Cole lingered, his hesitation clear. I didn’t know how to talk to him, my mind a mass of confliction. I was happy he was here, that he was safe, that it had never been him who’d done all those things, but that happiness was clouded with the images of his involvement with the torture Marcus had subjected Cassie to, of the families who’d been murdered or taken from their homes. I struggled to look at him, the sight of his face tainted.
“Here you go, Damien,” Zephyr said as he entered the room with a few folded blankets in his arms. I rose, taking one from him, and we laid it out over her. I lifted her arms and lowered them back onto the new layers of blankets, careful not to disturb the IVs in the crooks of both arms and the monitor clamped to her fingertip. She didn’t stir despite the movement, and I was both relieved and fearful of how deeply she slumbered.
Zephyr paused, his gaze latching onto her. “A nurse will be here shortly to check on her.”
“Thanks, Zephyr,” I said, and Zephyr glanced to Cole.
“I’ll leave you to it. I’m gonna check in with Calista, update her on everything. Call me if you need anything,” Zephyr’s eyes flickered to Cassie. “Let me know if she wakes up.”
I nodded, and Zephyr saw himself out, leaving Cole, Thalia, and me in an awkward silence.
“I want you to tell me everything that happened in those woods, Cole.” My eyes drifted back to Cassie, to her chest rising and falling too faintly.
Cole drew a deep breath and began. He told me everything, every detail, from the moment she’d pulled him from the depths. Gods, she’d used her magic, even though she knew the cost. She’d saved him, and I couldn’t decide whether I was proud of her for her sacrifice to save him or upset with her.
“Cody was Melantha’s mate,” I echoed as Cole finished.
Cole nodded.
“Is that why she took him?”
Cole shrugged. “I’m assuming that’s the case. Melantha did the same thing to him that she did to Cassie. She bit him and then gave him her blood.”
He’d tried to tell me more, but he struggled with the memories leading up to Cassie entering his mind, his vision mottled and blurred, only bits and pieces leaking through.
I pondered, rubbing my hand along my jaw. “I wonder if what she did has anything to do with these projects and experiments she mentioned, if she’s doing that to other immortals.”
“I’m sorry I can’t offer any more insight. The last several months have been a... blur. I remember meeting Cas, and there were times when I’d seen glimpses—” He swallowed, his eyes falling, as if he were reliving whatever horrors had slipped through the haze. “I saw glimpses of her in Marcus’ compound. Gods, I’m so sor—”
“Don’t.” My blood boiled at the thought, and I feared if he continued stirring that memory, I might slip over the edge into that conflicting feeling that made me want to slit his throat, regardless of whether he had a choice or not. I drew a deep breath. He’d been innocent this entire time. I could see it in his eyes. It was truly him looking back at me now.
“The next few months are going to be rough, if you live long enough. I just want you to be prepared,” I warned, and Cole’s tawny skin paled.
My eyes drifted back to Cassie, who’d slipped into a deep sleep now, her body so still that the monitor’s beep was the only reason I didn’t check to make sure she was still breathing. “There are a lot of immortals who want your head.”
“I understand, and I don’t blame them,” Cole muttered, his onyx eyes lifting to me.
Vincent peered into the room. “How’s she doing?”
“Resting,” I answered, settling back into the seat.
“I just got a call. The Council wants Cole brought in,” Vincent said, his silver eyes slipping to him.
Shit, word had traveled fast. I met Cole’s gaze, fearing how this would go for him.
“The more you cooperate, the better chance we have of convincing them of what truly transpired,” I said, and Cole drew a deep breath.
“Vincent,” I started, and his brows rose. “Let me know of any developments. It’s going to be difficult to prove his innocence.”
Vincent nodded, and my eyes drifted back to Cassie as I slumped into my chair. Fates be kind to him. The Council would likely tear him apart, and sadly, the only one who could prove his innocence... might not walk out of this hospital.
Tender hands combed through my hair, the touch warm, leaving rippling waves of ecstasy rippling across my skin. I groaned, my body moving on its own to get closer. Wait... I jolted awake, my eyes jerking upward. Cassie was conscious, a weak smile on her face as she watched me, but her hand halted the moment I woke.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean…” She drew a deep breath, as if it took too much oxygen to speak. “I didn’t mean... to wake you.”
“It’s okay,mea luna.” I pushed myself up to press a kiss to her forehead. “Don’t push yourself if it’s too difficult to talk.”
She inhaled again, her chest rising, and she winced briefly before settling back into her pillow. My chest tightened, the sight of her pain too much. I wished I could take every ounce of what she was feeling away.
