The maid handed me a few.
I wrapped up the wound and secured it in place, making sure the medicine was pressed where it needed to be.
The mission had been completed, and the adrenaline passed.
But now, anxiety remained. I’d given him what he needed…but maybe not in time. I saw him lying there, his hard and muscular body coated with so much sweat it soaked into the sheets underneath him. His handsome face was tight, like he fought a battle alone behind his eyes. If he didn’t recover, he would suffer until the end.
“Will my son live?” The woman spoke with a diplomatic voice, but I heard an ocean of misery in her tone. It hurt to watch him suffer, but it must have hurt her a million times more.
I wouldn’t give her false hope, but I wouldn’t give her a death sentence either. “His sickness is advanced. One of the mostadvanced cases I’ve seen. With another man, I would say I got here too late. But with Morco…I have hope.”
With his mother and his closest friends at his bedside, I felt like I didn’t belong. I left Morco’s side and bathed in my cabin before I ate something. The journey had taken an entire day. I’d had neither food nor rest in that time, so I ate something at the Gathering and then collapsed on my bed, sleeping for a couple of hours until my body had enough energy to carry on.
I knew there was nothing more I could do for Morco.
He had to fight this battle alone.
I stood outside his cabin in the hope of news, not wanting to impose myself in a room where I didn’t belong. I’d arrived in this place just weeks ago, and while that time might feel brief to everyone else and they still viewed me as a stranger, it felt like an eternity to me. I felt like I belonged in that room, but they might disagree.
So, I waited.
Hours passed, and I sat on the ground facing the cabin, knees to my chest, my heart afraid. I was afraid of losing Morco for my own selfish reasons. He was the only person I had, the only person I trusted without reservation. The only person who ever made me feel a crescendo of emotion so powerful it terrified me. But I also didn’t want to lose him because…he deserved to live.
He deserved it more than anyone else here.
The door opened, and Caius stepped out. He didn’t notice me at first, and he gave a slight flinch when he noticed me on the ground. “Why are you out here?”
“Waiting for news.”
“I mean, why aren’t you inside?”
“I—I don’t want to intrude.”
He stared at me blankly, his blue eyes light and very different from mine. “You deserve to be in there more than anyone else, Hanne.” He stepped forward then extended his hand for me to take so he could pull me to my feet.
My heart gave a small burst before I took it and let him help me up. “How is he?”
“The same.”
“He’s not worse, so that’s good.”
He gave a slight nod.
“It means his body is still fighting. If the medicine subdues the sickness, the tide will turn in his favor, and he’ll win the battle.”
He stared at the cabin door like he could see straight through the wood. “I hope you’re right, Hanne.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“How long do you think it will take? For either outcome?”
“If he doesn’t improve within a day…then we’ll have our answer.”
He nodded, his eyes down. “People are going to start to notice he’s gone. I’ll need to say something.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“You’ve done enough, Hanne.” He started to walk off. “Go inside.” He headed to the Gathering to deliver the news.
