Page 75 of Dark Sold Mate

Silas moved to the bed. Elle was lying on her back, flushed with fever. But as she looked at him and smiled weakly. “You’re back.”

“I’m back.” Silas sat at the edge of the bed, his hand finding hers. “I’m here, love. I’m right here.”

Sara slipped out of the room, leaving them to themselves.

“Did you find it?” Elle asked. “The auction?”

Silas’s chest ached. He didn’t want to tell her. He didn’t want to burden her any further. But Elle deserved the truth.

“We located the place,” he said carefully. “Your vision was accurate. However, it was a day or two too late. The auction was already over when we got there.”

Elle’s face crumpled. “So I was too late. Again.”

“No,” Silas said firmly. “Elle, no. Good intelligence was obtained. We saw faces and license plates. Your vision gave us that.”

“But we didn’t save anyone.”

“Not this time. But we will.” Silas brushed his lips against her knuckles. “Because of you. Because your magic is finally working like it’s supposed to.”

Elle shook her head, her eyes turning glassy. “It doesn’t seem like it is working. It’s as if I’m failing over and over again.”

“You’re not failing.” Silas took off his shoes and got into bed next to her, pulling her close to his chest. “You’re learning. Your power is evolving. We were unable to prevent an auction, yes. But we’re getting closer. Because of you.”

Elle pushed her head into the crook of his neck, her body trembling with sobs. Silas silently caressed her hair with one hand and made circles on her back with another.

“So, the vision made you sick. That has never happened before.”

“It was stronger than the others,” Elle mumbled against his skin. “More detailed. I was able to see so much. I could see myself there.”

“Your magic is becoming more powerful.”

“Or becoming more dangerous,” Elle leaned back to look at him. “What if the next time I get a vision, it makes me so exhausted that I—”

“Don’t,” Silas interrupted. “Don’t go there. We’ll figure it out. We will.”

Elle looked like she wanted to say something in protest, but her exhaustion won. Her eyelids dropped, her breathing evened out, and she drifted off to sleep.

Silas held her in his arms as she slept, and his mind raced. Elle was right to be worried. In the event that her visions continued to get stronger and drain her, they could lead to something worse.

He had to find a way of getting around it. A way to help her contain it and to prevent her from being destroyed in the process of helping them.

However, at the moment, all he could do was to hold her, keep her warm, safe, and loved until she got enough rest.

A few minutes later, the door creaked open. Sara walked in with a tray of food and water. She placed it on the nightstand. “How is she?”

“Sleeping,” Silas said softly. “ I will make sure she eats when she wakes up.”

“You’re good for her,” Sara smiled. “I understand the situation under which you two were involved was not very good. But you’re good together.”

Silas glanced down at his mate. “I don’t deserve her.”

“Maybe not. But you are trying to win her over. That counts for something.”

Sara told him to make sure Elle ate, then she stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her. Silas continued to hold Elle as her fever went down.

Hours passed. The sun had gone down, casting shadows in the room. But Silas did not move an inch. He only held his mate and swore to himself, silently, needing to find a means of saving her.

When Elle finally stirred, her eyes fluttering open, the fever had broken. She looked more like herself—still exhausted, but no longer pale.