“Maybe she is taking her time and getting well. She’s saving up energy for you.” I whispered. I really hope that is actually it.
Ava gagged and immediately released me, her hand covering her mouth and her eyes wide. She pushed me aside and ran to the bathroom. I followed.
She was kneeling against the toilet and puking her stomach dry. I held her hair back and rubbed her back. Tears were streaming down her face as she emptied all the contents of her stomach. It was all liquid, she had puked most of her dinner out earlier itself.
This made me furious at Lai. Ava was fine until she did whatever she did. She died an easy death. I should have tortured her more. I was imagining what I would do to her when Tessa came running in, her eyes wide with worry a fresh wash cloth in her hand.
“Bring water.” I told her. She nodded and ran out.
After Ava stopped, she sat back on her heel of her feet. I pulled her body against mine when she swayed. I brushed the tears off her cheeks but new ones kept coming.
I felt so helpless. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know who could actually help us. I’ve never felt this useless. It made me angry.
Ava jerked towards the toilet again and started puking again. This time, she was puking blood. It was more blood than the last time. My fingers gripped my hair in frustration. Fuck. Fucking fuck. Just fuck.
What do I do?
I held her hair back and whispered sweet, encouraging words.
Tessa brought a towel and began dabbing out the sweat lining Ava’s face. We both tended to her together till Ava settled down once again.
“Are you done now or do you still feel nauseous?” I asked softly.
“I think I’m done.” She whispered.
I picked her up.
“Mouth… gross. Brush.” She murmured.
I sat her down on the couch and got her toothbrush with a little toothpaste on it. She went to take it from my hand but I simply motioned her to open her mouth.
Reluctantly, she did and I gently brushed her teeth and her tongue till she signalled me to stop, which was probably when she couldn’t taste the bile in her mouth anymore. I helped her to the basin at the counter and she spat out the toothpaste and gargled some water to clean her mouth. I dabbed the water with a towel before I carried her to bed.
I placed glass of water Tessa had brought against her lips. Ava gulped a couple of sips before turning her head away. I placed the glass on the side table and sat besides her. She rested her head on my shoulder and I wrapped my around her.
I could feel her weakness. Her wolf was very weak, I could hardly smell or feel her.
There was a knock on the door.
“Come in.” I called.
Eliyah stepped in with Natalia and a middle aged woman in tow. Her eyes instantly fell on Ava and darkened. I stiffened.
“This is healer Kelsey.” Nat spoke and like a siren was calling out to her, Kelsey began walking towards us, as if she was in a trance.
I growled before she could get close to Ava.
She stiffened and then backed away. “Apologies, King Nikolai, Queen Avalyn,” she bowed.
“Explain yourself.” I ordered. I know she was about to do what the last healer did. There is no way I’m going to let anything happen to Ava that will make her puke again. I’m not going to let anything happen to her. Period.
“Queen Avalyn…” she gulped, “she excludes this… silver… ethereal power. Like what the moon does. Like what we think the moon goddess will. For a second I felt like I was in a trance. And my powers were attracted to hers. I felt I would grow…. stronger and closer to the Moon Goddess if I get a taste of her powers.” This revelation shook me. The was the last thing I was expecting.
“The slightest harm to her and you are dead.” I said in a low but deadly voice.
She gulped and nodded.
“Can I know what is happening to her?” She asked and I explained everything from how she was feeling weak when we were in Poziarne to how she just vomited blood earlier and now once again.
Kelsey listened patiently before she said, “I need to do a body check. And for that, I need to get closer to her.”
I looked at her. I was still unsure about her but I nodded. Ava needs help, not my scepticism.
“Can you please lie her down on the bed, Queen Avalyn?” She asked.
I picked Ava and placed her down on the bed, remained close and kept a keen eye on them, just in case.
Kelsey closed her eyes and placed the palm of her right hand against Ava’s forehead and started muttering something. Ava closed her eyes and heart rate evened till she instantly fell asleep.
Kelsey’s words slowed before stopping completely. She gulped. A flash of hurt of flickered on Ava’s face and her hair started turning silver again before Ava’s eyes flew open. I saw the panic in them. I saw heart breaking pain in them.
I snapped Kelsey’s neck in a flash and growled loudly in anger. “I gave you one task!” I snapped, glaring at Natalia. “One fucking task, Natalia!” I hissed.
Her eyes lowered. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want an apology. I want a fucking healer who will help Avalyn and not hurt her. Is it so hard to find one?” I growled furiously.
“Nik…” Ava interrupted, not wanting me to shout at Natalia.
I gave Natalia one last scathing look. “You are treading on thin ice and so is your position. Go take Dimitri with you, he knows how to get things done right.”
Hurt slashed in her eyes before she nodded and left.