Chapter 173

Chapter 173
Everyone was mourning Mercedes's imminent demise. The air was heavy with the weight of their collective sorrow and grief. Mercedes was certain to die. It seemed that way. They were all starting to think that all hope was lost and nothing could be done. Tears had dried up in Felix's eyes. He could no longer cry anymore. He was in a state of shock. Everything was reeling in his mind yet refusing to accept the thought of having lost his mate. He grew numb to the coldness of Mercedes's body. He just kept holding her tightly in his arms, afraid that he would slip through his fingers like sand. Felix just shut out everything and everyone. Roland whimpered, feeling the bond between them close to snapping. He was done begging Felix to save their mate any way he could. But he knew that the situation was now beyond him. Not his love, care and affection would be enough to bring her back to life.

Alexa was lost for words. There was nothing she could say to comfort Felix. She couldn't bring herself to even try to say anything. What could she say to someone who has been facing loss since he was a little boy? Nothing she could say would be enough to be able to douse the fire that was burning his heart. She could only stand by his side and watch him drown in the despair of his loss as her heart ached in sympathy.

All the people that had survived had gathered around watching Felix with Mercedes in his arms. Their faces were etched with sadness and sympathy. They were all sympathetic towards him, but sadly they could not help him either. It was a dark time for them all as they mourned the loss of a great heroine who gave her life to defeat the villain of the realms. All had come to admire her bravery and selfless sacrifice.

Isadora was standing in the distance watching Alexa. He wanted to approach her so he could provide some comfort, but she knew that Alexa wanted to be by Felix's and Mercedes's side at the moment. They needed her the most. She remembered how she treated Mercedes earlier and was even feeling ashamed to face her. She wasn't thinking straight because of the fear of losing her love, but now she was dying, and she wouldn't get the chance to apologize to her properly. She was deeply saddened by that and the guilt was heavy as well.

While everyone was consumed by grief and sadness over Mercedes, the air suddenly changed. A gust of wind suddenly started blowing around them all. The wind picked up and started swirling and grew stronger. Everyone covered themselves as the wind whipped through them. Felix covered Mercedes with his body to protect hers.

It didn't take long before the wind started to die down and blew over. All of them were confused about what just happened. Felix, worried about Mercedes, checked to see if she was hurt, but what caught him off guard was when he started feeling a strange tingling sensation when he touched her cheek. Her body was getting warm. The coldness was going away. He gasped, not knowing what was happening.

He held her hand and felt it warming up as well. That immediately lit a spark of hope in him. He wasn't sure whether a change was really happening within Mercedes or it was just his wishful thinking. The only way to confirm that he was not losing his mind, he pinched his hand hard enough to bruise it. Alexa watched him in confusion. She couldn't understand what was going on with him.

“ What's wrong Felix. Tell me.”

Felix was getting overcome by his emotions and new hope bloomed in his heart.

“ S-She…is still…she is alive, “he blurted out, his voice cracking with emotion.

Alexa froze. She thought that Felix was having a mental breakdown and was suddenly insisting that Mercedes was alive even though she was at death's door. Alexa didn't want Felix to spiral out of control, but she could no longer watch him break and delude himself of something that would plunge him into a pit of sorrow even further. So she braced herself to get him to acknowledge the truth before them even if she had to burst his bubble.

“ Felix, please. You have to stop and let her go. Don't do this to her-”

Felix shook his head violently, and he cut Alexa off before she could complete her sentence.

“ Don't say that! She can't die. She is still alive.” His voice broke into a sob.

He pressed his finger on the vein on her wrist to check on her wrist to check on her pulse. He could feel it now. It was no longer faint. He gasped, shrieking in disbelief. He was not wrong and he was not imagining things.

Alexa went over to touch Mercedes so she could confirm what Felix was saying and try to make sense of it. When she placed her palm on her face she felt it as well. Her eyes widened in shock and amazement. As to what was happening and how it was happening, it was still beyond her. The warmth was spreading throughout her body.

She looked at Felix, and he looked at her as well. Her eyes started to swell up with fresh tears as she nodded her head at him.

“ I can't believe this!” she cried and covered her mouth with her hand.

The rest of them exchanged glances, their faces mixed with confusion and curiosity. They wanted to know what was going on.

“ She is coming back to us, Alexa," Felix murmured, and Alexa could only shake her head in agreement. She couldn't speak, her words choked up in her throat. Mercedes was fighting for her life. She was not going to die. She held Mercedes's other hand and squeezed it, wanting Mercedes to feel that she was by her side and waiting for her. They all were.