Just as Emira felt the last of her strength slipping away, the warmth draining from her body with every drop of blood she had given, her arms gave out. She slumped forward, her hands catching the floor weakly. The world tilted, her vision blurring at the edges and she tried to slow down her breathing.
She tried to inhale slowly and carefully—anything to keep herself conscious for just a moment longer. She wanted to hold on. She needed to see if Zen’s colour had returned. She needed to know if her blood was enough.
Trembling, she placed her hand around Zen’s and his steady breathing gave her a momentary relief. At that moment, she looked up to see Lance and Kael rushing towards them.
Her palms trembled against the floor. She could barely lift her head. But even as she watched them run toward her, a cold thought struck her.
Will they think I did this?
Would they believe she had cursed Zen? And side with Aldren? She wanted to shake her head, to tell them she would never do something so cruel, not to Zen, not to any of them—not even for vengeance or for the Dark Master’s return.
But she felt her own words coming to bite her back. Hadn’t she claimed that she would make sure the Dark Master returned by hook or by crook? And when Lance had asked her if she would break the bond for that, she had stubbornly refused to answer.
Not because she had considered breaking the bond, but she had thought it would reveal her weakness. That, for the first time in her life, something was more important than avenging her mother.
So, she had not dared to say it, until he had sighed and made her promise that she would choose them if there ever was a situation where she had to make a choice.
Emira looked up at them, trying to speak the words. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. She tried again, forcing her lungs to draw in air, but all that escaped was a faint gasp.
"I didn’t do this... I would never hurt you..."
But the words lived only in her mind. Her vision darkened further. Her hands slipped on the floor. Her body began to tilt, collapsing under its own weight. And as she fell unconscious, she realized the bond she had forged with so much effort... was now slipping away from her grasp.
The healer rushed in, just then robes flying behind him, his bag slung over his shoulder.
"What happened?" he demanded, already kneeling beside Zen. His hands moved quickly, checking Zen’s pulse, lifting his eyelids, inspecting the blue stains fading from his skin.
A moment later, the healer let out a relieved breath. "He’s fine," he announced firmly. "His pulse is steady. The colour is already returning. He should wake up soon."
A wave of murmurs spread across the hall and the others finally realized that the Prince’s colour was back to normal. Finally, they sighed in relief. So, Emira had been right to give him heart’s blood. There were many things they had heard growing up. But never would have any one believed that the saying ’heart blood’ is the purest would be true.
Without waiting instructions, the healer hurriedly moved to check Emira who lay half slumped under Zen.
His expression changed instantly.
He leaned over her, pressing fingers to her wrist, then her throat, then examining the blood-soaked front of her clothes.
"She needs to be taken to the hospital immediately," he said sharply. "She has lost too much blood. If she bleeds anymore, her life will be in danger."
Teacher Shim opened his mouth to protest, but the healer held up a hand. "And before anyone says anything," he added, his tone turning stern, "she is alive only because His Highness’s saliva helped repair her wound. If not for that, the damage would have been brutal. She would already be dead."
What he didn’t say was that Zen had probably done that to make sure she was safe. A woman that their prince wished to protect even when he was dying? How could they as a pack not keep her safe.
Thankfully, Prince Kael hurriedly nodded, agreeing with him and gestured to two men
"Pick up Zen. Move him to the hospital wing. Now."
The wolves hurried forward, lifting Zen with careful hands and carrying him out of the hall.
Kael then stepped toward Emira, bending slightly as he prepared to lift her-
But Aldren suddenly blocked the way, his arm stretched out.
"You can’t take her," he snapped. "She tried to kill Zen. An enemy does not need treatment."
Kael’s eyes narrowed, a flash of cold warning light burning in them. "Move," he said.
Aldren didn’t move. In fact, he straightened, his jaw tightening with confidence he did not actually possess.
"I said no," Aldren growled. "I am willing to challenge you, Kael Stormhold. Give this dark witch to me!" The entire hall froze. A few councilmen gasped.
No one noticed Councilman Vye and Teacher Shim exchange a worried glance. If she was handed over to Aldren, then their dark master’s plan would be a waste. They needed to send her to the hospital from where master could easily call to her and make her abandon this place.
As the silent communication passed between them, Teacher Shim nodded. He would step forward to make sure that Aldren would be thwarted.
But they did not get a chance. Instead, Kael picked up Emira, handed her over smoothly to Ryn and ordered," Take her to the hospital." And then turned around and looked back at Aldren.
He tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable and almost bored.
"Is there anyone else," Kael asked quietly, "who believes Emira tried to kill Zen?"
His voice echoed in the hall.
For a few seconds, no one spoke.The councilmen glanced at each other. Some shook their heads. Others looked down. Teacher Shim swallowed hard and stepped back. No one agreed with Councilman Aldren. Or if they did, they dare not show it.