\[William’s POV\]
“Elise!”
Her name leaves my lips in a hiss as she lays motionless in front of me. How did she get this injury when we were both here together?
“Elise!” I repeat, shaking her only for her to remain unconscious. “Dammit! This isn’t funny!”
‘She needs a healer.’ Rue hisses, forcing his way through my panic. ‘Don’t just sit there!’
A healer. Where in the hell would I be able to find a healer on such short notice? I didn’t know anyone in Rosco’s territory!
‘Maria,’ Rue huffs, his annoyance slamming into me. ‘They’re only twenty minutes away.’
For a moment, I pause as I realize that she was the best option, but what would happen if Rosco and Denali came here? Wasn’t my bastard father still roaming around, waiting to try to bum rush me and drag me back to Crystal Fang?
‘What matters most?’ Rue demands. ‘Helping Elise or remaining hidden?’
‘Elise.’ I respond instinctively. It was the most obvious answer.
‘Then call Rosco!’
Nodding, I pull my phone out of my pocket and click on Rosco’s number, then wait until he answers.
“What is it?” He asks, his voice flat. “Have you already been found?”
“It’s Elise.’ I respond, ignoring his hit. “Something happened, and she...” Growing quiet, I take her in once more as blood continues to run freely from her injuries. “She’s hurt.”
“What?” Rosco hisses. “What the hell happened? Were the two of you attacked?”
“Less questioning and more action!” I snap. “I need Maria immediately; otherwise...”
I feared that she wouldn’t make it. I couldn’t openly say this, not when the color was draining from Elise’s features and sweat was beading her skin.
No. I wouldn’t accept something like that happening. Not when I was finally starting to accept my feelings toward her and she was opening up.
“We’ll be there soon.” Rosco says, breaking through my panic-stricken haze. “Just do what you can until we get there.”
“Got it.” I respond before hanging up.
Tossing my phone aside, I look around until I spot a blanket. Getting up, I rush to grab it, and when I return to Elise’s side, I ball it up and press it against her chest. Although she had a scratch on her neck, it wasn’t anywhere near as dangerous as the gaping wound just beside her heart.
“How did you get like this?” I whisper, praying to the gGoddess that Elise would open her eyes. “You were safely here with me.”
None of this was making sense, and it was reminding me too damn much of that time with Marigold. Back then, I couldn’t protect her, even though I was close to her as well. History was repeating itself, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because I was cursed.
With each passing minute, I could feel myself drifting further and further into the darkness before finally hearing the sound of voices shouting reaches me.
Lifting my gaze, I watch as Rosco and Denali lead Maria forward. When they reach, they drop to their knees and begin to see what exactly is happening.
“How did she get like this?” Denali asks, while Rosco remains silent. “What happened?”
“I don’t know.” I respond numbly. “We were sleeping, and then...”
“You’re telling me that this happened to her in her sleep?” Rosco huffs, clearly not buying what I was saying. “Are you sure she didn’t do it to herself to gain sympathy?”
“Rosco,” Denali warns. “Now isn’t the time for your accusations.”
“Could the two of you take William somewhere?” Maria asks before the lovebirds can argue any further. “His energy is mixing with hers, and it is hard to get a good connection.”
“Sure,” Denali responds evenly. “William,” she continues, getting up and coming around to me. “You heard, Maria; why don’t you…”
“No!” I growl, refusing to leave Elise. “I’m going to stay here until her eyes open. That way, she doesn’t panic when she doesn’t…”
“Quit being ridiculous,” Rosco barks. “You’re only interfering with her healing. If you want to be stubborn and stay here, then it will be your fault if she dies. You don’t want another life on your hands, do you?”
His words are like a knife that stabs deep into me, and I know that he is saying what he is to help me, but I can feel myself being dragged back to that time. Back when I was much weaker and unable to do a damn thing. It was because of that weakness that I couldn’t protect my mate and the one person who was most important to me.
“Come on.” Rosco pushes when I don’t respond. “Get the fuck up and come with me.”
He doesn’t wait for me to respond or even move before he grabs me and pulls me to my feet. And instead of fighting him, I go along quietly.
When we reach the living room, he whirls on me, and his gaze narrows accusingly.
“Now, tell me what really happened.” He snaps, crossing his arms. “Who did this? Tell me so that I can properly punish them. Even if it were that father of yours, you shouldn’t be protecting him. Or are you going to let him continue to hurt those who dare get close to you?”
“It wasn’t him.” I say quietly, my confusion flaring. “I truly don’t know how she got like that. We were sleeping, and then when I woke up, she was like that.”
Did this really happen in her sleep? And if it did, did that mean that someone was capable of hurting her even when she was safely with me?
“She was sleeping?” Rosco repeats, his voice dripping with disbelief. “Are you going to tell me that someone attempted to slash her throat and stab her through the heart in her sleep?”
Opening my mouth, I begin to confirm just that, but it sounds crazy even to me.
“Could it have something to do with her power?” Denali asks quietly, breaking the silence that is falling around us. “It’s a possibility, isn’t it?”
Her powers? Was she referring to the fact that she was able to see things? Did that mean she was capable of getting hurt too, and if she was, didn’t that mean that her power was just as dangerous as Denali’s?
“This is all getting too fucking confusing.” Rosco growls. “What the hell is actually happening?”
“We’re facing another problem that will test everything we’ve known.” Denali responds easily. “The question is, are you and William going to let it defeat you, or are you going to come out stronger because of it?”
“Obviously the latter.” Rosco responds.
“What about you, William?” She pushes, fixing her gaze on mine. “What are you going to do?”
What was I going to do? Obviously, I wasn’t going to let this defeat me, not when there was so much riding on overcoming.
“I refuse to lose another person I care about.” I respond, feeling my determination flaring. “Even if it means I have to defeat an invisible enemy.”
“Then I’ll leave Elise to you.” Denali beams. “It’s now your turn to protect the one that matters most to you, like Rosco did to me in the past. Don’t let me down, alright?”