Chapter 19
783 Words
Vivian’s pov
The heavy iron bolts closed behind Silas, locking us in the calm safety of the tall tower.
For the first time since I had been dragged into this freezing mountain, I didn’t feel like I was going to die.
Elder Kael had protected his Alpha, and in doing so, he had inadvertently protected me. The vanguard wasn’t hunting me. I wasn’t going to be dragged into the courtyard at dawn.
I looked over at Dominic. The root poultice had successfully drawn the silver infection from his blood, breaking the worst of the fever. His chest rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm.
The Butcher of the North had finally slipped into a deep, exhausted sleep.
The fire in the stone hearth burned down to glowing red embers, plunging the enormous room into deep shadows.
I curled my knees to my chest on the hard stone floor, shivering inside the thin linen tunic. The physical exhaustion of the magical burnout was dragging me down like an anchor.
I squeezed my eyes shut, desperate for sleep, but the freezing draft of the stone floor made my teeth chatter.
A low, instinctual whine echoed in the back of my mind.
“Mate. Warmth”. I fought it for an hour. But as the temperature dropped further, survival finally overrode my human logic.
I stood up, my bare feet completely numb, and silently crept toward the gigantic timber bed.
I didn’t dare touch him. I carefully crawled onto the very edge of the mattress, pulling the absolute furthest corner of a heavy wolf-pelt over my shivering shoulder. I curled into a tight ball, staying as far away from the Alpha as physically possible, and let the sheer heat of his body lure me to sleep.
The click of a key jerked me awake.
My eyes snapped open in the darkness. Someone was trying to enter the Alpha’s private quarters.
The door swung open. A figure stepped in holding a silver candlelight, and in the flickering light, I saw her face.
Lady Vespera.
She was beautiful—pristine blue gown, white fox collar,concerned expression. She looked like she belonged here. Like she had every right to be in Dominic’s bed.
“Dominic?”
The voice was feminine, smooth, laced with genuine concern.
I froze under the pelt, not even breathing.
Dominic’s amber eyes snapped open ,instantly alert. He pushed himself up on his uninjured elbow, squinting against the candle light.
“Vespera?” Dominic rasped, his voice rough with sleep. “You shouldn’t be up here. The guards…”
“My father ordered the guards to let me pass," she replied,moving closer. Her voice was trembling with concern. “Oh! Dominic… my father told me how much blood you lost. I couldn’t sleep knowing you were up here alone and in pain. So I came to tend your wounds”.
She reached the edge of the bed, setting the candlestick on the nightstand. She reached out, her delicate, manicured hands gently touching his bare uninjured shoulder. It was an incredibly intimate, familiar gesture.
Something hot and violent coiled in my chest.
My wolf bared its teeth.
“I am fine, Vespera”, Dominic said, his tone gruff but lacking it’s usual dangerous edge. He didn’t push her hand away. “The bleeding has stopped”
“You are burning up”, she murmured, leaning closer to him. “Let me stay. It is my duty to take care of you”.
“Vespera, go back to your quarters”, Dominic ordered softly, the exhaustion clear in his voice. “The pack needs you rested”.
Vespera let out a soft sign, clearly disappointed, but she nodded dutifully. “As you wish, my Alpha. But let me at least fetch you a new blanket. The fire is almost dead”.
Before Dominic could stop her, Vespera stepped around the edge of the massive bed, reaching for the heavy wolf pelt draped over the far side.
The exact pelt I was hiding under.
Her delicate hand grabbed the thick fur and pulled.
The pelt slid off my shoulders, completely exposing me in the candlelight. I was curled in a tight ball, wearing a ragged omega tunic, laying on the Alpha's private bed.
Vespera froze. The candlelight flickered, casting terrifying shadows across her beautiful face. The concern in her eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a look of absolute disgust.
She stared at me , then at Dominic’s bare chest, then back to me.
“What,” Vespera whispered,her voice trembling with fury. “Is this Solari wench doing in your bed?”.
My heart stopped.
Everything had just changed.
- Writer
