Knight and I sat beside her, waiting for her to finish with fading patience.
As for Arin, he was watching his beloved Lauren with pure love and infatuation, especially with her slightly swollen belly, evidence of her pregnancy growing slowly inside her.
She looked very cute to me too, almost edible, in her absorbed look as she read.
Suddenly, my heart beat like war drums as soon as she closed the book.
"My God, did she finish reading it entirely this quickly?"
I wondered in my mind with amazement.
I glanced at Knight with a look full of anticipation, and he returned the worried and confused looks, wondering what Lauren would tell us now and what secrets this ancient book revealed.
Lauren sighed deeply and looked at us with clear confusion before she spoke cautiously:
"I didn't read it entirely, but I read the important part only... which is the legend."
She was anticipating our reaction, which was frighteningly calm.
I said to her quickly, unable to curb my curiosity:
"What is the legend?"
She stared at me for a long time with a depth that frightened me for moments, then began to narrate the words seriously:
"The legend says... after thousands of years this legend will be born, a creature with no specific category, of majestic power, a power that terrified all creatures and worlds. The Heart of the Forest will choose her, she will be its master. And here her mission begins, which is to save the worlds from a coming war that will annihilate all beings entirely. She alone will determine the fate, whether it be peace or destruction."
She took a deep breath after she delivered all those words at once. I felt "Cyran" raging inside me.
What is wrong with her now? I tried to suppress her before she did something.
I saw "Knight" trying to absorb her speech and analyze it in his brain, while his features sharpened slightly from the weight of the information.
I said to her with fake calmness while squeezing my trousers hard to control my tension:
"Is there any information about this stone?"
Lauren said while rubbing her hands together, eyeing me with doubt:
"They only said it has existed for thousands of years just to accomplish its mission or support the host; for it has power capable of destroying half the world, and with the host's support, it will be an unstoppable, mobile destruction machine."
Here, "Minerva" began to release a bit of fluctuating power. Damn her! I said inside me:
"What the hell are you trying to do?"
To which she replied with annoyance at me for suppressing her:
"I want to come out! I have something important I want to say to her."
I knitted my brows in inquiry, only to see Lauren looking at me in a strange way. I think she sensed this energy from me.
I said to her quickly:
"Yes Lauren, I am the host, and she is inside me now."
I breathed heavily in an attempt to control them; I have to tell them first to prepare them.
I felt Knight's hand on my shoulder; concern was overwhelming his features in an attempt to calm me, only for me to say to him:
"She wants to come out Knight, she wants Lauren."
He said to me calmly, encouraging me:
"Let her, don't worry, we will take care of the rest."
I nodded to him hesitantly, afraid for them if she did something, for Lauren is pregnant.
I redirected my focus to her, who seemed surprised and deeply confused. As for "Arin," he was still under his shock; I hit his shoulder hard to bring him back to his senses, and he pointed at me with his finger in confusion:
"Really? Our lives are in your hands? Damn, our destruction is imminent!"
I chuckled at his words; damn him, he knows how to make me laugh even in the worst circumstances.
"Fine then, Minerva, take control, but don't hurt anyone."
My consciousness withdrew inside, and I became a spectator now.
While I was watching from within, my hair strands floated in the surrounding air as if defying gravity, while my eyes turned into radiant and shimmering emerald rubies.
Lauren's shocked eyes reflected "Minerva's" appearance to me.
Minerva's voice began to ring in the room with a serious and decisive tone:
"We don't have much time left. The war is coming with the first appearance of the Blood Moon. Disasters will begin, and our enemy is not easy at all."
She fell silent for a bit, looking at every face present in the room, assessing the situation deeply, only to continue her speech with a commanding tone that accepts no discussion:
"You must help Cyra in that, Lauren. Your presence and your healing power are not a coincidence. Everything was prepared and planned by the Moon Goddess."
Minerva turned to look at Lauren's slightly swollen belly. She stood up and approached her, placing both her hands on her belly.
A strong green beam radiated from her and soon disappeared into Lauren's belly. She withdrew her hand and said to her:
"Don't worry about the fetus; it is safe. I have placed a protection barrier on it."
Lauren was looking at me (or rather at Minerva, who was possessing my body) trying to absorb what happened.
She blinked several times, then nodded calmly. And before my consciousness returned to its place and I regained control of my body, she said to Arin with a warm smile full of happiness:
"Congratulations to you, you have a girl!"
My control over my body returned immediately. I saw Arin approaching Lauren, hugging her tightly, and his happy laughter filling the place. As for Lauren, she was crying tears of joy:
"My God, thank You... how I wished to have a girl!"
I smiled at them with love and happiness:
"Congratulations to you, guys!"
Knight approached me and whispered in my ear with cunning malice:
"What do you think if we have a boy and make him her mate?"
My eyes widened at his words and his unexpected perversion at this time! I pushed him away from me quickly:
"That cannot be! And stop your perversion!"
I saw his smile broaden with more malice. Damn him! I crossed my arms and said with feigned strictness:
"Don't come near me, Knight, I'm warning you!"
He chuckled at me with pleasure:
"Why? For we are already husband and wife, and this matter is very natural!"
I ignored his words; my face was burning with embarrassment. I will not give myself to him until I am sure of my feelings toward him and his confession that he truly loves me.
The two of us headed to the warriors' training hall which was near the palace.
As soon as we entered, everyone stopped what they were doing and lined up, giving us the salute with respect.
As for me, I was staring at all the warriors one by one, looking for that lowlife with the complex tattoo; I was indifferent to the surprised looks of some.
Perhaps they thought I was a "perverted Luna," but it doesn't matter. Even from the intensity of my focus, I didn't hear his voice calling me.
And with his grab of my hand, my eyes fell on the eyes of a massive-built man.
He felt a bit tense from my piercing looks, but he soon caught himself with his coldness.
He placed a towel on his shoulders, and I saw a bit of his tattoo appearing from under it.
I turned to Knight; my God! He is angry as hell, staring at me with sparks flying from his eyes.
I smiled in confusion; I think I went a bit too far.
I approached him, drawing him to me in a position that makes anyone who sees us think I'm kissing him on his cheek, while I said to him via telepathy, staring directly into his eyes:
"I think I found him. Don't do anything reckless."
I saw his eyes widen, but they soon turned red, evidence of his loss of control over his wolves.
Only for me to say quickly while stroking his cheek calmly:
"Dark, please stop, they will suspect us like this. Let's catch him first, then torture him as you wish. Come on, my gentle wolf."
He calmed down a bit from his fit of anger. For me to continue:
"Look, I will confirm my suspicion; watch for my signal, okay?"
He sighed with great annoyance, only for me to move away from him. I saw that everyone was avoiding looking at us this way.
Damn you! Damn! My cheeks turned red; the place is full of males, damn it!
The man was drinking from his bottle.
I used my power of moving things, and with a signal from me, the towel fell to allow me to catch a look.
Yes, I saw that tattoo; it's him! I'm sure of it. And with a quick movement, I pushed him against the wall, pinning him forcefully, while signs of pain and shock occupied his face only for me to say to Knight:
"Now! It's him!"
I stared at him, and upon seeing the traitor, shock and disappointment appeared on his features.
What did he discover? What? Does he know him? I mean, does he have a personal acquaintance with him?
He said in a strong voice and a commanding tone:
"Clear the place immediately!"
Then he approached the traitor and said with disappointment:
"Was it you all this time, Zeus?"
"Zeus? Do you know him, Knight?"
Only for him to answer, his eyes carrying promises of revenge:
"The leader of the warriors!"
He directed his speech to him with anger and a tone of evil promising him torture:
"I swear I will make you forget the day you were born, Zeus! I will torture you with a torture you have never seen in your miserable life!"
He was punching him with every word he said, until blood covered his face.
The one called Zeus smiled sarcastically, while laughing with a terrifying calmness:
"You won't be able to do anything, you fool! My master has already moved; your end is imminent!"
Knight screamed insanely, punching him without stopping, until Zeus lost consciousness.
But damn it, he didn't stop! He will kill him like this, and we won't benefit anything! I released my soothing pheromones strongly and densely this time, for his punch to stop in the air and his hand to relax.
I said to him:
"You have to calm down. We need every bit of information from him."
He stared at me; he was dripping sweat from the intensity of the anger. I held his hand, interlocking my fingers with his, drawing him to me, moving him away from that traitor before he killed him.
I ordered the guards to throw him in the dungeon until he regains his senses.
He was breathing heavily; I pressed on his hand to tell him that he is not alone and that I am beside him.
Only for him to pull me to him, burying his head in the hollow of my neck, inhaling my scent strongly as if he were smelling it for the first time.
I didn't mind at all since he will return his mind to its place. I patted his back quietly to help him relax; this wolf is truly quick to agitate, but I don't blame him; if I were in his place, I would have done more than that.
▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎
I entered Lauren's room, knocking on the door several consecutive times, but silence was the only response. I muttered with annoyance:
"What is wrong with this girl? Has she gone deaf or what? She is here, I feel her presence, so why doesn't she open?"
I pushed the door handle, and what bad luck! It had been open the whole time, and I'm here like a fool waiting for her to open for me.
I entered the room with grumbling steps, looking closely at every corner of the room searching for her.
I finally saw her on the comfortable sofa, immersed in reading the ancient book, while sipping her hot coffee.
She was completely indifferent to my presence, focused entirely on the yellowed pages as if she were in another world.
"Lauren!"
I called her calmly at first, but she didn't answer.
"Lauren!"
I said with a slight shout this time, and no response. "Mercy!" I sighed with clear despair,
"I think pregnancy has affected her hearing completely; I truly pity Arin."
I advanced toward her a few steps, and anger and annoyance were rising inside me from her total ignore of me; I could no longer be patient.
I leaned down a bit and pulled the ancient book forcefully and suddenly from between her hands. At that moment, I was completely scowling. I looked at her sharply and with a huff.
"Finally! I thought you had moved to another world with this book!"
My tone was sharp and somewhat sarcastic. I felt a slight satisfaction at my success in finally grabbing her attention, even if it was through annoying her.
I was ready to hear her rebuke, for anger was controlling me. When I pulled the book, Lauren raised her shocked eyes to me.
My gloomy appearance was reflected in her eyes. I saw her annoyance and anger form immediately; she scowled at my face and her eyes narrowed a bit, and she seemed completely ready to explode.
Her gaze clearly said:
"What the hell are you doing, you impudent girl? I was about to discover a great secret!"
The slight redness of her cheeks was proof of her intense annoyance at my sudden and impolite interruption.
I couldn't resist laughing, for her appearance was extremely funny; that cute pout decorating her face made her look like a child whose favorite toy had just been snatched away. I chuckled a bit louder, which increased her obvious irritation.
She looked at me sharply and said in a tone she tried to make as formal as possible:
"What brought you to the room? Is there an emergency?"
She was trying to kick me out of her room at any cost, that was very clear. Her eyes were fixed on the book in my hand more than on me; she wanted to be alone with that "treasure" and return to her private historical world.
I ignored her question about emergencies; instead, I smiled with even more malice, seeing how ready she was to get rid of me in the blink of an eye for the sake of a few yellowed pages.
"Oh, haven't you heard the news?"
I said to her with a wide smile full of slight spite.
Lauren knitted her brows with focus and concern, completely forgetting the book now:
"What news? What happened?"
I smiled with pride at my achievement and said in a slightly dramatic tone:
"We caught the traitor!"
Lauren stood up from her place in total surprise at what she had just heard. I followed up quickly before she could ask about his identity:
"It's the leader of the guards, Zeus!"
She placed her hand over her mouth in utter shock:
"My God!"
I knitted my brows, not understanding her reaction; she should have been happy, not shocked like this! There is definitely something hidden. I said to her sharply:
"What?! Lauren!"
She sat me down on the sofa beside her, saying quickly:
"I heard from Arin that Zeus is Knight's childhood friend and brother! They were best friends!"
I shook my head slowly, processing the situation.
"Ah... that explains Knight's reaction at that moment, and that shocked look of disappointment in his eyes when he saw him as a traitor."
"I think he went to the dungeon now... I hope he's okay. It's hard to receive a stab from those closest to you, especially if it's a childhood friend,"
I thought to myself with great concern for him, recalling the image of Knight's shocked face. My heart was wringing with pain for him.
Lauren noticed me being absent-minded and drowned in my dark thoughts, so she extended her hands tenderly and held both of mine firmly. She said in a calm and reassuring voice:
"Cyra, don't think about it too much. We must now think about what awaits us and prepare for it, for the dangers are greater than we imagine."
I stared at her with deep gratitude for her words that brought me back to reality. I nodded to her with understanding, and she continued:
"Don't worry, I am beside you. We are a team now."
I smiled at her words; I liked the idea of teamwork, feeling that we are stronger together.
I looked at her slightly rounded belly and placed my hand on it with caution and tenderness.
I closed my eyes for moments to sense the powerful aura of the fetus pulsating with life inside her. The energy was pure and promising. I chuckled lightly and said to Lauren with a wide smile:
"Your daughter possesses a mighty power aura! Of course she would, since her mother is the Princess of the Kingdom of Light and her father is the Royal Beta of the Kingdom of Darkness!"
Lauren laughed at my words, stroking her belly with gentle maternal tenderness.
After my talk with Lauren, which was both comforting and heavy with information, I realized that time had passed and the sky had already darkened.
I felt a complete loss of appetite; the weight of the accelerating events we went through today affected my stomach more than hunger.
I headed to my room, seeking the rest I so desperately needed. A secret hope was haunting me—that childish hope that makes me wish to see him there, that Knight would be waiting for my return.
When I opened the door and stepped inside, the room was completely empty. I felt a slight disappointment wringing my heart for a moment, as if I were looking for the reassurance of his presence and didn't find it. I sighed and closed the door behind me.
I took a warm shower; the hot water helped relax my tense muscles a bit. I put on my clothes, which were a comfortable gray pajama.
As soon as I finished, I spotted the new papers and notebooks he had brought on the desk.
I remembered how tired and exhausted Knight was, so I decided to sit and continue the work so he could take the rest he deserved. I became completely immersed in completing the tasks and didn't feel the long hours passing.
After a while, a strong, metallic scent hit my nose—the scent of blood that my senses as a "werewolf" could not mistake.
I looked up from the papers quickly, searching for the source of the scent. I saw Knight before me, covered in blood from almost head to toe, staring at me with a coldness that did not match the horror of the scene.
I froze in my place for a moment; shock completely paralyzed my movement. My eyes widened excessively, and I felt my face lose all its color. I couldn't believe the sight before me.
The shock soon turned into hysterical anxiety. I jumped from my place and rushed to him with quick, stumbling steps.
My features were terrified and very disturbed, my eyes fixed on the blood splatters scattered on his clothes and body.
I said in a trembling voice full of panic, questioning the source of the blood:
"Knight! What is this? Where did you get all this blood?! Are you okay?!"
I was so afraid for him that I could no longer distinguish if this was his blood or someone else's.
But he didn't answer. Knight remained staring at me with a lethal coldness, completely silent.
My anxiety increased insanely, and I began to examine his blood-stained body, searching for any injury that might be the cause of this suspicious silence.
Finally, I sighed with deep relief when I realized the blood was not his, but Zeus's blood. My features turned from terror to temporary relief.
I held his face between my two hands gently with less anxiety, trying to ask him what happened in the dungeon.
But he said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion, while staring directly into my eyes:
"I killed him, and this is all because of you."
I looked at him with a total lack of understanding of his words. Because of me? How? My features were now full of confusion and wonder.
He pushed my hands aside and moved them away from him with slight rudeness.
I stood in my place, inquiring about the reason for his harsh words, my feelings tossing between concern for him and anger at his mysterious accusation.
"What are you saying, Knight?"
I said in total confusion, my features reflecting shock and inquiry, my mind unable to process his strange accusation.
Knight's features suddenly sharpened; his cold eyes turned into burning embers of suppressed anger. He said with a slight, painful shout:
"If you hadn't appeared in my life, everyone wouldn't have turned against me and war wouldn't be breaking out! And this is all because of you!"
He exploded with those words, as harsh as bombs, while panting heavily, only now realizing the hurtful words his tongue had uttered.
I was shocked by the massive amount of suppressed emotions that suddenly came out of him and by the cruelty of his accusation.
I felt as if someone had stabbed me in my heart with a cold knife. I took step after step backward, not believing what my ears had just heard.
The pain was racking me to the point that I felt I was about to cry, but I desperately resisted my tears.
I said in a voice choked with sadness and pain, and my gaze turned to despair:
"You are not forced, Knight... if you don't want me, then I will leave."
I tried to step past him and leave, but he grabbed my hand forcefully. I shook it off him with even more force, signs of rejection and resentment showing on my face, and I left the place quickly, leaving behind a heavy silence and deep pain.
As I was moving away from the room, I heard his resounding roar.
He was snarling loudly, followed by the sound of things breaking and smashing violently in the room behind me.
Every sound was like a new knife stab in my heart.
My tears flowed profusely; I could no longer control them.
I began to sob loudly, one sob after another, while walking quickly through the palace's luxurious corridor.
I placed my hand over my mouth firmly, forcing myself to stop crying, trying to stifle the sound of my weeping so no one would hear me. But to no avail; my crying fit grew worse.
I ran toward the outside of the palace, determined to leave immediately. When I reached the main gate, the guards blocked my way, their features serious and warning:
"You are forbidden from leaving, Luna!"
I cursed this restriction in my mind; I didn't have time for discussions. I used my power, pushing them away from my path without hurting them severely. As soon as I did that, I ran with all my speed.
I transformed in the air into the form of my massive wolf "Cyran," landing on all fours, dashing at maximum possible speed toward the dense forest, seeking solace and escape from the pain Knight caused me.
As Cyran and I ran through the forest, she howled with deep pain and sadness, the echo of her howling tearing through the silence of the night and reflecting the pain within me.
Suddenly, I sensed a violent and rapid movement behind us. I turned quickly and saw a wolf as black as the night, majestic and massive in size, running with insane speed behind us. It's "Dark," Knight's wolf! I shouted internally in a tone of command and warning:
"Don't stop, Cyran! If necessary, use your power to make him stop chasing us!"
Cyran immediately supported me with a strong desire to escape.
We were increasing our speed, doing our best to get away, but damn it, he increased his speed in an insane way until he was running right beside us.
He started hitting us with his massive body repeatedly to force us to stop.
As soon as he tried to reach us again, Cyran stopped suddenly and changed her path with extreme speed.
"My clever wolf!" I said with pride. She was running in every direction, zigzagging between the dense trees to mislead him and hide our scent in the maze of the forest.
And we succeeded in that... or perhaps that's what I thought at that moment. I felt a small prickle of doubt that it wouldn't be this easy.
Suddenly, and without warning, "Dark" appeared directly in front of us, like a ghost from the darkness of the night, with thick black smoke coming out of his fur—a sign of his rampant anger and latent power.
Cyran stopped immediately, taking two steps back as an instinctive defensive measure.
She snarled with a warning power, and her black fur, interspersed with shimmering fiery strands, rose in preparation for a confrontation.
He snarled too, with greater power and overwhelming anger; with every snarl, the black smoke increased around him, surrounding me everywhere like an impenetrable barrier.
Cyran was fully alert for any move he might make. In a decisive moment, that smoke headed toward us, pinning me in my place completely; I couldn't move an inch.
I stared at him with hellish anger, my eyes shooting sparks, and I snarled while struggling violently, trying to free myself from the grip of the choking power that bound me. My heart was beating insanely, mixed with the pain still racking me and the new anger from being forcefully stopped like this.
Enough was truly enough. I could no longer stand this restriction. "Cyran" unleashed her latent power, and she fully ignited with shimmering and intense flames, burning the black smoke that was restricting our movement.
At that moment, Knight transformed into his human form suddenly. He was standing before me, eyeing me with total coldness, his eyes hollow and devoid of any emotions.
His eyes were entirely black, like a starless night, with prominent black veins surrounding them, along with his pale face and long black claws that were still visible.
His demonic aura rose insanely and terrifyingly, pressing on the atmosphere around us.
My heart tightened. Something is wrong with him, I'm sure.
His features were not those of the angry Knight I know, but the features of a cold and controlling monster.
"What is happening with you, Knight?"
I said to him via the telepathic link, but his mind was completely closed to me. He is acting completely differently since he left the dungeon, as if someone else has taken control of him.
Knight turned the thick black smoke into thin, extended threads, like demonic spider webs, trying to stab and kill Cyran with them.
But I was moving quickly, dodging his sudden attacks skillfully, utilizing Cyran's form and agility. It was clear that he was not fully aware of what he was doing, just a programmed killing machine.
As I was dodging the smoke threads, I suddenly remembered that horrific dream. The scenes came back to haunt my mind:
Knight killing everyone, including me, in this same frightening form, and the same overwhelming demonic aura.
The blood froze in my veins for a moment.
"My God! It wasn't a dream! It was snippets of the future!"
Despair crept into my heart, and my eyes widened in terror. How? Why is he doing this? I wondered to myself with pain and confusion.
My reaction was a mix of absolute dread of the future I saw and deep sadness for the Knight I know, who seems to be trapped inside this cold monster. I no longer saw Knight my mate; instead, I saw the prophecy being fulfilled before me.
I returned to my human form quickly. I was completely naked before him; even he was naked and covered by a bit of the black smoke wrapped around his waist like clothes.
It wasn't the right time to complain or feel embarrassed now; I am in real trouble and I don't know how to get out of it.
I asked "Minerva" for help: "What is the solution, Minerva?"
She answered me with a calmness that didn't suit the situation I am in now, yawning with boredom:
"Huh?"
Is she joking now? Was she asleep all this time? Didn't she feel the danger?
"Damn you!"
I was reproaching her internally with anger.
She answered me with annoyance:
"What is with you? What's the matter? And what's with this rabid dog?"
She was surprised by Knight's demonic appearance.
I said to her with bitter sarcasm while I was dodging the lethal shots Knight was sending from the smoke threads:
"If I knew, I wouldn't have asked for your help! He is out of control as if something is controlling him; he doesn't realize what he's doing!"
She hummed to me with apparent indifference, then released a ripple of green energy, assessing the situation through it. She said immediately with decisiveness:
"He is drugged; there is something wrong with his body and I don't know what it is!"
I didn't notice the last blow that hit my shoulder severely.
I looked at the site of the injury; the wound was black in color, with black veins branching from it under the skin, and the pain intensified unbearably. Damn!
"Minerva" screamed in my head loudly, her tone turning from boredom to dread:
"It's poison! Let me act quickly!"
At that moment, Minerva took full control of my body, and my consciousness withdrew to the back again.
Minerva placed a thick green shield of energy around me to avoid further injuries and advanced toward Knight with speed and decisiveness.
With a quick and sudden movement, she disappeared completely only to appear directly behind him.
Before he realized it, she inserted her claw, which she formed from energy, into his neck from behind and sent a powerful and intense wave of energy into his body to retrieve his stolen consciousness.
As soon as she did that, Knight's body jolted violently. He vomited a thick black liquid profusely on the ground, then coughed loudly, clutching his head with both hands, groaning with pain from the severe headache and pain that overwhelmed him after the poison was expelled.
Minerva stood before him, staring calmly at the black liquid, and smiled a cold smile, realizing that this was the reason for his agitation and loss of control.
Knight stared at the place strangely, then stared at me and my naked appearance, signs of confusion and bewilderment covering his face.
Minerva quickly withdrew inside my consciousness, and I regained full control of my body.
I advanced toward him with concern, forgetting the pain and dizziness that overwhelmed me because of the poison that began to permeate my shoulder.
I said to him in a trembling and broken voice:
"K... Knight... are you okay? What happened to you?"
He knitted his brows with even more surprise and questioning:
"What happened, Cyra? And why are we in the forest and naked like this?..."
He stopped talking as soon as he saw my shoulder, which began to bleed black blood profusely, to the point that my face turned completely pale and my blush disappeared.
Concern and panic were completely controlling him. He held my shoulder, examining it with intense fear, while I heard Minerva's voice whispering to me before she disappeared:
"He will regain his memory in moments."
Knight said to me in a terrified voice:
"What the hell happened for you to get hurt like this?!"
Only to... to suddenly fall silent. His eyes widened forcefully; shock returned to control him, staring at me with even greater dread than before.
Great, now he has fully regained his memories. He said haltingly, not believing what he had done:
"I am the one who did this?"
I sighed and nodded to him sadly. I replied quickly before he could start blaming himself:
"You were drugged; you weren't in your senses. It's okay, Knight."
But he denied it forcefully, holding me while my strength was fading quickly and sleepiness was overtaking me; I couldn't resist it.
I no longer felt my body; the poison was slowly taking over.
I went limp against his body, leaning on him completely, and he caught me before I fell to the ground.
I was opening my eyes with extreme difficulty; his terrified facial features before me were the last thing I saw clearly.
I said to him very languidly, surrendering to the exhaustion and the poison:
"I want to sleep, Knight."
Then I closed my eyes. But he slapped my cheek gently, trying to wake me, shouting at me:
"No! No! Don't do it, Cyra! Don't you dare close your eyes!"
I was feeling the poison running in my blood to the point of feeling my veins burning and drying from inside—a terrible, indescribable pain.
He suddenly bit his hand hard, causing it to bleed profusely, bringing it close to my mouth while repeating with hysterical urgency and concern:
"Come on, Cyra! Drink from my blood for the poison to disappear!"
I was surprised inside me. What? His blood is the antidote? His blood was the antidote to his demonic poison! I opened my mouth quickly and swallowed the blood that flowed down my throat.
Its taste was metallic and strong, and whenever the wound in his hand healed, he bit it again to give me a sufficient amount of his blood.
The pain began to evaporate gradually, and my shoulder wound healed slowly. I felt comfort returning to my body, but the black veins that branched from the wound did not completely disappear; they remained like a black tattoo on my skin.
As soon as the colors returned to my face and the terrifying paleness vanished from it, I felt his arms wrap around me tightly, carrying me in his arms to return quickly toward the palace.
I was completely limp in his arms, surrendering to the comfort that overwhelmed me after the pain was gone.
Knight was incredibly tense; every minute he looked at me with concerned looks, and his facial features were tight and afraid, insisting with broken words:
"Don't sleep, Cyra, don't you dare close your eyes!"
But I couldn't resist; the exhaustion was much stronger than me. I slowly closed my eyes to sink into darkness and unconsciousness.
The last thing I heard was him calling me, his panicked voice echoing in my ear:
"Cyra! Cyra! Answer me!"
But my body didn't respond, and I lost consciousness completely, leaving behind a terrified man carrying me in his arms.
I regained consciousness slowly; I didn't know how much time had passed. I couldn't open my eyes or move my body an inch; I was a prisoner of my surrendered body.
I only heard what was going on around me; the scent of disinfectants and strong alcoholic substances hit my nose.
I wondered to myself with faint concern: Am I in the hospital? I heard the sound of the steady heartbeats in the medical device, then the sound of the faint oxygen pumping machine on my face, which confirmed my suspicions.
I felt despair; I tried to open my eyes or move even a small part of my body, but to no avail; it did not respond to me at all.
Suddenly, the heart rate measurement machine started making a loud, annoying, and rapid sound, I think because of my increased heart rate from my desperate attempts to move.
People burst into the room quickly. I heard Knight's panicked voice; his voice was charged with fear and panic as he said to another person, I think it was the doctor:
"What's with her? What is happening to her?!"
The doctor was moving around me quickly, I think he was examining the devices connected to me, while I was a prisoner of silence and darkness.
Whenever I made an effort to move or open my eyes, my heartbeats increased in a painful and alarming way, and the stupid machine increased its buzzing. Damn! My head will explode from this sound!
The doctor approached me while Knight was holding my hand with strength and reassurance.
The doctor brought his face close to mine to open my eyes by force and pointed the flashlight at them. As soon as he let go of my eyelids, they closed again involuntarily. I heard his relieved sigh as he said to Knight to reassure him:
"Don't worry, Alpha, she is fine. She just needs rest. She has regained consciousness, but her body is exhausted from the poison. I will inject her with a sedative to speed up her healing process."
I felt Knight pressing on my hand even harder, exhaling his breath with clear relief. I felt the slight prickle when the doctor gave me the needle, and they were about to leave.
Suddenly I felt my hand being raised, and something moist and warm covering it. My God! Did he just kiss my hand? I heard him say in a sad voice full of regret:
"I am sorry, Cyra, for what I did. I am a bad person; I couldn't protect you from myself... I'm sorry."
He said it with clear pain in his voice, which was not devoid of intense remorse.
I smiled at this apology, and I liked the matter very much; I felt warmth overwhelming me. Then I lost consciousness again, this time in peace and tranquility.