Page 74 of His Stolen Queen
My eyes blinked open, and I was greeted by the sight of a tall ceiling. My brows furrowed as I noted just how bright everything around me was. It was so blindingly white that I had to close my eyes for fear of getting sick.
I took several deep breaths to calm my mind, but that caused more scents to flood my nostrils. My chest moved rapidly as I started heaving before jerking upright and quickly turning to the side to throw up.
The door flew open, banging hard against the wall. I felt a strong force at my side, and I instantly knew it was Acheron. His addictive scent was a lot stronger now, but it was the onlything that soothed me—even though I was horrified that he was witnessing something so undignified.
"Thank the gods," Acheron shakily said, as he knelt down beside my weak frame. "It worked. It worked."
"Acheron," I croaked out.
"Yes. Yes, my love. I am here." Lips were planted to the side of my face, and I winced at the contact. It was too much…everything felt too much.
"What's too much?" Acheron questioned. "Tell me, my love."
"I feel weird," I mumbled, licking my dry lips and collapsing back onto the bed.
His face hovered over me, concern etched in his features. "You are ill?"
I shook my head, closing my eyes.Ah, that's better.
"Keep them closed then," Acheron ordered.
I frowned. Was I talking out loud?
A cool cloth stroked against my hot head, and I relaxed in relief.
"Do you feel better?" His voice sounded loud in my head.
"I don't know. Yes. No." I held my head and moaned. "I feel weak…but also strong." I couldn't explain it, but the longer I closed my eyes and breathed through everything, the more muted my surroundings became. The only thing that I could feel, smell, and sense was Acheron.
Doors slammed, and footsteps hurried down the hall. I winced as Von suddenly appeared beside Acheron, his gaze concerned as he peered down at me. There was another man next to him who looked around thirty, but knowing this lot, he was probably two hundred and thirty. I giggled at the thought.
"What is wrong with her?" Acheron demanded.
"Nothing," the new man said. He picked up my hand and felt around for my pulse. "Considering she is alive, I would say she is more than fine."
"Alive?"I mumbled, confused. "What do you…" And then it hit me.
King Damon.
The feel of a dagger piercing me. Searing pain before a peace swarmed over me. And then darkness.
"King Damon!" I gasped, struggling to sit up.
Acheron's hand came around me, his body cradling mine. I could feel a red haze of anger in my head, and I knew it wasn't coming from me.
"Do not worry about him."
"But…he—" I glanced down at my abdomen, my brow puckering with confusion at the smooth skin. "He-he stabbed me. At least, I think he did."
Another wave of fury slammed into me, and I glanced up at Acheron. His expression was tight, a tic thrumming in his jaw.
Immediately, my hand clasped his, needing to soothe and take away his pain. The emotion in my mind changed. Love. Happiness. Relief. It all came to me so quickly that my head fell back onto the pillow as I moaned.
"Alice!"
"Acheron…I-I don't feel so good. Everything…it's too much. The smell, my sight…I feel drunk and nauseous."
I glanced down at my hands, noting how much longer and healthier my nails looked. I kept them short out of necessity, but now they appeared almost…sharp. Wait, what?
