CHAPTER 111

CHAPTER 111
He finally stopped panting after a few long minutes and it looked like he was gathering all of his last energy to say his next few words. My heart beat unsteadily in my chest. What if he was going to tell me to stay away from his family after his death? Could I really do that? Or would I ignore a dying man’s last wish? Could I really do that?
I knew the answer to that deep inside me... but would I really be able to stay away from my mate for long? I focused my gaze on him again as his grip on my hand tightened. “Thank.... you”. He heaved in between deep breaths. I was confused.. he was ‘thanking’ me?! Why?
I stayed still waiting for him to continue, and he did. “I... I’m happy to...” he paused to catch his breath, “I’m.... hap...py that ... my so...n has you.” He paused again, a lot longer this time, so long I thought he was done until he continued. “You are.... the be...st thi...ng that h...as ever ha.....” He groaned in pain and clenched a fist over his heart.
He breathed through his nose for an entire three minutes before he was fine to talk again. “You’re the best thing.... th....at has ever ha....ppened to him. Pl... ease don’t leave h....im”. That was honestly the very last thing I was expecting. How was I supposed to see that? As an apology? Or a plea? I honestly didn’t know what to say. I mean, I was glad that he didn’t rebuke me to stay away from his family, but why now?
Why was he telling me all this now? It confused to no end, but I didn’t gave any more time to think it over because the very next second he started an9ther coughing fit, but this time as his hands left his mouth, they were stained in blood.
I watched, transfixed as he struggled for his life. I had seen dead bodies before they were definitely not new to me, but seeing another human being struggle so hard to get what you already had for free.... it was such a surreal experience....
I was standing there, breathing and talking, like every other person in knew, but then he’s here, fighting for his life... fighting to see another tomorrow... and to think that before the fight he was normal... fit as a fiddle, but not any more.
The doctor rushed past me in a hurry, with nurses and other doctors following behind him. They gently ushered us out of the room so that they could do their work peacefully. We let the room silently for them without another word.
Eric couldn’t sit in one place. He kept on pacing up and down and I couldn’t blame him... I couldn’t blame anyone for acting however they did... We stayed out there right in front of the hospital ward fir a really long time, and with each second that ticked by, our anxiety skyrocketed.
I was this close to joining my mate in his pacing, when the door of the room opened and a solemn doctor came through. “Your majesty”, he said with a vow to the queen. “Your highnesses”- before he could even finish his second statement, my mate growled and grabbed him by the throat.
“Get the bloody point!” He whispered into his ears and threw him back to the ground. He remained there for a moment sputtering, until he had finally caught his breath. “The king is alive”. He alive and I visibly noticed my mate’s shoulders relaxed as the queen stumbled catching her daughter’s wrist to stabilise herself as her shoulders sagged in relief.
“He is unconsciousness, but he should be up in a couple of hours”. At those words the expression of relief on my mate’s face froze for a moment. “That sounds a lot like what you said the last time, doesn’t it?” The doctor in question scratched the back of his head and looked at the floor in regret.
“We are truly sorry your highnesses, your majesty”. He said, bowing to each of them respectfully. “We thought that all the silver and poison had been pumped out, but it hadn’t. There was still a but of liquid silver in his system that we could nit identify because it was dormant at the time.”
My mate’s nose flared as he took a deep breath in. “So, what you’re telling me I’d that, I nearly lost my father, your king today?” He nodded weakly. As an answer. His eyes were still downcast, so he didn’t notice the prince’s quiet advance in his direction.
“I nearly lost my father today because of ‘your oversight’?!” The threat in his voice was obvious enough, but I guess our white robed friend still didn’t notice. “We’re sorry your highness.” He answered my mate, still not looking down. A growl rumbled from somewhere deep inside his chest.
“Oh believe me, you definitely will be”. He said, as he gestured Edward and Arthur to take him away. He didn’t even put up a fight as he ass dragged away, down to the dungeon. It was now that I felt pity for the young doctor, but there was nothing to be done about that.
After they had taken away the doctor away. With the atmosphere a lot calmer than it was when we got here, I looked around to see Evelyn, but she wasn’t here anymore... I didn’t think too much of it any ways she had probably gone to her room. I did not blame her. The emotional burden of everything was a lot to handle...
The queen refused to go back to her room she went in and sat by her mate’s side holding his hand in his sleep. The sight of it hit me in the chest like a knife to my heart.
This was what they wanted to deprive me of... the love and security that only a mate can give.