Althena Book 2

30. Starving

I open my eyes a couple of hours later. Monte is sound asleep under me. Cyrus is walking away. He seems sad. I climb up and shut the TV off. Then I go pee. I roam around until I find Cyrus in the main living room. He's on the couch.

"You sick?"

"Yea. It finally got me."

"What are you doing?"

"I need to go home. I'm stupid for even being here. I don't know what I was thinking. I should have never come."

"Don't say that. I know the boys need your help. They're over their heads without you."

"Dacious could have stayed."

"You and your sudden decisions drive me crazy."

"What?"

"Cyrus, you're sick. That's all. I know you're bored, but in a day or 2 you'll get out of here. You can't leave now. All you'll do is take the virus to Eldervale. You always make decisions too fast."

"How do you mean?"

"You get pissed and want to abdicate. Sick? It's time to go home. I don't remember why, but I remember Chris yelling at you once. You need to slow down and think."

"I didn't think when I made the decision to take you in."

"Exactly. You don't think when you're... were you mad?"

"No. I was shocked. Scared. You looked bad."

"You still didn't think. That just proves my point."

He laughs. "So, your mates always stop and think before they make decisions?"

"No. Mike does, for the most part. He never talked to me about taking the king's spot in Crystal Falls before he took it. But, I know he had to do something. He saved lives. I'm sure he thought about it first. Just not with me. Drogon made decisions fast. But he also learned fast that as a king he can't do that. Conner's getting better."

"What about Monte?"

"He makes his decisions on his own. Then he deals with the fallout." I shrug my shoulders. "In war, his decisions are instant. I can't tell you if they're thought out or what he trained for."

"How do you mean?"

"We were getting shot at. He threw me on the plane and it took off. Another time we were getting shot at, he was so calm. I was about to hyperventilate, and my whole body was shaking."

"You went through a lot with him."

"Yea, before that, he made the decision to push me out of Mystical Moon because it was too close to the border. He succeeded on his own. No help from anyone."

"Why?"

"He said it was to keep me safe. I thought he hated me and didn't want me there. I stayed away as much as I could."

"It seems like you love him. As much as you cuddle with him. You're always falling asleep on him."

"Are you jealous?"

He side eyes me. "A little."

I giggle and lay my head on his shoulder. "We're not like that. Sometimes I sleep on him so he doesn't forget me. At the play park. I didn't want to be left behind. If I'm lying on him, it's hard to forget me." He cracks up laughing. "In other ways, I feel safe with him. He can be a real ass, but he was getting shot at too, and he chose to save me. He stayed. I know I'm safe with him, no matter what."

"You're safe with me. You never fall asleep on me."

I put my feet on the couch in front of me and hug my knees. "I did that once. Other things happened."

"I'm sorry if I pushed you. I didn't want to. I had no control that night. Everything was perfect. I've never felt like that with anyone. Coming home and you were there. Watching you sit with your blanket and hot chocolate. Having dinners with you. Talking for hours. Playing as wolves. All I wanted to do was hug you and never let go. Once I started touching you, I couldn't stop."

"I couldn't either... And then everything was different. I had to save him. He was hurt really badly."

"Thank you for saving my baby brother."

"I didn't know that by saving him, it would make you be so different. I would still save him. 5 million times over. That's who I am. I don't know who you are."

"I'm the same person that was with you in Eldervale. I promise."

"Mary and Millie said people will pretend to like me. It'll be an act. Some people are good at it. They can even keep pretending after they get married. They said it sounded like you were acting. Once my mate showed up, you showed who you really are. You didn't even say goodbye."

"I've never pretended anything. I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye. I wanted to. I wanted to wrap you up in my arms and never let go. But everyone kept telling me you're a child. A child can't love like that. They can't be touched. I'll go to prison or end up dead because you have 3 mates. I listened to them. I decided to stay away from you. It wasn't that I didn't love you, I wanted you to be able to grow up in peace. They had me believing I would ruin that for you. That I would ruin us both."

"What made you decide to come to Darkburn?"

"I was done listening. I should have never let you go. I want to talk to you again. I want to go on walks with you. I want to fix what I broke. I can't do that in Eldervale."

"You were ready to go back an hour ago."

"I'm so f*****g jealous of him. There's nothing I can do. You and Monte are close. It's like he took that away from me. I know he didn't. I shoved you away. But I want you back."

"Was I really your first kiss?"

"Yes." He pulls me against his side and kisses my head. "Everything I've done with you is a first for me. We don't date. We wait on our mates. I have no control with you. All I want to do is touch you. Hold your hand. Kiss you. It's all I've ever wanted."

"If we're not mates, your mate is going to be pissed."

His eyebrow shoots up and he nods slowly. "I never thought about that."

"Really?"

"No." He chuckles and tickles me. "Trust me. They threw that in my face in Eldervale too. But I don't see how life could get any better than what I had with you. Just us. Just this."

"It can get better than this."

"How's that?"

"You could get over the stomach flu and I could be naked."

He smirks. "That would be a hell of a lot better. You could do that now."

"And then you'll be dead. This is what I mean by sudden decisions."

He laughs and kisses my head. "Sorry, I was thinking with my d**k on that one. When it comes to you, his sudden decisions will never change."

I snuggle more into his side. He's so warm. "Whenever I want to get naked, it's the perfect time?"

"Yes. I can't think of a better time." He rubs my arm lightly.

"What are you doing?" Monte picks me up and puts me on my feet.

I stare at him blankly. I have no idea what I was doing. I think I was asleep.

Cyrus sits up and stares at him. He was definitely asleep.

Mike staggers up to the couch. He looks back and forth between Monte and Cyrus about 5 times. Then he scratches his head and walks away with his IV pole. "Nope."

Monte yells, "MIKE, TAKE THAT OUT OF YOUR ARM. IT'S EMPTY." Then he stares at me and crosses his arms.

I feel like I should say something. "What are you doing?"

He rubs his eyes. "I'm starving."

"I told you to at least have some broth. You want broth or eggs and toast?"

"I want a 10 pound steak."

I roll my eyes. "You can't eat that. It'll tear your stomach up. You can start with some eggs. I'll get them some broth."

Cyrus shakes his head. "Not yet."

"Go sleep in bed. I'll check on you later."

He kisses my head before he walks out.

Monte is fuming. He's about to turn red.

"Boy, knock it off. I know you're hungry. Let's go."

I make us eggs and toast. Then we sit in the dining room.

"You feel better now? You were mad."

"I need to go home."

"I know. It's boring here. But if you go home right now, you'll get the warriors sick. They'll give it to everyone in Mystical Moon. You're better off waiting an extra day."

"Will you go scuba diving with me tomorrow?"

"Yes. I was looking forward to that."

"Me too. I'm sorry you got sick."

"I'm sorry I got you sick."

"I lived. At least it doesn't last very long. 24 hours isn't going to kill anyone."

"Mike's going to be starving at 3 in the morning though. He might kill people."

He nods. "Put some eggs and a big steak in the fridge. He can sort it out himself. Have you been eating eggs all day?"

"No. Cyrus ordered lunch for us. Then ran away before he could eat it. I ate mine."

"He should be eating again around lunch. We'll dive in the morning. Then have lunch. After that, you're on your own for Mike and Cyrus. I do need to go back."

"I know. This was only supposed to be for a few hours. I'm sorry I ruined half your week. I bet you'll think twice when they ask you to babysit again."

"It's not babysitting. I like doing stuff with you. Nobody knew this was coming."

I give him a hug, then someone knocks on the door.

He pushes me out of the way, then does some weird hand signal. I tilt my head. I have no idea what he's doing. "Go over there. I don't know who would knock on this door."

"Fine." I step behind the wall.

"Good. You're eating. Who are my patients tonight?"

"Mike and Cyrus."

"Thank you. I knocked on that door first. The guard pointed at this one."

"We have a food room now."

I follow the doctor into Mike's room. "I brought you some broth and crackers, love."

"Thank you, babygirl."

"Has he eaten anything?"

"No. He napped a lot. His appetite is not back."

"I'm giving you another IV. When it's empty, take it out. You should be good tomorrow. This seems to last 24 hours. When did you first show symptoms?"

"4 or 5."

"You should be good for breakfast. Make sure you take a pill."

"Ok. Thank you."

I take the doctor to Cyrus's room. Cyrus looks at us, then stares at me.

"This one got sick right before lunch. He hasn't eaten since breakfast."

"I'll get the IV in. Make sure he takes the anti-nausea medicine for breakfast and lunch tomorrow. Dinner if he needs it, but don't forget the first two."

"I can do that. Thank you."

"My pleasure."

I plop on the couch beside Monte. "This has been one boring day."

He puts his arm around me. "Thank you for the bath stuff and taking care of us. It did help."

I lay my head against his shoulder. "I'm glad I could help. And you have a good lotion now."

I feel him sigh. Then he lays his head on mine and rubs my arm.