Chapter 196
~ NYSSA
The minute I woke up, I knew something was wrong.
The air seemed colder, the sky darker and the hours seemed to tick by slowly.
Due to the disaster yesterday, Rowan thought it would be a good idea for everyone to take a day off. We stayed in for the most part and only left sometime around four so we could visit the recruit that was hurt.
As soon as we stepped out of the house I realized just how quiet it was.
Barely any stores were open and the usual shouts of children in the streets were missing. It felt off... wrong even.
"You came at the right time, Your Majesty," the doctor said as soon as we arrived at the hospital. "She just woke up a few minutes ago." He led us to a door. "Please, go in."
Rowan pushed it open and stepped in first. He glanced at me over his shoulder, a silent question in his eyes.
He was a bit hesitant about me coming to the hospital at first. We weren’t sure what the hell was happening to me or how I would react to being around so many sick people but so far, I felt fine. For the most part, the hospital smelled like antiseptic and death.
I nodded slowly and stepped in, my eyes locking on the girl in the bed. Her eyes widened upon seeing us and she sat up quickly only to wince and lay back in bed. Her hair was out of the bun and fell just underneath her shoulders in long, silky waves.
"Your Majesties," she murmured, tilting her head forward in a bow. "I would stand but—"
"No need," I assured her, making my way over to her. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I’ve been run over by a fucking tractor," she groaned.
I chuckled at her response and her eyes widened in shock, her hands flying over her mouth.
"I shouldn’t have cursed, I apologize—"
I waved her off. "Given everything that happened, I think you earned yourself the right to curse. What’s your name?"
"Evelyn," she answered, voice soft.
I stopped in front of her bed, lowering myself into the empty seat by her side. I couldn’t help but note the lack of flowers by her bedside or even gifts to show that she had visitors.
"Do you have any family you want us to call?’
Her smile dropped as her eyes went cold. She stared at me with an almost accusatory look. "I don’t, you know that."
My head cocked to the side in confusion. "I didn’t or I would never have asked. I’m so sorry."
She frowned, eyes staring intensely into mine until finally, a look of understanding settled on her features. "You don’t know."
"Don’t know what? Have we met before?"
She shook her head. "Sorry, no, I just—I thought you’d done some research on me that’s all."
It didn’t feel like the full truth and I had so many more questions, but before I could ask them, she spoke again.
"How is he? Blaze?"
"Who?" I asked at the same time Rowan said "Dead."
I craned my head to the side in confusion before realizing that Blaze was probably the guard who was stabbed her.
She groaned, leaning back against the bed with her eyes squeezed shut. "He was a bastard but he was a good warrior."
"A good warrior would not attack one of their own," Rowan said simply. "He cannot be trusted."
"It was my fault really," she grimaced slightly. "He used to make very sexist jokes during training so when I beat him, I told him that he would have to make peace with the fact that he couldn’t even best a girl. He has a temper, I should have known—"
"You’re the one in a hospital bed," I cut her off sharply. "You were not at fault for anything."
She gave me a small smile. "Thank you for saying that."
I squeezed her hand softly but was taken aback by just how cold her skin felt to touch. "Do you want a nurse to turn up the air conditioning? You’re freezing."
She snatched her hand back and turned away, refusing to glance at me as she spoke. "I’m fine."
Rowan began to speak when the door opened and a nurse walked in. She stopped in the doorway, eyes wide as she stared between the three of us.
"I’m sorry to interrupt," she squeaked. "I need to change her wrappings."
Evelyn’s eyes widened in panic. "You don’t have to right now. I’m sure it can wait a few hours."
"Actually, it can’t," the nurse said firmly as she made her way over. "It’s due for a change now. Don’t worry, your hospital gown opens from the back."
Evelyn frowned. "Are you sure? I don’t think—"
"You will be fine."
The nurse waved off her concerns as she made her way over, gesturing for Evelyn to sit up.
She hesitated for a moment before sighing, lifting herself off the bed.
I understood her hesitation and turned to Rowan. "We have something else to do this evening, we hope you have a speedy recovery."
Rowan turned to me with furrowed brows.
"She’s uncomfortable," I told him down the mind link. "Come on."
He obliged with a shrug, taking my hand in his as we headed for the door. We’d barely taken two steps out when we heard a shocked gasp from behind us.
"You’re healed!" I froze, glancing over my shoulder at the nurse who was staring with wide eyes. "You had a deep wound as at a few hours ago. I—wow. I have never seen anyone heal this fast."
Evelyn locked eyes with me and there was a deep exhaustion in them and also hesitation, almost as if she were expecting me to say something.
"Nyssa," Rowan spoke softly, tugging me forward. "We need to go."
I forced my eyes away from Evelyn. "Yeah, of course. I just..." I trailed off for a moment, waiting until we were a safe distance from her room before speaking again. "I was just stunned by what the nurse said."
He shrugged. "Some lycans heal faster. It’s not news."
That much was true, but I could not shake the feeling that there was more to it than we knew.