Leilani.
On the fifth day, my papers were signed and I was pronounced free to go ho.
But I didn’t go ho right away.
I didn’t know if it was right, but I felt an inexplicable urge to pay Caelum a visit. I wanted to know how well he was responding to his treatnts, at least for the sole reason that he’d saved .
I quickly packed my stuff into my duffel bag, placed them on the bed, and after deciding to co pick them up later whenever Jay cos to pick up, I slipped out of my room and began to find my way to Caelum’s.
He was on the sa floor as so it was quite easy to find him, but when I got into his room, I froze.
Because laying on the bed wasn’t the Caelum I’ve always known. This was a man I couldn’t recognize.
Goddess, he was pale, leaner and had perspiration clinging to his skin everywhere, causing damp patches on his clothes and bedsheet. His eyes fluttered open slightly when I walked into the room but I didn’t try to get too close. Instead, I sat on a chair a few feet away from his bed and stared at him.
And truth be told, I was confused. My mind was a typhoon of conflicting thoughts and emotions.
On one hand, I was thankful that he had saved , because only the heavens know what would’ve been my fate if I had been shot; And on the other hand, I felt guilty. I felt bad and sad... and I wanted—no, needed— to see him better.
Tears stung at the corners of my eyes and my throat felt tight as I quietly moved closer, and my voice shook as I whispered the words that felt too heavy to speak. It tasted like bile in my mouth. I drawled; "Thank you for saving , Caelum."
And at the sound of my voice, his fingers twitched.
"I don’t know if you can hear , but I really need you to get better. I am so sorry about what happened and I feel guilty that you’re this way."
"It’s refreshing to know that you ca." A voice suddenly whispered from behind , causing to jump in fright.
When I turned to face whoever it was, I wasn’t so surprised to see that it was Kael. However, the strange warmth I could feel coming from him was what I found strange.
He asked; "How do you feel, Leilani?"
I bit my lower lip, unsure of how to respond to his question. Do I say: better? Especially since his brother had taken the major hit for ?
Shaking my head to rid myself of these thoughts, I simply smiled; And when his eyes t mine again, I looked away, hating the way my heart fluttered in my chest, and hating the stupid mate bond more for rearing its ugly head at a ti like this.
"I’m okay. I just... I had to co and see Caelum."
"Thank you for doing that. I’m very grateful and I am certain that he feels that way too."
Another thing that stunned was how genuine he sounded. How soft his smile was. Goddess, he didn’t even try to co close to , as if fearing that I would go off if he does— and maybe I would.
He folded his hands together as he watched with quiet intensity, and his voice, rich and velvety, floated through the air as he asked; "Can I ask you a question?"
My mind drifted back to the ’question’ that Zevran had asked so days ago, and thinking that what he was about to say was sothing along those lines, I frowned.
"What is it?"
"Nothing..." he drawled, scratching the back of his neck. "I just wanted to know why that girl would try to kill you, and why she would go as far as to use sothing that deadly."
His voice showed a hint of worry, causing my eyebrows to shoot into my hairline. And what was even more concerning was when he leaned close, his voice gentle but careful as he continued;
"I am worried about you."
I froze.
When I wouldn’t respond, he added; "I don’t think I’m just worried... I’m scared too. And truthfully, I don’t know who that girl is or what Frostclaw has done about her situation now but I don’t feel good about her. For soone to try to hurt you with rcury laced silver bull—"
"Keisha is not a real threat." I said coldly, interrupting him, and even though the lie tasted like ash in my mouth, I fought to keep my expression neutral.
"She’s nothing that Jay cannot handle. Moreover—"
"If she’s not a threat, then what about that other guy? What about the guy Zevran found stalking your room so days ago?" He snapped, sounding impatient.
But it wasn’t the sharp tone of his voice that stuck out to , it was the words... the words that now made goosebumps erupt on my skin.
Especially since I knew what it ant.
Who he was talking about.
My eyes widened in shock and I gasped; "A tall strange guy...?"
"With silver hair and purple eyes just like yours?" He added, causing a small shocked squeal to escape my lips before I could help myself.
I whispered; "How do you know that?"
"Because Zevran saw him." He replied sarcastically, and goddess, I could swear that I saw him roll his eyes. "And I should tell you this, Leilani, but the guy sounds like bad news."
"Kael—"
"He sounds like he’s only here to cause more trouble. So please, when next you see him, report him to the authorities and stay as far away from him as possible."
I do not know if I was ant to take orders from him, especially since he wasn’t such a good person himself; But I found myself nodding even though I knew that I wouldn’t listen.
"Leilani?" He called out, snapping out of my reverie.
"I’ve heard you. But I cannot promise you anything," I spat, "...and that’s because you don’t have the right to tell what to or to not do."
He frowned.
He looked like he was about to say sothing more, but I was done listening. I was done giving him—them— the attention that they do not deserve.
My hands balled into fists as I slowly rose from the chair. I then cast another look at Caelum before I turned to him and muttered; "I’m leaving."
"Wait, let see you ou—" he began to say but I cut him off by waving dismissively at him.
"Don’t worry," I hissed, my voice coming out icier than I wanted it to. "I can walk out just fine... also, you ought to rember that I still have restraining orders against you. So..." my voice trailed off at the end of my statent, but I didn’t even bother to complete it, hoping that he would have the wisdom to finish it up himself.
He probably did because then he nodded. And with that, I stord off, ignoring the way he called out quietly to , and ignoring the way his eyes seed to drill holes into my back.
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