Chapter 37

Grace

“I thought I told you not to come back without permission?” Asked Grandfather. He kneeled down and patted my fur. “How mischievous you are, little granddaughter.”

He had a zen garden… and I’d ruined it by falling from the sky, and landing right in the middle of it… Though, he didn’t seem too mad about it.

“I died….” I said quietly.

“I know.” He said kneeling to my eye level. “I will leave this journey to the both of you. I will not solve your every problem… but send that little shit to Me.” He growled. His demons kneeled on hand and knee in fear…. Even his herald, Apothmenos, the Bottomless One, hesitated to speak to him…

It wasn’t even two seconds before grandmother hugged me around my neck.

“I’m so sorry!” She yelled, kissing me on the forehead… I was still my wolf, and I was still soaked like a drowned rat… She gave me many kisses and strangled me as she hugged me so tightly. “This is my fault I wasn’t looking and Look at what Happened!”

“I’m fine.” I said shaking my head… talking without growls or an accent…

“Do not cry dear butterfly…. I will revive our little one. She is my Champion after all, along with her brothers.” He said taking her hand gently. “Arise and remember none of this.” He said as a command.

I opened my eyes… I blinked….. I held Snow, who wanted out of my arms, but his paw looked a little frostbitten. I was clothed now, in thick jeans and two hoodies… but nothing compared to the protesting of the little floofy, disgruntled kitty. He hissed at Akitori but let me pet him.

“I’ll take him to the vet.” Said Akitori. “Lady Grace… I believe you should go to the New Apple hospital as well.” He mumbled.

“I’m fine.” I said defensively, but my mate agreed.

“He’s right. They might be able to detect if this is a specific magic…” Aureus said taking Snow from me, and he gave him to Akitori… He attacked them both with angry clawed bats, but he could not pierce dragon’s skin.

“Stop it.” The red dragon complained. They all rummaged around to find a cat carrier, and he growled the entire time while in it.

“I can’t delay this any longer.” Said my mate. Aureus carried me up the stairs, while Akitori went down. He would likely drive the animal to a veterinary clinic… while I was being emergency flown…. But I felt Fine.

The roof was cold… My mate’s embrace gave me warmth… I could not scent Wyn’s blood… even though I saw the small pool where she’d laid…

Aureus jumped in the air,

/The flight will take 2 hours./ he linked the dragon’s way….

“I feel your stress… I’m Fine.” I complained. I was tired but honestly alright.

/I Know that, but if you could teleport across town… I know there is More to this. You were Trapped in that cube… you drowned, and I saw blood in the water./ He cradled me the entire time.

“I won’t argue with you…” I coughed from the cold… and he held me a little tighter.

He said nothing, but I could see the fire in his eyes… The absolute anger.

The rest of the flight was peaceful, but silent… Neither of us wanted to fight about it… I wanted to help and get out there to be honest, but I knew that would be out the question.

/It isn’t out the question, but you won’t see battle. / he said slowing down.

He landed and shifted on the roof of the hospital, and there were werewolves already up there to greet us.

It was the Fifth Seat of Wolves, Oliver, and his mate, Autumn. Their son, Dekota, was likely at the castle since I didn’t see him here. I hadn’t met him to be fair, but I knew of him.

“Your highness.” Said Oliver, shaking wrists with my mate, then me.

He was a black haired Alpha with dull bluish-green eyes because of his title… He was the Dead One, a wolf without a heartbeat, nor breathing lungs… He carried the scent of a witch and a vampire more than a wolf, but I believe it was because of his magical nature.

I was put on a hospital bed, and there was a special intake elevator…. Wyn was already on whatever floor, likely being tested and prepped… and honestly I didn’t like it here. I’d never had to go to a hospital this large…. With so many strangers…

“I sense your stress.” Said Aureus, thumbing my knuckles. “You’re fine.” He said more to encourage himself than me. My stress caused him anxiety too… but I couldn’t shake it.

I already had a room… There were nurses waiting on me… and grandpa….

“I’m Dr. Sam-” I cut him off.

“Grandfather….Really?” I asked…. The disguise didn’t fool me. He hid the horns, but looked… Exactly like his true form… only someone who hadn’t seen him could be tricked by such a Lazy-

Time seemed to have been stopped…. As well as my train of thought.

“Let’s try this again.” He snapped his fingers.

“I’m Dr. Sampson.” Smiled the 40ish looking fae. His hair color looked similar to mine, uncle, and dad… almost looking like them too. Grandfather likely blessed him or something, but regardless… The uncanny resemblance didn’t alert me.

It was a Well known fact that the Horned One held no bastards.

He got out a stethoscope and started listening to my heart. “I was told you were attacked and frozen in ice?” He said seriously.

“I don’t remember anything about him either… even his scent.” I said taking deep breaths like he’d motioned.

“I don’t like the sound of those lungs.” He said being handed a clip board. “I think for now, observation and medicine would be a good idea. Start an IV. Contrary to popular belief, supernatural creatures Can get sick. It’s just Very rare, but so’s the magic that attacked you.” He said firmly.

“Is it ice dragon magic Dr.?” asked my mate.

“I believe so, but there’s a residue with it too… holy magic.” He mumbled.

“… Will it hurt her?” Asked Aureus.

“No. It isn’t enough to harm her now, but whoever did this has his hands on something not meant for him.” Said the doctor, leaving out. “I need to monitor the bypass on the other female you all brought. About the best I can do is 50% function, She’s lucky she survived the trip here.” He said firmly, leaving us…

“Fuck.” Said Aureus. “I should have flew after you. I shouldn’t have let you be Alone.”

“He stalked the place for days…. No one knew.” I retorted. Even if he did come Immediately, I was only alone about 30 minutes…. It took him seconds to freeze me like that, and even shorter to pass out from no air in the intense cold.

He knew that… but he’d still blame himself.

He stood there a long time as well… looking at the IV they put in. “I Just found out what love feels like…” He mumbled.

“I love you too; I won’t die that easily.” I said with a smile.

He kissed me on the forehead. “try to get some sleep. I know you aren’t tired, I Know you probably want to protest, but for my sake, can you?” He asked.

I debated on it, but I could use that time to heal. Someone attacked me with my opposite element… they purposefully put wyn in critical condition, and admitted to not only breaking in… but also they Waited for this.

“Wake me up if they need to run any tests.” I mumbled.

“I will if we have to.” He mumbled.

------Aureus-----

My mate slept while Dr. Sampson came in the room. I did wake her up when they wanted to take her blood, and run tests… but for some reason a tinge of worry struck my heart.

“You don’t have to wake her again. I don’t need any more tests.” Said the doctor. He looked at her with a combination of sadness and anger… and at me…. Disappointment.

“Is she alright?” I asked, a little concerned.

“Grace’s tests look good. I thank you for the concern enough to take her to a specialist. As I said already, there’s holy magic in her blood… as well as wind magic.” He said with a frown.

“Damn… the assassin must have the artifact the priests were talking about….” I mumbled… but that didn’t make sense… if the artifact was so dangerous, Why would you give it to a grunt?!

“Freeya’s artifact?’ He questioned. “Peculiar.”

“Peculiar indeed doctor…. Do you know the legend about the Earring of War?” I asked.

“Earrings.” He corrected. “Last time I checked, most of us have two ears.”

“Do you think the assassin has one earing, and his master has the other?” I asked.

“It’s Likely, but those were made for a being with at least Some degree of divine blood… They also have to be accepted by Freeya…. like a temple priest or one of her bastards. As her name suggests, she was Quite the free bird before Arviel made her And her husband Apolis settle down” He said shaking his head.

“Our den is a temple… surely that could be enough to cure her of the last of the magic.” I said scratching my stubble.

“You needn’t worry of Grace. She holds the Mark of the Horned One. The only thing preventing her from wielding a mighty weapon and finding the culprit herself, is that she holds mortal’s blood.” He said leaving. “Mull over my words a bit… Since they can’t keep the artifact on for long… their hideout can’t be Too far away from your home.”

I felt like an Idiot… had an enemy really lived under my nose… possibly even within the walls of my den?