“Fine, but you’re responsible for her actions,” the nurse says.
Xavier nods. “Give her the information, crow.”
“Room 204, just down the corridor to your left,” he says, pointing in the direction and then turning away to lead Xavier to the lab.
Before either of them can change their minds, I head toward Ben’s room. Once I’m out of their line of sight, I wrap my arms around myself, a futile attempt to quell the nervous energy bubbling inside me. Thoughts of Ben swirl in my mind, mixing with images of last night: Xavier and him struggling, fighting against the poison. Relief that Xavier survived mingles with a gnawing guilt for being so grateful while Ben was lying in a hospital bed, all alone. It tugs at my loyalty, pulls at the seams of my emotions, leaving me feeling torn and frayed.
I shake my head slightly, trying to erase the disquieting thoughts. Now isn’t the time for such reflections. I need to be there for Ben, to show him the same support I gave Xavier. But as I step into Ben’s room, greeting him with a smile that feels both genuine and guilty, part of my heart remains in the hallway with Xavier.
“Hey there,” I say with a small wave.
Ben sits up in his bed. The surprise on his face is quickly replaced with joy. “Hey, Lilah.” His voice is weak but welcoming, his demeanor hesitant but hopeful.
I close the door behind me. The room has equipment with monitors that beep softly, displaying vital signs of his condition. Beside the bed, a small nightstand holds a pitcher of water and a glass, and there’s also a chair.
I make my way to Ben’s bedside, taking in his appearance, noting every detail. His skin is pale, with a sickly shade of yellow to it. There are dark circles under his eyes from more than mere exhaustion, and his hair is oily, coated in sweat from his time in the dungeon.
He reaches for my hand and squeezes. The simple gesture, so familiar, sends a wave of comfort through me, momentarily easing the guilt churning in my stomach.
I gently squeeze his hand in return, forcing some lightheartedness into my voice. “How are you feeling?”
His smile broadens, a spark of his usual humor flickering in his tired eyes. “Much better than this morning, thanks. The doctors here don’t mess around. Looks like I’ll live to annoy you another day.”
He chuckles softly, the sound a bit raspy but reassuring. I frown at the way he struggles to breathe afterward.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks. He tugs me closer until I sit on bed, my hand still in his. “You look upset.”
“I know you said that you’re okay, but you don’t seem like it.”
Ben exhales and leans back on the pillow. “To be honest, I feel like shit. But I guess almost dying will do that to you. I was taken to the infirmary right after the evaluators affirmed that I had taken the right antidote. Regardless, my organs were slightly fucked.”
When I gasp and my eyes widen, Ben grips my hand tighter. “Don’t worry, Lilah. I might be a bastard, but since I’m the onlyliving heir to the McKenzie line, they’re doing everything to keep me alive.”
“How long until you’re back on your feet?” I ask.
“The doctor is optimistic. He says I should be out of here in a few days.” With a wink at me, he continues, “And back to annoying you full-time in a couple of weeks.”
“Can’t wait.”
My smile wobbles on my face, and the tears I’ve held back over the past twelve hours stream down my cheeks. Ben’s eyes widen with alarm before he’s pulling me into his arms and making soothing noises.
“You could’ve died,” I say between sobs. “You still could during the next Trial.”
“Hey, hey,” Ben murmurs, his voice steady and calming as he gently rubs my back. “I’m not going anywhere, Lilah. I promise you, I’m going to fight like hell to stick around.”
I try to compose myself, wiping the tears from my face, but they keep coming. The reality of how close I came to losing him, the constant threat hanging over us hits me hard in this moment.
Ben keeps his arms around me, offering silent support as I struggle with my emotions. His presence, so solid and reassuring, helps ground me despite the whirl of fear and dread inside me.
“You have to be careful,” I manage to say, my voice still shaky. “Promise me you’ll be more careful in the next Trial.”
Ben’s expression turns serious, the usual playfulness fading into the background. “I promise, Delilah. I’ll do everything I can to stay safe. Not just for me, but for you.”
“You swear?”
“Always.”
“Always,” I whisper.
