Chapter 196
Ethan’s POV
I stood outside Aria’s hospital room, listening to Lucas regale his unconscious mother with animated stories about their life. His voice was full of warmth and enthusiasm despite the clinical setting, each word carrying the weight of his love for her. The tender sound pierced my chest with a dull ache. For days. I’d been trying to be the pillar of strength these two needed, but right now, I desperately needed a moment to breathe.
Leaning my head against the cool wall, I closed my eyes and focused solely on the rhythmic beeping of Aria’s heart monitor. Each electronic pulse was a reminder that she was still with us, still fighting. My legs felt like they might give way beneath me, so I slid down the wall until I was crouched on the floor, elbows on my knees and face buried in my hands.
God. I was exhausted. Last night’s conversation with my father had left me restless, and what little sleep I’d managed had been spent watching the subtle rise and fall of Aria’s chest, terrified that each breath might be her last. This morning’s rounds had brought a glimmer of hope the doctor confirmed that both Aria and the twins had stable, strong heartbeats–but the weight of uncertainty still crushed me.
“Ethan?”
My mother’s voice was su soft I almost missed it. I didn’t move or look up, preferring to remain enveloped in the suffocating darkness behind eyelids. Had I even taken a proper breath in weeks? I couldn’t remember what fresh air tasted like anymore.
my closed
Ethan, what are you doing out here?” She was standing in front of me now, I could see her polished shoes, but I felt nothing beyond a pervasive numbness that had settled deep in my bones. She tried again, volce gentler. “Ethan?”
*Tm, uh, I’m waiting for Aria to, uh: The words stumbled from my mouth, my brain refusing to function properly.
“Ana is here?” My mother asked, and I heard the rustle of fabric as someone moved.
“Tuna?”
The small voice drew my attention. I lifted my head to see Lucas standing in the doorway, a tiny
a tiny figure against the hospital’s imposing architecture.
“Lucas,” my mother’s voice melted into that honeyed tone adults reserve for children. “What brings you here, little one?”
Lucas squared his shoulders. “My mom was polsoned, he replied with unsettling directness. “She’s sleeping now Ethan says she can hear me even when she’s sleeping, so I’ve been telling her stories about our apartment and my school.”
My mother’s eyes widened as she turned to me. “Poisoned? What happened?”
“Wolfsbane,” I replied grimly, meeting her gaze. “I’m surprised Eather kept you in the dark about this.
Her attention drifted toward Aria’s room. “And the twins? Are they still..
Ice flooded my veins. “You know about the twins?” The words escaped through clenched teeth, ↳ dangerous edge sharpening each syllable. I rose to my full height in one fluid motion, surprising even myself with how quickly I moved to place myself between my mother and Aria’s room. My hand found Lucas’s shoulder, drawing him protectively against my side.
My mother’s lips curved into that mischievous smile I remembered from childhood–the one that always preceded her revealing she knew more than she should. “Lower those hackles, son. Your godmother mentioned it in passing” Her eyes twinkled with something that looked suspiciously like satisfaction. “Vicky was always terrible at keeping secrets.”
“Perfect timing, then, I managed, forcing my voice to remain even. “W
“We’re on our way
to
See Father now!
“You’re bringing Lucas to meet your father? Surprise colored her voice as the hurried to keep pace with us, her gaze darting between Lucas and me with growing interest,
“Father’s request, not mine,” I replied, attempting to sound casual while my insides twisted with anxiety. The significance of this meeting weighed on me like an anvil on my chest. Would he understand my choice? Accept Lucas? Or would this become yet another battleground between us?
The thought of my father rejecting him made something dark and dangerous stir within me. I would fight for Lux Father.
Lucas if necessary–even against my own
At Father’s door, I gestured for Lucas to enter. We knocked and stepped inside after hearing my father’s inspy acknowledgment. Lucas fidgeted with a Rubik’s cube, turning it deftly in his small hands. I placed my palm on top of his head, offering a reassuring smile. He returned it with a slight upturn of his lips, but his eyes remained serious and watchful, as if bracing himself.
