Derrick pauses his pumping motions and puts his ear to William’s chest. A heated glow is surrounding Marcus’ hands as he pours even more healing magic into his twin. I land beside Derrick and shove him out of the way, laying my head where his just was.
I listen for William’s heart beating in his chest, and when the sound of blood pumping doesn’t reach me, I break down in sobs. Fisting the front of his shirt, I jerk William up and down. “Wake up! You can’t leave me! I forbid it!” My sobs overtake my words, each one chokes me as I force it out. “Please, William, I need you. Don’t leave me, my love, my knight.”
Pain overwhelms my heart, drowning me in sorrow. Before it consumes me, the comforting warmth of magic flowing from hands holding my head seeps into me. Within seconds, I’m falling into a deep sleep, the world around me going pitch black. I welcome the relief it offers me, for in my sleep, my love can never leave me.
Chapter 23
Cecily
Six Weeks Later
The last of my magic is drained as I push my healing magic into William. I shake my hands out and arch my back, warding off a muscle spasm inspired by being hunched over for so long. Not wanting to waste any time, I reach for one of the many gallon jugs filled with fairy water, waiting beside me. With a flick of my thumb, the lid pops up, and I quickly chug it down. I don’t stop drinking until my magic has reached its limits.
Since the moment I woke up back at the castle after taking down Silas, I’ve spent every moment next to William. If I’m not pouring healing magic into him, then I’m topping off my magic, or sleeping. His healing has been slow. That first day, his heartbeat had been nearly undetectable. It’s what caused me to believe he really died. Well... he did die. But through chest compressions, Marcus and Derrick were able to restart his heart.
Even though my emotions got turned back on, the lack of hearing his beating heart caused me to believe he was gone. Klaus knew the depths of the black hole I was rapidly approaching, and decided it was best to help me calm down until I could better process the news of William being... lost? I’m not sure what state he’s in. All I know is that we haven’t been able to get him to rouse at all.
When Klaus woke me up again, they had healed William enough to where his heartbeat was just barely discernible. The steady thud of his heart was the only thing keeping me from spiraling into fear of losing him. From that moment, I’ve been healing him nonstop. Each day his heartbeat grew stronger and stronger, until now it’s finally returned to its normal rhythm. I just know he’ll wake up any time now.
I lay my hands on his smooth chest, and resume flooding his body with the only way I know to possibly bring him home to me quicker. “Please come back to me, my knight. I need you. You own a piece of my soul, and I feel just how much it’s been missing from me each day I haven’t seen your smile.” I swallow past the lump in my throat and continue speaking to him. I have no idea if he can hear me or not, but if there’s even the slimmest chance it’ll act as a homing beacon for him, I’m all for trying it. “Do you remember the time we went to watch the Indians? I was so excited to see them, and then you had to ruin my joy with your mood swings.” I laugh, thinking about our beginnings with fond memories now.
Before I can continue regaling him with the same memories of our past, the same ones I’ve been through many times over the past Fates only know how long, I’m interrupted by the bedroom door opening. I turn my head to see who it is, while keeping my hands on William’s chest, never letting up on my healing attempts.
When I find my parents striding in, I give them a half-hearted, exhausted smile. They both wear pain in their eyes, concern wrinkling at the corners. Behind them are the rest of my mates, all with determined expressions. I’ve missed them terribly too. They understand my need to be with William right now, but it’s still put a strain on all of us. The only bonding moments we get lately are while we’re cuddling as I sleep, and even then, I’m tossing and turning, waking up several times a night with cold sweats and nightmares.
They even sit with me on a rotation, helping me in my struggles to wake William. I know they are dealing with their own struggles of missing him. I’m suddenly jolted from my thoughts when a warm hand lands on my shoulder. Glancing up, I find my mother staring down at me. “Sweetheart, you need to take a break. This isn’t healthy for you.”
My gaze darts from her concerned eyes to my mates waiting by the doorway.Those motherfuckers sent my mother after me!Betrayal threatens to burrow in my heart, but I pause to really look at them. I know I’ve been neglecting our bond lately, and those effects are even more apparent in this moment. They love me, and just want what’s best for all of us. My mother’s hands grasp my wrists and pull them up to her face, where she places a kiss on each one.
“Take a break, Cecily. Your father and I will both take your place until you’ve had some time with your mates,” she tells me as she wipes away an unbidden tear. “He will be safe with us. Now go.” She pulls me to my feet from my perch on the edge of the bed, and passes me to Alex, who stepped up to us. She quickly takes my place and I watch as she uses her magic. My father pauses as he passes me to leave a kiss on my head, and sits in a chair by the bed to add his own magic.
Alex wraps his arms around me, and the buzzing of our bond feels like coming home after an eternity away. He scoops me up as my muscles threaten to give out in relief, and carries me to the others as we all leave the room. I reach out a hand, just to be able to touch another one of my loves, suddenly craving their touch more than a fat kid loves cake.
Marcus snatches it up, and I’m able to detect just how heavy his heart is with his twin’s absence. His fingers thread through mine, and a feeling of being content threatens to drown me in guilt. This is why I haven’t been able to separate myself from William. Every time I do, I can’t help but think about every little thing I’m doing while he’s stuck alone. I picture him in that black void of nothingness that I was stuck in when I first woke up in my soul form. My heart clenches with the thought of him feeling alone in that dreadful place.
I’m carried into the living room, where all the furniture has been pushed against the far wall. In its place is an intricately built fort made out of sheets and pillows. The opening to the fort is wide open, facing the TV so the view of the screen is clear. Inside it, the floor is covered in pillows where my mates place me in the middle and surround me on all sides. I observe their efforts with wide eyes and a smile threatens to crack my morose expression when I spot the twinkling fairy lights strung up across the ceiling of the fort.
A bowl of popcorn lands in my lap, and Alex hits play on a movie before pulling me back to rest against his chest. Derrick jumps up to turn off the main light in the living room, and suddenly we’re plunged into the most calming atmosphere I’ve ever been in. The closest I’ve ever come to this feeling is when I’m cradled in the arms of one of the men I love.
Without thinking, I munch on the popcorn in my lap as Bridesmaids plays on the screen. As each of my mates reaches out to touch me in some way, I begin to relax more and more, getting lost in the comedy playing. The longer I watch, the more anxious I become. Something is missing, and it’s throwing me off.
With a shocking realization, it comes to me.How could I forget?My mouth goes dry, and it’s difficult for me to swallow the popcorn in my mouth. William’s touch is missing, and it’s impossible for me to feel complete without it. I drop the remaining pieces of popcorn in my hand back into the bowl and try to blink away the tears threatening to spill.
Klaus glances at me and takes the bowl of popcorn away, placing it on the edge of the fort. He turns to me and lifts me from Alex’s lap, who has fallen asleep. In fact, Klaus and I are the only ones who are still awake. He mutes the movie as I lay next to him and use his chest as a pillow. “Shh... it’s okay, Cecily. He’ll be back before you know it.” His fingers run through my hair and I soak in the comfort. “I found a new book recently. It’s a modern-day fictional human story about an emerging female serial killer. It’s in a genre similar to our situation where she ends up with three or more men.” I can practically hear his eyebrow wiggle, then he asks, “How about I start reading it to you?”
I nod my head, desperate for something to distract me from thinking about William again. Klaus opens his reading app, and his voice vibrates through my cheek as I lay on his chest. I get lost listening to the story. His fingers constantly run through my hair and I allow myself to get lost in him. My eyes are heavy, so I close them, opting to just listen and picture the words as a movie in my mind.
Before long, the story morphs into the gardens here at the castle. Klaus’ voice still reaches me, his tone even as he reads. I’m disjointed from being in a place that doesn’t match the story, so I zone out on listening to him. Suddenly, an essence floats in front of me, being lifted on the wind. I can’t see it, but the emotions coming from the soul scream to me.
“William! Wait!” I try to shout at his soul and rush after him. Except no sound comes. He doesn’t know I’m here as his emotions are going crazy with worry for me. William told me all about how he would join me as he slept while I was stuck in my soul form. Realization dawns on me, and I push everything I have into my will to wake up.
With a gasp, I sit up, and Klaus cuts off his reading. He gazes at me with worry, and before he can question me, I’m already crawling on my knees to wake everyone else. “Get up! It’s time! Hurry the fuck up!” I’m desperately shoving at my men to speed things along.
Marcus’ hands land on my shoulders, stopping my movements as he forces me to look at him. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” His eyes graze over my body, head to toe, searching for a reason why I woke him so abruptly.
A smile curves my lips in the most genuine smile I’ve felt since the battle. Marcus’ eyes land on it and he pauses, going impossibly still before his hand wraps around my neck and he pulls me toward him. His lips land on mine with a heated kiss that I’m more than happy to return. It only lasts a moment, but it’s enough to have stolen our breath paired with the excitement overflowing. He holds my face in his hands and stares deeply into my eyes, like if he stares hard enough, it will give more power to the truth. “Today’s the day? You’re sure of it?” he asks me.
There’s no room for my smile to grow, so a happy laugh escapes me as I nod my head and my eyes tear up. Marcus brings me in for a hard kiss, my teeth cutting into my lip, but it doesn’t bother me in the least. He jumps to his feet and claps his hands together as he whoops.
