Chapter 79

Isadora POV.

After what felt like an eternity, Anastasia finally put out her fire, leaving me in a half-baked condition. Only some parts of my clothes got burnt since Golem was in the way and acted as a heat absorber.

For some reason I couldn't understand, Golem's weight was heavily rested on me, and he wasn't moving. I tried to push him on his feet to stand upright and carry his own weight, but instead, his body dropped to the floor unconscious.

My jaws dropped to the ground, and so did Anastasia's and the men's who stood on the sideline.

Without a second thought, I threw myself to the floor beside his body, carrying him in my arms, desperately looking for any sign of life, but he was not responding. I screamed at the top of my voice, "Golem, Golem, please wake up, my love," but there was no response.

My eyes involuntarily landed on Anastasia's face. I could see fear in her eyes as she swallowed hard on her saliva.

"This is all your fault!" I screamed at the top of my voice, but she stayed silent.

I thundered, "You better pray he survives this; otherwise, you're going to see another side of me the world never knew existed."

Anastasia tried to defend herself, saying, "I-I-I don't..."

But I ignored her, rolling my eyes as I thundered at my men ordering, "Somebody send for a doctor immediately"

The chief guard appeared beside me, saying, "The men have gone to get one, my lady."

Anastasia panicked, tears in her eyes, as she took a step closer towards me, trying to lay a hand on Golem's body, saying, "I didn't mean to. Is he okay?"

I glared at her, thundering, "Don't touch him. Does he look like he's okay to you?"

Anastasia, guilt-ridden, whispered, "I didn't want this. I never wanted to hurt him."

Ignoring her, I ordered the guards to carry Golem into the castle, where we'd get better lighting. As they carefully lifted him, I shot a final warning at Anastasia, "Stay away from him. This is your doing."

Anastasia, still followed us, behind at a distance, still torn between guilt and concern as she approached the entrance. "Isadora, I didn't mean for any of this. I truly care for him."

I shot her a scathing look, "Your care nearly cost him his life. You've done enough."

Just before Anastasia could react, my men approached with a short old man putting on a black robe and holding a staff twice his height. He didn't look like the doctor I was expecting, so I barked at the men, saying, "What is the meaning of this? I asked for you to get me a doctor, and you came back with Grandpa. Can't you tell the difference?"

One of the men responded in panic, "My lady, all of the hospitals are closed. We couldn't find any doctor. He was the only one we were lucky to get who was willing to attend to us at this time of night."

I crossed my arms and placed a hand on my chin as I observed the man squarely from head to toe, saying, "I see, but he doesn't look like a doctor to me."

The man responded with a spooky voice that sent cold chills down my spine, instantly shutting me up as he said, "witch doctor." His voice sounded like an echo, and each syllable repeated itself at least seven times in my ear. I hoped it wasn't just my imagination. I looked at Anastasia, and she had the same exact reaction as me.

I opened the door and said, "Please come in."

He responded, saying, "Thank you, my lady," and immediately a gentle breeze flew through the room. I halted for a few seconds to carefully observe the man as he took gentle steps forward toward the bed where Golem was lying. Anastasia took the opportunity to sneak inside, following them behind. Before I realized it was too late to stop her, and I didn't want to create a scene by throwing her out forcefully.

The old man approached Golem's unconscious form, his eyes closed as if in deep concentration. Anastasia stood at a distance, her eyes shifting nervously between the mysterious healer and the man she unintentionally harmed.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as the witch doctor raised his staff, muttering incantations under his breath. The room seemed to pulse with otherworldly energy, and I exchanged a wary glance with Anastasia, both of us unsure of what to expect.

After what felt like an eternity, the old man opened his eyes, revealing a piercing gaze that seemed to hold ancient wisdom. He spoke, his voice low and resonant, "The Fire Lord's spirit is strong, but his body is in turmoil. The flames within him clash with the shadows that seek to consume his essence, he has been assaulted with some very very strong dark magic."

"The white wizard "I muttered to myself.

The mysterious healer continued, "To heal him, we must give him a blood bath from a willing sacrifice, which of you is willing to give your blood to save the king's life?."

Anastasia cleared her throat and stepped forward carefully, saying as she pointed at me, "Sorry to interrupt you, Mr. Witch Doctor, but she's his mate. She should be the one to die for him."

I gave Anastasia a death glare. If looks could kill, she would be dead by now. I replied, rolling my eyes, "You venomous snake, it was your anger that brought us to this point in the first place. I thought you said you loved him, isn't he no longer the father of your unborn baby?"

Anastasia burst out laughing much to my surprise, saying, "What baby are you talking about, Isadora? Don't tell me you're so stupid to fall for that. Yes, I'm having a baby, but he's not the father."

My jaws dropped to the floor as I yelled, completely taken aback by the extent of her lies, "You toothless imbecile..." I cursed.

Before I could complete my response, she added, "Yeah, I wanted him all for myself, but give my blood to save his life? Never. Bitch, bye. I'm out of here."

With that, she shifted back into her dragon form and flew out through the door, busting it open and leaving a trail of fire behind her.