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“Define drastic action,” Cem commanded.
“We must do what I advised in the beginning. The xylazine has destroyed any and all healthy cells. They are dead and the longer they are attached to his body, the more the necrosis will spread. He’s survived this long thanks to the antibiotics, but now he’s on a very dangerous trajectory.”
“How dangerous?”
“He will die.”
My eyes flashed up. “W-Wait...what?”
Cem shot me a look, his forehead furrowed and agony blazing in his gaze. “Aslan. Hey. How are you feeling?”
I cringed away from him as he came to my side and rested a fatherly hand on my very damp forehead. The gesture was so kind, so worried that my sickly heart kicked with confusion.
This man was my enemy.
He hurt me.
He made me scream.
Yet...he looked at me with endless love in his gaze and tears of regret welling on his lower lashes. “Aslan...why didn’t you tell me you were getting worse?”
His question made sense, but I couldn’t form a sensical answer.
I’d felt like death ever since I’d arrived here.
I’d forgotten what it felt like to be normal. To have an appetite and power. I had no sex drive, even if I was lucky enough to have dreams of being inside Neri. I couldn’t remember a time when I didn’t exist without palpitations. I was cold all the time and suffered nausea like it was my new baseline.
Hadn’t I always felt this badly?
It hadn’t gotten worse.
I’d just gotten weaker.
“It’s okay,” Cem soothed. “I know you’re not in a state to talk. I’m sorry I’ve been away for a few days. If I’d come to see you sooner, I—”
“You couldn’t have avoided what has to happen,” the doctor said softly. “You know what we must do. The question is do you trust me to do it here or would you prefer moving him to the hospital?”
“No hospitals,” Cem snapped. “You have a full operating studio here that is far better than anything anywhere else. My only question is...are you sure there’s no other way?”
“None. He’s dead if you don’t authorise this.”
A long pause where hot sticky sleep crept over me again. Finally, Cem exhaled hard and said, “Fine. Summon your best team and ensure they all sign the necessary paperwork. You have my blessing to use whatever resources you need.”
“Thank you.” The doctor sounded relieved; I opened my eyes again.
The fever cut through me like a sizzling knife, and my leg ached like a motherfucker. That was the source of all my discomfort. If only it would stop aching and burning, I was sure I’d be okay.
“I...I need some painkillers,” I muttered, my voice barely louder than breath.
“I know.” Cem ran his fingers through my sick-sweaty hair. “I know. And you’ll have them.” Snapping his fingers, Cem ordered, “Dope him up. Knock him out. I don’t want him to suffer a moment longer than necessary.”
“As you wish, efendim.”
A rustle of clothing and a sharp prick in my arm. “Sleep now, Aslan. When you wake...everything will be better.”
I willingly chased the thick happy clouds.
I waited to be sucked down deep.
