still on Lila's back, the other weakly reaching for me. His fingers brushed my arm, trying to offer comfort even while he was clearly in pain himself.

Before I could say more, rapid footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Leon appeared, his eyes wide with confusion as he took in the scene.

"What the hell happened?" he demanded, rushing forward.

He dropped to his knees instantly, one hand going to Zade's shoulder, the other gently touching Lila's forehead.

"Her fever's dangerous," Leon said, his voice thick. "She needs—"

"Blood," I cut in, hope swelling in my chest. "Your blood, Leon. It healed me before. It can heal almost anything, right? Please—"

Leon didn't hesitate. He brought his wrist to his mouth and bit down hard, his golden eyes fierce with determination as blood welled up.

Zade's gaze sharpened through the haze of pain.

"Where is West now?" he asked.

I swallowed hard.

"He's gone," I whispered. "He said he'll come back when I decide what to do. He... he looked genuinely scared, Zade. For Lila."

Leon pressed his bleeding wrist gently to Lila's lips, coaxing her to drink. His free hand stayed on Zade's arm, grounding him.

But at the mention of West, Leon's entire posture changed.

His golden eyes darted to me, possessive.

"Who the fuck is West?" he growled. "And why does he think he has any right to come near you or Lila?"

The jealousy in his tone was unmistakable.

I opened my mouth to answer, but Zade spoke first, his voice tired but carrying that familiar cold edge.

"Her ex," he said. "Lila's biological father."

Leon's jaw clenched. His eyes darkened, the bracelet on his wrist glowing.

"He suddenly shows up now?" Leon muttered, his fangs flashing. "When everything is already falling apart? How convenient."

I reached out, placing my hand over Leon's on Zade's arm, trying to steady all three of us.

"He says his mother poisoned Lila," I whispered. "And that there's an antidote. But she's dead. I don't know what to believe anymore."

Zade's eyes met mine.

"He came here with a mission, Indie. I can feel it."