ELLA’s POV
I trailed behind the healers, my heart racing with worry as they whisked Henry away to one of the visitor's rooms. The usually calm and collected warrior now lay limp and lifeless, his strong body broken and battered.
As I entered the room, I saw Destrix, our most skilled healer, already by Henry's side. His hands hovered above Henry's chest, and his eyes were closed in concentration.
“Destrix, can you…can you save him?” I asked, my voice trembling.
Destrix's eyes snapped open, and he gave me a reassuring nod. “I'll do everything in my power, Kyla. But we need to act fast.”
With a swift motion, Destrix began his magic. His hands glowed with a soft, white light that enveloped Henry's body. The surrounding air seemed to vibrate with an otherworldly energy, and I could feel the magic coursing through the room.
Henry's body began to twitch and convulse, and I gasped in alarm. But Destrix's calm voice reassured me, “It's okay, Kyla. This is just the magic working its way through his system.”
As I watched, mesmerized, Henry's wounds began to close, and his color started to return. His chest rose and fell with a steady rhythm, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
But just as it seemed like Henry was out of the woods, his body suddenly arched off the bed, and he let out a blood-curdling scream.
“What's happening?” I cried, grabbing Destrix's arm in alarm.
After a short period, he regained his composure, though his eyes drifted shut before he could utter a single word. It seemed as though an unseen force had gently coaxed him into slumber.
“What exactly happened?” Gibson inquired, concern etched across his face.
District sighed, the weight of the situation evident in his voice. “The magic that was used on him was specifically designed to weaken him. Unfortunately, it had an unintended consequence—the other form within him became trapped, unable to break free.”
“Oh!” Gibson exclaimed, his eyes wide with concern. “Will he be okay?” I jumped in, my voice cutting through the tension that filled the room. Everyone turned to look at me, and it felt oddly electric!
“Yes! He’ll be just fine once he wakes up,” Destrix announced with a surge of confidence, a glint of determination in his eyes.
“What…” I began to argue, but Destrix was quick to cut me off. “He needs this!” His tone left no room for doubt.
With a respectful bow towards King Gibson and me, Destrix prepared to take his leave, exiting the room and leaving us in the company of others. Soon after, Wilson and Her Majesty, Gibson's mother, also departed, leaving a palpable silence in the air as we processed the implications of Destrix's words.
As Destrix stepped through the door and into the dimly lit hallway, I turned to face Gibson, who was standing close by, his expression a mixture of worry and confusion.
His eyes, usually so bright and confident, now shimmered with a softness that caught me off guard. “Who is he, Kyla?” he asked, his voice dropping to a near whisper, laden with concern and curiosity, as if afraid that speaking louder might shatter the fragile moment between us.
I felt a lump swell in my throat, heavy and uncomfortable, as I struggled to find the right words. The truth felt like a tangled web in my mind—complicated to unravel. “He… he’s a friend,” I managed to stammer, my voice barely rising above the silence that enveloped us.
The weight of my untruth hung in the air, and I could see the questions brewing in Gibson's eyes, knowing that my brief response would only provoke more uncertainty.
Gibson's eyes narrowed, his gaze intensifying as he took a step closer to me. “What's wrong, Kyla? Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with empathy.
I shook my head, feeling a wave of emotions wash over me. “I…I don't know,” I admitted, my voice cracking.
Gibson's expression turned gentle, and he reached out to place a comforting hand on my arm. “Hey, it's okay. You can tell me what's going on,” he said, his voice soothing.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. “It's just…I've never seen Henry like that before. He's always so strong and confident, but…but now he's just lying there, helpless,” I said, my voice shaking.
Gibson's voice cut through the thick, lingering silence like a warm breeze, his tone low and soothing. “Kyla,” he said softly, his eyes locking onto mine with a depth that felt both reassuring and sincere. “I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I'm here.”
I took a moment to absorb his words, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle on my shoulders, the tension coiling within me like a tightly wound spring. “Yes,” I finally replied, my voice barely above a whisper, betraying my fatigue.
He studied my face, his brow furrowing slightly, a hint of concern crossing his features. “You don’t look like it,” he declared, a mischievous glint sparking in his eyes.
Before I could respond, he swept me off my feet with surprising ease, lifting me into his arms as if I weighed nothing whatsoever. The suddenness of the gesture startled me, but it also sent a rush of warmth through my chest.
I found myself cradled in his embrace, the world around us fading into a soft blur, leaving just the two of us enveloped in this unexpected moment of connection.
“Woo,” I breathed, the word barely escaping my lips as I felt the solid warmth of his chest pressed against me. The definition of his muscles was striking, each curve and contour highlighting the strength he possessed. I couldn’t tear my gaze away, captivated by the way his shoulders seemed to carry the weight of the world and yet remained effortlessly strong.
My fingers instinctively reached out, gliding over the taut expanse of his chest, and I grasped it tightly as if claiming my piece of him. Mine! The thought raced through my mind with an urgency that took my breath away.