Xaden very gently set down Jasmine in his bed.
He had taken her to his room, and Loren and the other guards followed in.
She was still, and then he sat down by her side while Loren hovered, trying to check on her.
Then he turned to the men. "Where is the blade that was used on her?"
Someone handed it, and then Loren went back to examine it.
He looked at Xaden with uncertain eyes.
"I need space," Loren said. "I need a place to clear up, and I need privacy."
Xaden stiffened instantly. "I am not leaving her."
"I did not ask you to." Loren shook his head. "I am just telling you to give me some private time with her. Your presence here is not easing any tensions, I assure you."
Xaden was very much hesitant to leave.
"I will be quiet," Xaden promised. "You will barely even notice that I am here."
"That is not the point." a very frustrated Loren said. "You are waisting time. I just need to be able examine her in much more calmer environment. And that includes everyone around. Including you. This is critical!"
Xaden still did not want to leave her side and then Erik came to him.
"Xaden, we will not be gone far." Erik said. "We will just be by the door. If anything happens, we can easily go in."
But Xaden was still refusing. He seemed as if he had not heard a simple word.
He was just staring down at her, his face a death cold.
"She is dying," Loren said in anger. "And if you continue to disobey me, she WILL die."
That instantly caught his attention as he looked up at Loren.
He began to growl, and his anger began to get the best of him.
Then Fiona spoke. "Xaden, please! You saved me from an attack! Save her by letting him do his work!"
Then, Xaden looked at everyone in the room before looking down at her.
She was already beginning to bleed again from the leaf that had secured her cut.
She was ghastly pale.
He rose to his feet and then very slowly walked out of the room.
Everyone else followed him out.
He did not even move an inch.
He stood by the door of his chamber and leaned his head against the wall, in a daze.
"Just take it easy."
Erik said.
"She was stabbed," Xaden said. "In such a way. By Aurora, of all people. I should Uber known Erik. I should have known that Jasmine was her target. Aurora had never liked Jasmine in the first place. Good goddess."
Xaden took his back from the wall and began to pace in anguish.
"Something happened to Aurora Xaden." Erik said. "That was not Aurora it was like she was an different person entirely. Aurora would never ever jeopardize her life in the pack for anything. Think about it, Xaden. Even when Aurora had tried to kill Jasmine, she had done it in secret, never in front of your ace or at the most to your knowledge. Something definitely happened."
"I can not even think." Xaden said in all earnest. "Not one bit. I just want her to live. I should have gotten to her before she did. Fuck I should have known."
Xaden was so distressed that it worried Erik.
He had not figured that such an event would affect Xaden so tremendously.
Then Xaden rose back up and turned to Damien. "Send for Marie. Tell her to come. In fact, bring her yourself here. You are to come along with her no matter what."
Damien blinked, taken aback by the order. "W-what, my lord?"
"NOW!" Xaden barked, and Damian rushed off to do what he had been asked to. Then Erik looked at him closely. "We already have Loren, why would we need Marie?"
"There are things that you do not understand yet." That was all Xaden said
And he resumed his pacing as he raked his fingers through his hair in anguish.
Then Lisa rushed up the stairs to where they were.
When she saw Xaden pacing the room back and forth, she knew that the rumors were true.
So Jasmine had been stabbed, and Aurora had been the one to attack her?
How was she going to tell him the truth if Jasmine was dead? How would she gain favor in his eyes?
She decided she would tell him immediately.
She adjusted her dress and rushed up to him.
"My lord." She curtseyed. "I apologize for the great loss you have suffered."
He barely even acknowledged her as he resumed walking back and forth.
Then she made eye contact with Fiona, who was standing glaring at her.
Lisa glared back and looked up at him. "My lord, I believe that what I had wanted to tell you is of great importance. It will relieve his lordship of the stress that he now suffers."
He gave her a dangerous glare that told her
To mind her words.
"Will such words you wish to give me make changes to the fact that Jasmine is dying? Will it bring her back to life?" He asked. There was lingering hope in his eyes.
Lisa cursed under her breath.
She sighed heavily before saying. "No, my lord."
And then she quickly added. "But believe me, you will be relieved of all of this. You see, my lord, you are being deceived, and then Jasmine is-
He raised his hands up, silencing her instantly. "Do you not see that I am in a state of rage? That is the slightest wrong mood, I could rip you apart? And yet You desire to give me petty gossip?"
Lisa recoiled, now afraid of him. He was towering over her, and his anger and rage were looking for someone to manifest on.
She sensibly went down on her knees. "Forgive me my lord. I only wished well."
He looked her over and decided to himself that she was not worth it.
Then he walked away.
Lisa rose and decided to make other investigations for herself.