Chapter 187

Cassie

The light was wrong. So bright that I could almost feel the heat of it on the skin of my face. Too bright to open my eyes because it would blind me but the fact that I had enough thought in my head to think about opening my eyes was enough to make my breath hitch.

"She's waking up." Someone said, and I winced back. Everything was too much. Too bring, too loud, too real and everything hurt as well.

I had died. I knew that and I had been at peace with that but now that peace was shattered. I didn't know where I was but it felt like hell.

What had I done to deserve hell?

I had died.

The grief of losing my mate had pushed me into doing what that woman had wanted. I'd given up and lost the will to live.

Everything that had happened had sapped me of my strength until I had nothing else to give. I couldn't live without Julian. I didn't even want to. And selfishly I had left my children.

But only because I knew they would be safe.

That was the only reason. My real father , the Lycan king would keep them safe and keep my memory alive for them. I had sacrificed for them because nothing mattered more than family. The crown sure as hell didn't.

"Niall." My lips moved and a croaky raspy sound came out. "Noah."

"She's awake." Strong hands lifted my arm. Pressing their fingers against my pulse points. Another came up to press my forehead. "Ssssh now your highness. Don't try and talk." A soothing voice said. "Does someone want to get the king."

My eyes flew open. And a white ceiling filled my vision. The strip light was bright and flickering. Making a buzzing sort of sound that sounded like a swarm of bees.

The king? Was this some sort of cruel joke or was I somewhere else? Back in the palace maybe? Was Duncan the king they were talking about.

The light was all wrong, everything was all wrong. It was too sterile. I could smell the stench of disinfectant instead of the leaves of the forest.

Had someone saved me and taken me back to the city? Was I saved only to be a prisoner.

"It's nice to see you awake Cassie. You gave us quiet a scare." The woman's voice said again, only this time I could barely hear her over the loud incessant beeps of the machines that surrounded me.

"Where are my children?" I rasped as I turned my head to the nearest machine and there it was. Proof that my heart was beating. I could see the lines go up and down. So I wasn't dead and if I wasn't dead then I wanted to be with my children.

I wanted to be far away and safe with them.

It might be better or it might be worse

"The boys are fine and with their nanny."

I frowned. Nanny? My twins didn't have a nanny. They had my father, their grandfather.

Different

"Let's get you sitting up slowly. I know you are thirsty but I need to check you over first ok your highness."

A strong wiry hand slid under my back and helped me to sit upwards. Pillows were fluffed under my head as I reclined back.

"Well-" she patted my arm as the itchy hospital blankets were settled back over my hips and legs. "You look remarkably good. It must be all of that sleep you've had." She chuckled and I turned my head towards her.

Nothing worked properly so everything I did was in slow motion.

"You." I knew her. The grey hair , the piercing eyes. She had been the thing in the woods. The woman who had told me what I had to do. The one who had been haunting my thoughts.

Wake up

Two words over and over again.

Only she wasn't the woman in the woods, she was wearing a familiar uniform. Green scrubs, white doctors coat. Patient friendly smile on her face.

"I know you."

"Of course you do, I've been the one to take care of you since you came in. I'm glad my voice was a comfort to you Cassie and it's great to finally talk to you." She smiled. "We were afraid that you would never wake up and then you went downhill the last few days. I've never seen such a decline. It was like you had finally given up."

My mouth fell open, my lips so chapped that pain spread across them. I ignored the pain.

Everything hurt anyway. My muscles felt like they hadn't been use for a long time. They cramped when I shifted even an inch and there was a burning in my chest.

"I died." I whispered.

Her familiar stranger eyes widened. "Yes you did. Just for a few moments."

Closing my eyes I turned my head away. "I remember."

There was a startled intake of breath. Quickly hiding her surprise the woman. This woman I knew but was a stranger to me touched my head again. "Some people do. I wonder what else you remember but we will cross that bridge when we come to it."

From the hallway a loud voice spoke out and a commotion erupted around it. With a sigh she straightened. "Here we go."

I didn't even bother opening my eyes. What did it matter to me what was happening out there? It had nothing to do with me. Nothing here had anything to do with me. I couldn't even be sure that I was awake or if this was some sort of death dream.

"Your highness please calm down. She mustn't be stressed out. Let us do some checks and let her rest some and then you can visit her."

Rest? Yes rest sounded great. It felt like I could sleep forever. Which of course was exactly what death was.

"I just want to see that she is awake and ok. I just want to see my WIFE."

My eyes flew open , snapping towards the door and I began to scream.