Chapter 73 Wrapped In Warmth

Chapter 73 Wrapped In Warmth
INDIE

Zade lay propped up in the center of the large bed, surrounded by pillows, looking painfully fragile despite how hard he tried to hide it.

I knelt behind him, my fingers gently massaging his scalp, working slow circles into his temples and through his dark hair. Every so often a soft groan rumbled from his chest.

Leon sat at the foot of the bed, his strong hands working methodically over Zade's feet and calves, his thumbs pressing deep into the tight muscles. His red hair was messy, sleeves rolled up.

Zade let out a wheezing breath, his chest rising and falling heavily.

"Can't... breathe," he rasped. "Someone... volunteer to give me air?"

The request was so blatantly obvious that both Leon and I paused.

I let out a soft fond laugh. Leon's golden eyes sparkled with amusement as he looked up at Zade.

"Such a menace," Leon murmured.

Zade's lips twitched into the faintest smirk, even as another weak cough shook him.

"What?" he rasped innocently. "It's an emergency."

I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his left cheek, lingering there, breathing him in. Leon mirrored me on the right, his lips brushing Zade's skin.

Then we both moved at the same time.

I kissed Zade first, slowly, pouring every ounce of fear and love into it. 

He sighed against my mouth, one weak hand coming up to cup the back of my neck. 

When I pulled back, Leon took over, kissing him with a different kind of intention, teasing at first, then hungry, his tongue sweeping in as Zade made a low, needy sound.

They looked beautiful together. Mine.

When they parted, Zade's breathing was slightly steadier, his lips glistening.

"Better?" I whispered, still stroking his hair.

"Getting there," he replied, his voice hoarse. A faint, exhausted smile tugged at his mouth. "Keep going and I might survive the night."

Leon chuckled softly, returning to massaging Zade's feet while I continued working on his scalp.

We fell into a gentle rhythm. For a little while, the room felt almost peaceful.

"Where would we go?" I asked. "If we could... for our first real date. All three of us."

Zade hummed thoughtfully, his eyes drifting shut.

"Somewhere quiet," he said. "Just trees. Water. A cabin where no one could find us for days."

Leon's hands paused on Zade's calf, a soft smile curving his lips.

"I'd take you both somewhere with stars you can actually see," he said. "High up. Cold air. Blankets and wine and nothing but time."

I smiled through the ache in my chest, imagining it.

"I'd want somewhere warm," I whispered. "A beach at night. Just the three of us and the sound of waves. No one else."

Zade made a low, approving sound.

"Soon," he rasped. "After we fix this mess. That's where we're going."

I desperately hoped so.

Zade suddenly stiffened. A low, pained groan tore from his throat. His hands flew up to clutch his head, his fingers digging into his scalp as his body curled inward.

"Stop," he gasped weakly. "Get out—get the fuck out of my head—"

Leon moved instantly, abandoning Zade's feet and sliding up the bed. He pressed both palms to Zade's temples, golden magic igniting under his hands.

"Easy," Leon whispered. "I've got you. Breathe through it."

Zade shuddered hard, then slowly relaxed, melting back against Leon's chest with a sigh.

I curled against Zade's front immediately, pressing my face to his chest, listening to the too-slow beat of his heart. 

If only I could conjure a full moon right this instant. 

....

Morning light shined softly through the curtains. It felt almost too peaceful after everything that had happened.

Zade sat on the edge of the bed, still too pale, but stronger than yesterday. The powder and Leon's blood had bought him a fragile window of time. We were using it.

I stood between his knees, carefully buttoning the black shirt across his broad chest. Leon knelt beside me, rolling up the sleeves of Zade's shirt with careful hands, exposing those strong forearms marked with faint scars from the pit.

"You look good," I whispered, smoothing the collar. "Handsome."

Zade's violet eyes met mine. There was a faint, tired smirk on his lips, but his gaze was soft.

"Trying to impress my mates for our first date," he rasped. "Figured I should at least look like I'm not dying."

Leon chuckled, pressing a kiss to Zade's knee before rising to help adjust the collar from the other side.

"You clean up nice, alpha," Leon teased, his golden eyes warm. "Even half-dead."

Zade scoffed, but it turned into a small cough. I immediately reached for the glass of water on the nightstand, but he waved me off gently.

The door creaked open right then.

Lila padded in on bare feet, still in her nightgown, Mr. Wolf clutched tightly in her arms. Her curls were messy from sleep, but her eyes were bright as she looked at Zade.

"Daddy?" she said softly, climbing onto the bed without hesitation.

Zade's entire expression changed the moment he saw her. He reached for her with trembling arms, pulling her carefully into his lap despite the obvious effort it took.

"Hey, princess," he said, his voice thick as he wrapped her in a hug. He buried his face in her curls, breathing her. "How's my brave girl?"

Lila hugged him back tightly, her small arms looping around his neck.

"You were sick yesterday," she whispered. "Are you getting better?"

Zade's shoulders shook once. When he pulled back slightly, his eyes were glassy, a rare sheen of tears making the violet shine brighter. 

He tried to blink them away, but one slipped down his cheek anyway.

"Must be getting old," he rasped, his voice rough with emotion. A weak, self-deprecating smile tugged at his lips. "That's why I'm crying like this. Getting sentimental in my old age."

Leon let out a soft laugh from beside us, reaching out to gently ruffle Lila's hair.

"You're not old," Leon said, smiling. "You're just finally letting yourself feel. It looks good on you."

Zade shot him a half-hearted glare. He pressed another kiss to the top of Lila's head, holding her close.

"I'm going to get better," he whispered to her. "For you. For your mommy. For all of us. I promise."

Lila nodded solemnly against his chest and I swallowed past the lump in my throat, trying to ignore the dread creeping into my veins.

Later that morning, we helped Zade down the front steps of the pack house. He was still far too weak, his body heavy between Leon and me. 

One of his arms was draped over my shoulders, the other over Leon's. Every step made his breathing hitch, but he kept moving forward with sheer willpower.

"You're pushing it," I whispered, adjusting my grip on his waist.

Zade let out a low, rasping chuckle that turned into a cough. He wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Not pushing hard enough," he growled. "We have a date. I'm not letting some fucking plague stop me from taking my mates out."

Leon snorted on Zade's other side.

"Stubborn as ever," Leon commented. "At least let us carry you if your legs give out."

Zade shot him a dark look, the kind that always made my stomach flip.

"Try it, vampire. See what happens."

We were almost to the car when the messengers arrived.

Three vampires in formal dark attire appeared at the front gates, flanked by wary pack enforcers. Their eyes locked immediately onto Leon. The lead messenger stepped forward, his voice carrying across the courtyard authoritatively.

"Prince Leon. Your father demands your immediate return to vampire territory. The throne negotiations cannot proceed without your presence. We are ordered to escort you home at once."

Zade stopped walking. His body tensed against us. He turned his head slowly towards Leon, his violet eyes piercing and intense.

"Do you want to go?" Zade asked, a smug look on his face. "This is the perfect time to shed your burden and walk away a free man, your highness.”