58–Who Is Alaric?
Iris.
“W–what ha–happened t–t–to au–aunty?* Abel asked, unable to look away from lone’s cold, pale form. She had long since been brought to the castle infirmary for further treatment.
‘Nothing. Abel,” I lied, already seeing his eyebrows scrunch up like he wanted to cry. ‘She just has a little cold.”
Abel said nothing for a moment, his eyes never leaving lone. I could not even bear to look at her for too long. I knew I was not at fault for what had happened to her, but I could not help but feel guilty because if she had not tried to see into me, she would not have wound up in her present state.
“Bu–but why i–i–is sh–she ble–bleeding?” he asked.
I froze before standing up from where I sat to see what my brother was speaking about. I got to her, and my eyes turned as wide as saucers. She was
bleeding. From her nose.
The Deltas on duty for the afternoon had retired for the night, and the next rotation would soon start, so I was alone in the infirmary with Abel.
“Wait here, Abel,” I told him hurriedly as I headed for the exit.
I opened the door and almost rushed out when I hit a wall. I was caught off guard and stumbled a bit before strong arms sprang out to steady me.
“Easy, Iris.”
I looked to see that the wall was Cassian. He had a confused and worried expression on his face. “What’s wrong? Is it Ione?” he asked.
“Yes, she is bleeding from her nose,” I informed him.
A line appeared between his brows, and he guided me inside with him. He was at his sister’s side in a second. His eyes darkened with worry when he saw what I was talking about.
His Beta, Landon, who had entered right after him, did not need to be told even once. He left the infirmary to get the Delta.
The Deltas soon made an appearance, five of them, all scrambling to examine her and figure out what was wrong. Cassian stayed a few feet away
from them, his eyes intense and his gaze troubled as he watched them try to save his sister.
In my opinion, with what I had seen since I first arrived, it seemed like he was quite complacent with Ione. They did not seem close, nor did they seem to abhor any ill feelings towards each other like Rolan and Cassian did. They acted like acquaintances, and I always wondered why. Cassian was a fiercely protective person, and he was not the type to stand by and watch the people he loved be trampled on like Ione was by the rest of the
family.
But seeing him now, it was obvious he loved his sister. It was clear as day he cared for her. Rolan had not come to see her even once, and Zahila was not even allowed anywhere in the infirmary. What hurt the most was her mother. Ione’s mother only cared about Ione when it would aid in stirring
drama that would, of course, star me as the villain.
I wondered what had happened that made them treat her the way they did. I wondered, most importantly, what had happened between Ione and
Cassian that had created a rift between the siblings. But it was no time for those questions now; it would all be answered in due time, once lone woke
- up. If she woke up.
“What is going on?” Cassian asked. “Why is she bleeding?”
The oldest Delta looked grim as he turned to Cassian. “This is nothing like I have ever seen before,” he admitted. “This is the oldest case to date.”
My blood froze in my veins. “All this is happening to her because she touched me.”
The old Delta regarded me, pity in his gaze. “Ione’s gift has always been dangerous, my Luna,” he said solemnly, bowing his head.
“This is not your fault, Iris,” Cassian said. “She should have asked for your permission.”
“I beg you not to fault her as well, Cassian,” I said. “Not while she is like this.” I ended up sounding far harsher than I had intended. I clasped my hand over my mouth in surprise. The whole room had also gone completely pin–drop silent. I had not realized that I was holding back so much frustration on the issue of Ione that I could not bear to hear a single word against her, even if it was from Cassian.
I looked up at Cassian, but instead of hardening, his face softened. “You have said nothing wrong. I should not be throwing blame; we should be trying to wake her.”
I still stood frozen in the spot. How could he react so well and be indifferent to the fact that I had spoken to him like that before his subjects?
Cassian slowly made his way to me. When he was close enough, he pulled me to him and cradled my head to his chest. He stroked my head and dropped his head to my hair. “You are worried and on edge because you care for her. My sister is lucky to have you as a friend. You are allowed to berate me a little. It is your right as my wife,” he whispered. “She will be okay. My sweet, docile sister is far stronger than she looks.”
He pulled away from me and looked into my face, his eyes searching. He used his thumbs to wipe away the stray tears that had escaped. He turned to the people who were still shocked at my outburst. “My wife is just worried. Do your best to bring her back to us.”
“Yes, Alpha,” the Deltas echoed before turning back to focus on lone.
“Au–aunty wi–will be o–okay,” Abel came to my side and pulled on my finger reassuringly. “Do–don’t cr–cr–cry.” He looked worried. It was bad enough that he was scared for lone; I could not burden him too.
I managed to flash him a smile to put him at ease. “Okay, dear.”
One of the Deltas, a young woman, stepped back from Ione, her face a mixture of shock and confusion. “Alpha, Luna, something is happening,” she
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38 Who Is Alaric?
said urgently
Cassian and I both turned to face her. “What is it?” Cassian asked, his voice steady but laced with concern.
“Her body temperature… it’s fluctuating rapidly,” the Delta explained. “She has gone from ice cold to warm.
The oldest Delta, who had spoken before, moved closer to Ione, placing a hand on her forehead and then her wrist. His brows knitted together as he tried to make sense of the changes. “It’s true. Her temperature is rising quickly. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
The atmosphere in the infirmary grew tense, a palpable sense of urgency hanging in the air. Ione’s skin had been cold and clammy but now it had began to flush with warmth. I could almost see the life flowing back into her veins, her pallor giving way to a healthier hue.
“She’s warming up,” I whispered, half in awe, half in disbelief. I reached out, my fingers trembling, and touched her hand. It was warmer, almost hot to the touch. My heart pounded in my chest, a wild mix of hope and fear. What did this mean? Was she getting better, or was this some new, terrifying development?
Suddenly, Ione’s lips moved, and the faintest sound escaped her. I leaned in closer, straining to catch her words. The room fell silent, everyone holding their breath. Her murmurs grew slightly louder, her voice a ghostly whisper against the stillness.
“She’s murmuring something,” I said, leaning in closer to hear. “But I can’t understand her.”
Cassian leaned in as well, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make out the words. The room fell silent, everyone straining to catch what she was saying. The Deltas exchanged worried glances, their hands momentarily stilled in their work. The tension was almost unbearable.
Ione’s lips moved more rapidly now, her voice gaining strength. Her words were garbled, incomprehensible, like she was speaking in a language none of us knew. Then, amidst the murmurs, one name emerged with startling clarity, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Alaric, no…” she whispered, her voice a desperate plea.
I turned to Cassian, confused. “Who is Ala…” I began to ask until I noticed Cassian’s reaction to the name itself.
Cassian’s face had darkened at the mention of the name, his eyes hardening. His reaction was immediate, visceral. His jaw tightened, and a shadow passed over his features, transforming his worried expression into one of deep, simmering anger.
“Who is Alaric?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, afraid of the answer. The name carried a weight, an unspoken history that pressed down on the room like a heavy fog. It seemed that everyone but me knew the meaning and implication of the name.
Cassian’s eyes flicked to mine, filled with a mixture of rage and something else—something more vulnerable. He averted his gaze, unable or unwilling to meet my eyes. “It’s nothing,” he said tersely, his voice a low growl.
But this was not just nothing. That much I could tell from his reaction alone. It was the same with the Deltas and guards; they all refused to look at me. All of them glanced nervously at Cassian, whose face held a bitter expression.
Another question was added to my growing pile: Who was Alaric? And what did his name have to do with Ione’s suffering?
Cassian took a deep breath, his expression hardening further. “Focus on Ione,” he said to the room, his voice leaving no room for argument. “We need to stabilize her first. Everything else can wait.” His voice was hard.
The Deltas nodded in unison and resumed their work with renewed urgency, their hands moving deftly over Ione’s form. The air was thick with tension, a collective anxiety that seemed to grip every heart in the room.
I clutched Abel closer, feeling the weight of the mystery that had just been introduced. My thoughts raced, each one more troubling than the last. What had Ione seen or experienced that made her call out for this Alaric? And why did Cassian react so strongly to the mention of his name?
Cassian remained at Ione’s side, his eyes never leaving her. Despite the anger that had flashed across his face moments ago, his concern for his sister was palpable. He was a man divided, between the anger that he was holding back and the concern of his sister. This was far more convoluted than I had first thought.
“Alaric, no…” Ione’s voice echoed in my mind, the desperation in her tone haunting me. There was so much I didn’t understand, so much that was hidden in the shadows of this family’s past. I resolved to uncover the truth, not just for my own sake, but for Ione’s. I had in inkling that that name had attributed to their family dynamic and dysfunction. I could feel it. It was far more than a name, it was a name attached to something that they did not want to bring up.
The oldest Delta with a somber expression, finally stepped back from Ione, wiping his brow. “We’ve stabilized her for now,” he said, his voice weary but relieved. “But we need to monitor her closely. This is unlike anything we’ve encountered before.”
Cassian nodded, his jaw still tight. “Thank you,” he said quietly. He did not turn to me but he spoke to me. “I know you have questions but bear with me until she wakes up. She should be the one to tell you. It is not my place.” Without another word, Cassian turned on his heel and left the infirmary.
59–Savior And Deceiver
59 – Savior And Deceiver
