Chapter 71

Sebastian’s POV

Sebastian dove into the cold oasis of the river. He was a strong swimmer and was able to swim with the current and quickly reach Liam before he traveled too far down the river and into the ocean. Liam looked to be unconscious and was bobbing up and down the water.

He wrapped his arms around Liam’s limp body and held him close as he began swimming against the current. It was a lot harder to swim against the current and took him a little longer, but with the strength of Eric, he was able to get toward the edge of the riverbed where Arnold waited for him with a large branch.

Sebastian grabbed onto the branch, keeping Liam tucked under his arm, and pulled Liam towards the shore. Raya helped pull Liam out of the water as Arnold helped Sebastian get out of the water.

He took in a few steady breaths, trying to catch his breath as he knelt before Liam. He wasn’t breathing. He was pale and his body was pruned and raisin-like.

“Is he dead?” Raya asked tears in her eyes.

Sebastian checked for a pulse on Liam’s wrist, after a moment, he felt a faint pulse and he breathed out relieved.

“No,” Sebastian told her as he started doing chest compressions. “Call 911.”

Arnold grabbed his phone out of his pocket and immediately called the ambulance.

He pressed his palms into Liam’s chest with force; sweat poured from his forehead as the humid air attacked him.

“Come on, Liam,” Sebastian said with each chest compression. “Wake up.”

He pressed his mouth against Liam’s and started blowing air into his lungs. He pulled away and restarted the chest compressions. He attempted to blow more air into his lungs once again.

“Breathe, Liam. Breath,” Sebastian whispered as he continued the chest compressions.

Soon, Liam began coughing and water poured out of his mouth. His body trembled as it released the water from his lungs. Sebastian sat back, breathing of relief now that Liam was awake.

Liam glanced over at Sebastian with a tired expression; he shivered uncontrollably.

“You had us worried,” Sebastian said, catching his breath.

Liam looked like he wanted to say something, but no words came to him. He just looked confused and scared.

“Your sister is going to be happy that you’re okay,” Sebastian told him, patting him on the back.

He flinched at Sebastian’s force, making Sebastian pull back apologetically. He didn’t always remember how strong he was compared to an average wolf.

It didn’t take long for them to hear the sounds of an ambulance in the distance.

“I’ll get their attention and show them where we are,” Arnold said as he took off towards the road.

Raya bent down next to Liam like she was studying him for a short while.

“You look like her,” Raya said with a small smile. “Your sister. You look alike.”

Liam stared back at her, confused because he had never met her before. She pulled away from him and looked over at Sebastian with worried eyes.

“Is he okay?” She asked.

He nodded.

“He’s just frightened. I’m sure this isn’t easy for him. Once we get him back to the hospital, he will be back to his old self,” he assured her.

Arnold returned moments later with an ambulance trailing behind him. The EMTs piled out of the ambulance and brought a stretcher over. Liam looked even more frightened as the EMTs attempted to get him to his feet.

“It’s okay, Liam,” Sebastian said, trying to sound reassuring.

Reassurance was a new approach for Sebastian, and he wasn’t sure if he even sounded kind. But it seemed to calm Liam down slightly and he allowed the EMTs to get him onto the stretcher and into the ambulance.

Sebastian, Arnold, and Raya met the ambulance at the king’s hospital where Dr. Davis was already waiting for them. He looked relieved when he saw Liam and he directed the EMTs to his room. Once Liam was settled back into his room, he had a doctor take a look at him.

“He was lucky you got there when you did,” Dr. Davis said to Sebastian as he came into the waiting room. “Any longer and he it would have been all over for him.”

“We should get back to Hannah,” Sebastian muttered, turning away from Dr. Davis.

He was grateful that Dr. Davis brought Hannah that note; without that note, he wasn’t sure if he would have put the two together and known that Liam was at the riverbed. But he still didn’t like Dr. Davis or trust him. Looking at him made Eric grow indifferent and he worried longer in his presence that Eric would lose control.

He grew worried the longer he stayed away from Hannah. Knowing what Jack did to her was infuriating and he wouldn’t put it past him to try something again if he figures out, she was completely alone.

“Your majesty…” Arnold called after him as they got outside. Sebastian continued to walk through the parking lot toward his car without looking back at Arnold. “I saw something when we were at Alpha Steven’s house.”

Sebastian finally stopped walking to look at Arnold, curiosity impeaching his interest.

“What did you find?” He asked, eyeing him carefully.

“When we were walking down the hallway, Amy’s door was open a crack. Something inside of it was drawing me in. Like a strange energy pull, I poked my head in slightly and saw her backpack. There was something glowing inside of it,” Arnold told him.

His eyes widened as he processed Arnold’s words.

“I knew I felt something strange there,” Raya breathed. “The energy was so off. As soon as I entered, it was like my strength was draining.”

Sebastian felt off too when he was there too, but he was so focused on finding Liam that he didn’t really pay attention to it.

“The moonstone,” Eric breathed. “The power of the scepter weakens us. It had to have been the scepter.”

“You think Amy stole the scepter?” Sebastian asked in return.

“I think she had some help. But obviously, the scepter is in her room. We need to go back,” Eric insisted, impatiently.

…

Hannah’s POV

It’s been a while since I heard from Raya and Arnold; the last I saw of them they were going to take the note to Sebastian. I couldn’t help but wonder if they managed to give him the note and if he figured out where my brother was.

I was so worried for him that I could hardly contain myself. I sat against the wall of the cell and buried my face in my hands, allowing tears to soak over my features. My body trembled uncontrollably; I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I jumped at the sounds of the dungeon doors snapping open and clamping shut. The forcefulness of the footsteps told me that it wasn’t Raya or Arnold that was approaching. The aura felt dark, and a sudden chill went down my spine.

I knew almost right away who it was before he made himself known to me at my cell door. Jack peered at me with his darkened eyes and a sly grin spread across his lips. I shivered again; his presence was unsettling for me.

“What do you want?” I whispered, trying to keep the fear out of my tone but I knew I was failing miserably.

“I just came to tell you the news. I’m assuming nobody has been here yet,” he said, his grin widening.

“What news?” I asked; I had a sinking feeling.

“The news about your brother,” he told me.

I felt my heart stopping at his chest as I stared around his face; he seemed so serious, even though there was a hint of humor dancing in his eyes. I couldn’t tell if this was real or not but panic started to consume me at the mention of Liam.

“What do you know?” I asked firmly, keeping my eyes locked on his.

“Sebastian seemed to have found him,” Jack said, turning his head away as he started to disappear into the shadows. “He’s dead.”