Chapter 101

Cassie

I came too, to the sound of soft desperate cries. Groggily because it didn't feel like my body worked I shifted my weight and tried to open my eyes but it felt like my lashes were stuck together. Glueing my eyes shut.

Giving a cry I lashed out, scrubbing at my face only one of my arms seemed to be tethered to something that kept it locked in place.

"Easy." Ian's voice spoke from right next to me. "Stop fighting you are going to yank out the tube."

I settled a little bit but I was still on edge and the cries continued. Weak little desperate wails.

The cries of my babies. I realised with a start. I began to struggle some more. I needed to get to them. Comfort them. Using my free hand I clawed at my eyes. Unsticking them so I could see more clearly and Ian's face swam into view.

"Stop it Cassie." He warned. "You are going to hurt yourself again. And you're already so weak."

I didn't feel weak. I felt adrenaline pumping through me. And the overwhelming primal need to get to my babies.

"My babies-" I managed to croak even though my tongue felt thick and dry in my parched mouth.

"Healthy strong boys." Ian sat himself back down. "Hungry but-"

"Then let me feed them." My breasts felt heavy and full. "Let me go to them."

"Not yet. You aren't strong enough yet."

I blinked at him angrily, gritting my teeth. I didn't know why he was being so difficult. "Bring me my babies Ian. Now. They are hungry and I want to feed them."

He didn't move. "You can't even sit upright unaided Cassie. Goddess." He lifted his arm and ruffled his hair. Leaving it standing on end. "You almost died. Bled out in front of my eyes." His voice broke a little and I gave a startled intake of breath. Had I almost died? It had just felt like I had fallen into an exhausted little nap.

"Can you at least let the transfusion finish first." He lifted his other arm and my eyes widened. That's why it felt like one of my arms was tethered , because I was. To him. He was pumping his blood directly into my veins.

"Do you even know what blood group I am?" I hissed. "That is stupidly dangerous. The wrong blood could have killed me."

He shrugged with one shoulder. "You were dying anyway so it was a risk I was willing to take. Plus you seem fine now. How are you actually feeling?" His eyes studied me.

"I feel- fine." Weirdly that was the truth. "A little woozy and achy but I don't feel like I was on death's door. Your blood must be working."

Ian studied me for a second. His face was unreadable. "I think I just gave you some time to heal yourself."

"Where did you learn to do that?" I asked as I watched him slide the needle from my arm and wrap it in a scrap of curtain. He quickly did the same to his own arm and moved away to discard the apparatus out of sight. "I'm a warrior, remember. Today is not the first time I've had to donate blood in the field." He called back and I lapsed into silence. He hadn't even hesitated. He had just given me his life's blood. Even though it would weaken him.

"How long have I been out?" I asked when he reappeared. Holding his hand over his arm.

"About six hours." He admitted. Carefully he flexed his arm. Glancing down at it to make sure it wasn't

"Shit." I glanced around.

"Yeah." He moved easily. First helping me to sit upright and then bringing my babies to me one after another. They wanted feeding and I wanted to provide for them but I didn't know how to go about breast feeding with Ian staring at me.

"If you need to feed them. Then do it." Ian shrugged. "I have seen more of you then I ever thought possible Cassie." He laughed and I laughed along with him.

"They seem to have fallen back to sleep anyway." And they had. Both of my sons were now snoozing peacefully in my arms.

"So it would seem. But you must feed them soon. And eat yourself. You have to keep your strength up."

"Yeah." I glanced away from my babies face and around the spacious room. It was empty apart from the four of us. "Wait you said I've been unconscious for six hours?"

"Almost seven now." Ian began pacing. Tugging on his hair as he went.

"Has Julian been back?" I was almost too afraid to ask.

He didn't even pause his pacing. "No." He admitted after a second and shook his head. "And the new king bells have no rung. I don't know what's going on but-"

I swallowed hard and in my arms my sons squirmed like they could sense my discomfort. I whispered to them. Until they went back to their deep sleeps.

"Should they have rung?"

"Yes. It's protocol. To signify a new King has taken the throne."

"You're worried." I didn't ask it because it wasn't a question. It was a statement of fact.

He froze, turning to me slowly. "I won't lie to you Cassie. Yes I am worried. He would have had the bells rung and he would have come back to you."

I took a deep breath and tried to calm my rapidly beating heartbeat. Panicking now wouldn't do anyone any good. I needed to stay calm.

"Do you think he is dead?"

Ian's eyes met mine. "You would know better than me if he had lost his life Cassie. Julian is your mate. Is he dead? Is our king dead?"

I searched my heart. I was nervous and afraid but-

I shook my head. "I don't think he's dead." I said softly.

"That's good. I can work with not dead." Ian forced himself to smile.

"So what is the plan?"

"Plan?" He parroted back. Confusing pinched his eyebrows together.

"How do we get him out of whatever trouble he is in?"

"We don't do anything Cassie. I get you and those babies somewhere safe and then I'll get Julian."

"I am not leaving."

"Yes you are." His voice was firm. "If something has happened to Julian then those babies in your arms are our next rulers. They must be kept safe."