I spend the day at Eric’s house, immersed in laughter and enjoying myself. When it’s time to leave, Eric kindly offers to walk me back to the castle, but I politely decline. Instead, I choose to make the journey on my own.
Walking into the castle, I notice Nickolas immediately, his demeanor radiating anger as he strides purposefully towards me. Panic grips me as I realize his fury is directed at me. What could I have possibly done to incur his wrath? I’m still reeling from my recent injuries, and the last thing I need is for him to unleash his temper on me. He grabs my arms forcefully, backing me against the nearest wall. His body trembles with pent-up rage as he looms over me.
“Where the fuck were you?” he demands, his words laced with fury. I’m taken aback by the intensity of his anger, my mind racing to come up with a plausible explanation for his sudden outburst.
“Huh,” I say, utterly shocked by his question. I had braced myself for anything but this question.
“I asked you a damn question, Amelia!” he snaps, his frustration evident as he slams his hand against the wall beside my head, startling me into grabbing onto his shirt tightly. I feel him wince, a flicker of pain crossing his features as he clenches his jaw. My brows furrow in confusion. Why does he sound like he’s in pain? Hasn’t he recovered from last time? My concern for him mingles with my fear, creating a tumultuous mix of emotions as I struggle to make sense of the situation.
“Amelia,” he growls, his tone demanding my attention. I swallow hard, meeting his gaze.
“I was at Eric’s,” I respond, my voice trembling as I look up at him, feeling small beneath his imposing presence. He towers over me, his expression still contorted with anger.
“Why the fuck didn’t he pick up his phone and fucking tell me?” he bellows, his frustration boiling over despite my attempt to explain.
“I don’t kno-w-w,” I stutter, my voice faltering as his anger shows no sign of abating. I shrink back against the wall, overwhelmed by the force of his rage.
“Amelia,” he murmurs, his touch gentle as he moves his hand to the back of my neck, his palm wrapping around it firmly. He tilts my head backward, forcing me to meet his intense gaze. Despite the anger, I find myself captivated by those mesmerizing emerald eyes, and I detect something else lurking within them. There’s a depth to his gaze that I can’t quite comprehend, a mixture of emotions swirling beneath the surface.
“Never, I mean never make me worry about your whereabouts like that again. Do you hear me?” he insists, his voice firm as he presses the back of my neck, breaking through the haze of confusion clouding my mind. Slowly, I nod in response, tearing my gaze away from his penetrating stare.
“Good,” he murmurs, releasing his grip on my neck and stepping away, leaving me to ponder what just transpired. Did he just tell me not to make him worry about me? But I didn’t do anything to make him worry in the first place. I don’t even understand what’s going on these days. I’m so freaking confused. I might lose my mind trying to figure out what’s going on? Ahh.
***
Later in the middle of the night, I wake up feeling unbearably hot and weak. The suffocating heat drives me to throw the covers off my body and stumble to the bathroom in search of relief. But even the cold water of the shower fails to alleviate my discomfort. Instead, the heat intensifies, and now my bones ache with a deep, gnawing pain.
“Marie,” I call out. “What’s wrong?” My voice comes out raspy and breathless.
“We’re going into heat,” she responds, her own breaths labored with discomfort.
“No!” I exclaim, tugging at the collar of my tank top as sweat beads on my skin.
“We need to mate, Amelia, and soon because it’s only going to get worse,” Marie insists urgently.
“Nickolas would rather die than touch us. I need to find something to help,” I reply, desperation creeping into my tone.
“Go to Beatrice. She might have an elixir that can reduce the pain,” Marie suggests.
“Yes, you’re right. Let me go,” I agree, determined to seek relief from this agonizing pain.
I take one shaky step toward the door, my heart pounding with urgency. With each stride, the heat coursing through my body intensifies, making it feel like I’m being cooked alive. I release a deep exhale, trying to steady myself before taking another step. I need to find Beatrice fast before I spiral into full-blown heat.
Managing to navigate downstairs despite the growing discomfort, I pant and struggle to catch my breath. Every movement feels like a Herculean effort as I push open Beatrice’s door, only to find her room empty. Panic grips my chest as I realize she’s nowhere to be seen. Where could she possibly be at this hour?
Desperation driving me, I force my scorching limbs to move as I make my way to the kitchen, hoping to find her there having a late-night snack. But my search yields no results.
“Beatrice!” I cry out, my voice strained and hoarse, reverberating against the cold stone walls as I scour every corner of the castle, searching for her, but I don’t find her. Every inch of my body is covered in a sheen of sweat that leaves me feeling sticky and uncomfortable. The exhaustion weighs heavily on me, making every movement a struggle.
With a determined yet weary resolve, I peel myself away from the wall and stagger toward the exit of the castle. Despite the agony pulsing through my veins, I push forward, driven by the desperate need to find the only other person who can help. He would also keep Nickolas’s secret that he didn’t fuck me because if he did. I won’t be in heat right now.
Once again, I manage to reach Eric’s house, clad only in a pair of tank top and shorts. I offer a silent prayer of gratitude as the cool night breeze washes over my overheated skin, providing a momentary reprieve from the relentless heat. With trembling hands, I lift my arm to knock on the door, but the feeble sound barely registers against the backdrop of my pounding heart.
“Eric! Lily!” I call out, my voice strained and desperate as I struggle to make my presence known. Each attempt to knock on the door feels like an impossible task, my body burning with feverish intensity. Frustration and panic well up within me as I realize my efforts may be in vain.
In a last-ditch effort, I summon every ounce of energy I possess and let out a piercing scream, the sound tearing through the stillness of the night. A surge of adrenaline courses through my veins, propelling me forward, but before I can comprehend what’s happening, my body reaches its limit.
I feel Lily’s alarmed gaze upon me as darkness descends, enveloping me in its suffocating embrace. With a final, desperate thud, I collapse to the floor, consumed by the abyss of unconsciousness as the heat and exhaustion finally claim me.