Chapter 182

Fiona

“Pick up. Pick up. Pick up,” I mutter as the phone rings. My eyes bounce to the clock, and I curse. If Ryan doesn’t answer, I’m going to hit him the next time I see him.

“Fiona, is something wrong?”

“Yes! Why didn’t you answer sooner?!” I hiss, glancing at the door. I’m not sure if Ethan’s father will come back, so I stay close to the closet. He seemed like he was done talking, but there’s always a chance.

“What is it? Are you okay? Did something—”

“Ethan’s dad was here, but don’t worry. I hid in the closet, so he didn’t see me, though, I don’t know if he heard me. He came and was saying some ridiculous things about Ethan being weak and that he shouldn’t have been in the challenges if he’s so weak, and—”

“Fiona!”

I pause, sucking in a big breath and gasping.

“Are you absolutely sure he didn’t know you were there?” Ryan asks, sounding more serious than usual. I think back to the short time in the closet and how I waited for several minutes after I heard his dad leave before coming out.

“I don’t think so. If he did, he didn’t let on,” I mutter, pacing in front of Ethan’s bed. “But that’s not what’s important. He was muttering some things about retribution and showing the people who hurt Ethan that your pack isn’t weak.”

Silence hangs between us for so long that I pull the phone back to see if the call got disconnected. It didn’t.

“Hello? I think his dad is going to do something bad or maybe go after the guys who hurt Ethan.”

“I’ll look into it and have someone watch Mr. Montgomery, but Fiona, it’s two in the morning. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

The question hits me in the chest. Shouldn’t he know?

“I can’t stop until I find something useful. Making lists and looking through the books the healers give me isn’t doing anything. I wanted to stay and—”

“You should be resting, Fiona. The books and toxins will still be there in the morning.”

I drag in a sharp breath, hating my next words even as they leave my mouth, “But what if he isn’t?”

It’s a valid question. We don’t know how long the toxin will be still. What if it suddenly speeds up, and we can’t stop it?

“Don’t let yourself think like that, Fiona. Sarina, Farah, and Asha are the best healers we have. If they can’t find the antidote, I’ll send for healers from the Kingdom Center,” Ryan says, and I sigh.

Doubt slivers into my gut, sending a shiver up my spine as I turn to look at Ethan. Is he more pale than he was before? I walk over, looking at his face and listening to his raspy breaths. Slowly, I lay my hand on his chest, the cool, clammy skin making me bite my lip to keep from whimpering.

“He looks worse, Ryan.”

“Have the healers given him anything?” He asks softly, the pain in his tone mirroring the ache in my chest. I perch on the edge of the bed and brush my fingers through Ethan’s hair.

“Something for the pain, and a tonic to slow the spread of the poison, but I feel like I haven’t done anything to help.”

“Don’t think that way, Fiona. Think positively. Because you’re searching through the books, they have an extra pair of eyes,” he says.

“But I have no idea what to look for,” I mutter, looking down at the hand in my lap.

“You know enough,” Healer Farah says from behind me. I turn, surprised that I didn’t hear her come in. “Having that list will help us once we find out the other components that make up the toxin. You’re saving us time that we may need later.”

Their words are meant to make me feel better, I know that, but I can’t help but wonder if they’re also just trying to placate me. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“You really should get some rest, Fiona. Even I’m about to go to bed for a few hours,” Ryan says, gaining my attention again.

Sighing, I let my head fall forward. A nap does sound good, honestly, and I know I need it, but when I think of the possibility of Ethan getting worse while I sleep, my body jolts.

“Why don’t I show you how to make the infusion we’ve been using to slow the spread of toxins?” Healer Faran suggests.

“Yeah, that would be great. I… I’ve got to go, Ryan. I’ll see you when you come by,” I say into the phone. He agrees, telling me again to take it easy and to make sure I rest. I lie that I will and we end our call, giving me the chance to turn all my attention on Healer Farah.

She guides me to the table where she and the other healers have been mixing and testing different medicines. A wide range of bottles lines the back of the desk, and as I take a seat, I instinctively reach for a bottle labelled Bloodroot.

“That’s perfect, actually,” Healer Farah says, her tone a little higher and more surprised than usual. “Bloodroot is the strongest detox herb we have. If you mix it with Willow Bark and—”

“Banir Bane?” I ask, and she nods. I remember reading that Banir Bane, once ground up and steeped in black tea, can help with detoxification.

“Ground each of these, then combine them and add black tea, honey, and one dose of this antitoxin. We’ve been giving him this temporary fix, but after a few more doses, it may become ineffective. For now, we’ll keep using it,” she instructs, pulling out the bowls and measuring equipment.

Nodding, I get to work. I follow her directions exactly, adding the herbs and medicine together. My hands seem to move on their own, unconsciously knowing what to do before Healer Farah instructs me.

Soon, I’m using the syringe to measure and then inject it into the IV drip connected to Ethan. I empty the medicine, praying it’ll give us a bit more time to find the antidote.

“You’re doing great, sweetheart.” I turn, finding Healer Farah at my side and smiling. “If you keep doing this well, you’ll be a master at healing in no time.”

“You think so?” I can’t stop the flutter in my chest at her words. Her kind smile and encouraging words wake something inside me, giving me a new energy to keep going. It almost feels like a door opening and a connection forming to something that I’m finally good at.

The sincerity in her eyes also has my heart flipping. I’ve never been a master at anything before.

“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it, Fiona. There are many Lycans who wish they could instinctively choose and mix tonics like you did,” she says, nodding. “Now, let’s lay you down. If anything happens, I promise to wake you up.”

Gently, she helps me stand and guides me to the empty bed, allowing me to lay down before she pulls the soft blanket over me.

The last thing I see, before passing out, is Ethan’s chest rising and falling as he breathes softly in the bed next to mine.