18: Cassian
The sickly pallor of tris skin had relented since the Deltas had begun treating her. The situation was mind–boggling. Even when she had been caught on that first day, she had not looked as helpless as she did at that moment. One moment she seemed well despite what had just happened to her mother and the next she was chitching her stomach, screaming.
I stayed in the room as the Deltas examined and treated her. They had yet to come up with a diagnosis, and it was already the second day since she slipped into unconsciousness. I found it hard to leave her all by herself. She looked so vulnerable and helpless on my bed. Her small chest rose and
Tell..
After another routine check–up, the Deltas left once again without relating a diagnosis. Then I heard something just as the footsteps of the Deltas receded. I got up and moved to the bed, towards tris.
Inc 1called out as sofily as I could manage.
Nothing.
Then I heard a crash and wailing. The one of a child. I walked out of the tour, every guard on high alert, giving me a wider berth. I reached the place where the noise had been coming from to see a child indeed. One with brown eyes filled with tears, surrounded by guards.
Tle–ple–please, I just wa wa want to se see my sis–sis–sister,” he pleaded, trying to fight his way through the guards who towered above him like a living wall.
“You you you ca can’t, mag. A guard taunted him, but his words died at his lips once he realized my presence. They all bowed low. “Alpha” he greeted.
I paid no heed to his greeting and faced Iris‘ brother, whose eyes had gone wide as he looked at me. “Abel? Is that your name!
The boy blinked, the unshed tears in his eyes filling with the action. He nodded hesitantly. His eyes went to my black–veined arms and he gulped
I turned my gaze on the guard who had taunted him. “You must really look forward to the end of your life. I remarked.
Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, his skin turning pale. “No, Alpha,” he was quick to kneel. “That is not the case.”
“Ummm, if that is so, then, you should be kneeling for the royal that you have just disrespected.”
The guard raised his head, his face etched with confusion. “Royal?”
You disrespected my wife’s brother did you not?” 1asked, my tone hardening
He turned immediately to the confused little boy, still on his knees. “I apologize for my actions.
Abel only looked up at me and back at the guard
“Leave,” Fordered.
The guards dispersed, leaving me with Abel.
Follow me,” I said simply, before walking ahead of him and giving me a bit of distance. I was sure that the boy would dare touch me and wind up
dead
We returned to the room and Abel scurried over to his sister’s side. I watched him hold her hand and smooth down her hair with his little hand. The sight rugged on something dead inside me. It felt like an intimate moment that I could not intrude on
I moved towards the exit,
“S–s” The boy called
I halted without turning around.
“T–t–thank y–you.” he stuttered.
I walked out without a word, a rare gemine smile crawling its way to my lips. When was the last time someone thanked me?
The night had come and gone. I stayed in my study and did not return to my room. I looked through some documents that needed my attention.
A knock on the dour interrupted me.
“Enter” Lallowed.
The door opened, revealing lone. Herexpression was perplexed, and her shoulders were slumped. “Iris is awake.”
rose from my seat. That is pleasant news
“Yes. but there is something you need to know,” Her eyebrows scrunched together. The delias have news about her condition”
1 followed my obviously disturbed sister back to my bedroom to see everyone already present. My mother, brother, his wife, my beta and the delca
“You are finally here,” Rolan said, his tone doing nothing to hide his irritation as always not that Leared.
“Dear, there is something you need to know about your wife,” my mother spat the ward ‘wife like venom.
“Alright, what might that be?
My mother turned to the deltas. Tell him what you discovered”
The head Delta tumed her gaze on me. “We found out what caused her so much pain and the persistent fever. She had a child in her.” The Delta dropped the bombshell
Achill Techncil.
“Yes, Alpha
“Where is it?” I asked
“Tr’s dead. Alpha. And it has been deceased for a while now.
“It belonged to the lover, I am sure,” Zahila remarked widely.
Lignored her. “She miscarried?” I asked quietly. My eyes fell on Iris, who looked awake but lost. As though she didn’t know where she was “It might have been more traumatic than a simple miscarriage.” The Delta said hesitantly.
You mean
“She likely lost the baby due to physical injury
was inflicted on her by someone.”
“She was beaten while pregnant,” lone said with a sladder.
“That is a huge probability,”
Kavriel. That was the first name that popped into my head. He had something to do with her losing her child. Or he had been the reason itself.
“Is her womb even useful anymore?” My mother questioned insensitively. “It’s a grave now. Is it worthy of carrying that child of a Lycan”
“Mother…” I wamed.
She pursed her lips.
“Your mother is right, Cassian” Zahila chirped in once again. “She is asking what everyone is wondering. At this point, she is defective
“No one asked you, Zahila, Ishut her down.
“Do not speak to my wife like that,” Rolan protested,
I ignored him, like I always did, and moved towards Iris who was still looking into thin air. “Who did it to you?” I asked her
