Chapter 63 Four days
~ Lyra's POV ~
The first person I saw when I opened my eyes was Taren. He stood at the far end of the room, his posture caught somewhere between relaxed and rigid, as though he had been standing there for a long time without quite realizing it. His attention was fixed entirely on me, so intense that I felt it even before my mind fully woke.
“Taren?” I called his name softly, needing to be sure that I was not still trapped in some lingering haze or hallucination. At the sound of my voice, he stirred as though released from a spell and immediately began walking toward me. Relief spread openly across his face, smoothing the tight lines I had not noticed until that moment.
“Good morning, my lady. How are you feeling?” he asked gently, and my brows drew together in confusion.
“Morning?” I repeated slowly. “How is it morning? And why are you here?” My voice carried my bewilderment clearly. The last thing I remembered was the evening light filtering through the windows of the clinic as I healed the elder and the strange weakness taking over my being. Beyond that moment, my memory dissolved into nothingness.
“You passed out yesterday,” he replied calmly as I pushed myself upright into a sitting position. The movement made me realize just how heavy my body felt. “Do you feel better now?” he asked with quiet concern.
“Yes. I still feel slightly weak, but I am generally all right,” I answered after a moment, mentally scanning myself and noting every strange sensation. “I need to use the bathroom.”
“Of course,” he said, offering a respectful bow as he took a few steps backward. “I will get you something to eat.” With that, he turned and left the room, giving me the space I needed and leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Inside the bathroom, I stood before the mirror and studied my disheveled reflection. My hair was tangled, my eyes slightly dull, and my face far paler than usual. After a brief moment, I picked up my toothbrush, moving more slowly than I normally would.
“Lunaris,” I called inwardly to my wolf.
“Yes, Lyra,” she answered, her voice as calm and soothing as ever.
“You don't feel this weakness I am feeling, do you?” I asked, wondering if this strange heaviness was mine alone. My limbs felt as though they were weighed down by something unseen.
“No, I feel wonderful. The weakness affects only your physical body,” she replied.
“Do you have any idea why?” I pressed, still confused. I wondered if there was something about my healing ability that I did not yet understand.
“You pulled someone from the edge of the land of the dead back to the land of the living. Of course an act like that is bound to drain the energy out of you,” Lunaris explained.
Her answer made immediate sense, even as it unsettled me. Sometimes I truly did not know where she found the wisdom to answer my questions so easily. She often sounded like a wise old woman who had lived many lifetimes. Even so, another question lingered in my mind.
“Why has it never happened before?” I asked.
“Have you ever done healing of that magnitude before?” she countered.
“No,” I admitted.
“There you have your answer,” she said simply. I let out a slow sigh, accepting the truth of it.
“Will I still be able to shift by the next full moon?” I asked anxiously. I had been anticipating that moment for so long, and I did not want anything to interfere with it. I wanted to know what it felt like to morph into a wolf. I wanted, more than anything, to finally see Lunaris.
“Yes, if you recover fully before then,” she replied, and relief washed through me instantly. I resolved to focus entirely on my recovery from that moment on.
I returned my attention to brushing my teeth, moving carefully as I went about my business. Just as I was about to finish up, I heard the door to the room open and immediately assumed Taren had returned.
The scent that reached my nostrils told me otherwise. It was Kael. I realized then that I must have unconsciously etched his scent into my memory.
“Lyra,” he called as he approached.
I mumbled a response, my mouth still full of water, and before I could react, he opened the bathroom door and stepped inside. His face was shadowed with worry, his eyes searching mine urgently.
I quickly spat the water out.
“Are you all right?” he asked as he came to stand directly in front of me. His scent wrapped around me instantly, clouding my senses and scattering my thoughts. I wondered fleetingly why he smelled so good, even as my mind struggled to stay focused.
“Yes, I feel better. Good morning,” I said.
“I am glad you are all right. You scared me yesterday,” he said as he lifted his hand to cup my cheek. The worry in his eyes eased only slightly.
“I was scared myself too,” I admitted honestly. “How is the elder?”
“He is fine. He stayed here throughout the night, and I had to force him to go and rest,” Kael explained. “Thank you for saving his life. I owe you one.” He spoke sincerely, but I shook my head at once.
“It is fine. I did not do it for a reward,” I told him.
“Still, you will be getting one whether you like it or not,” he insisted. “And I need you to promise me something.”
“What is that?” I asked.
“Promise me you will never do anything like that again, not even if I was the one in danger.”
“I can't promise you that,” I said firmly. “I am a healer. It is the only thing I know how to do perfectly, and I have never ignored anyone in need of healing before.”
“Lyra, please,” he said, his voice low. “I don't know why you passed out yesterday, but I believe it was because of what you did. I don't want that to happen again. I don't want you to put yourself in danger for anyone else.”
“I will be careful next time so I will not fall into danger,” I replied, but his frown deepened, clearly unsatisfied.
“Promise me, Lyra.”
“All right. I promise.”
He released a soft sigh, a sound I realized I was hearing for the first time. He looked slightly weary beneath his composed exterior, though he tried hard to conceal it.
“I will be traveling in a few minutes, and I will be gone for four days,” he announced, catching me completely off guard.
“Oh. Where are you traveling to?” I asked.
“Blue Hill Pack.”
“Is it for good?” I asked quietly.
“Yes. The trip is first for a strategic meeting, and then their feast, which I was invited to. Our annual feast is in six days, so I will be back before then,” he explained.
“Okay,” I said softly, lowering my eyes. Four days suddenly felt far longer than they should have.
“I will miss you,” he said, lifting my chin until I was forced to meet his gaze. “But I will ensure that Taren and Elder Rowan take good care of you, all right?”
“All right,” I replied.
He finally released my face and leaned in to place a lingering kiss on my lips.
“I will see you when I return,” he said when he pulled away. Then, just like that, he turned and walked out, leaving me behind with a heavy sense of longing settling deep in my chest.