Page 42 of Bite Me Baby
The flashback dissipates, and reality crashes back into my consciousness. I dare a glance at my hand, and I swallow against the urge to retch. Beside me, my wrist is a mess of mangled bones jutting out from torn flesh. My fingers, swollen and bruised, dangle lifelessly. It’s a cruel reminder of my fragility, a symbol of pain. I try to summon the strength to move it so I don’t have to look at it, but I have to bite back a scream, rendering my efforts useless. The broken bones mock my attempts at mobility, leaving me crippled and powerless.
And then there’s my shoulder—a deep wound that throbs, its fiery tendrils reaching out to claim every inch of my consciousness. Its pulsating rhythm mirrors the erratic beat of my heart and my shattered spirit. Another memory flashes through my mind: Lucian’s fangs sinking into my shoulder, my scream echoing through the forest, but I push the memory away.
I want to die.
Why didn’t he kill me?
Xavier told me that when he turned me, our souls would be even more intertwined. He would be able to find me, no matter where I went. He would share my happiness and feel every ounce of my pain. I find comfort in the fact that he hasn’t turned me because I wouldn’t wish this pain on him.
More tears well up in pools of defeat and heartbreak as another cough racks my body, and I feel my ribs scraping against each other.
“Easy,” a soft voice whispers, and I turn my head slowly to see a figure approaching the bed. A beautiful woman, with fiery red hair cascading down her shoulders and bright emerald-green eyes, approaches my side.
She settles into the chair beside my bed. “You are awake.” As she leans in, concern etches her features, mirroring the depth of my pain. Her touch is gentle yet firm as she reaches out with hands that bear the faint traces of magical symbols etched into her skin. She holds a damp cloth in her hands and presses it to my forehead, brushing away the sweat that clings to me. The coolness of the cloth offers a brief relief from the searing heat radiating from my body. She frowns at the bloodstains on the cloth, turning to rinse the cloth in a metal basin that’s on the side table before continuing to tend to my battered face.
“Who are you?” I don’t even recognize my own voice; it’s hoarse and weak. It hurts to breathe; it hurts to talk.
She smiles softly. “I’m Amara Wildrose.”
Confusion clouds my thoughts as I struggle with the jumble of memories and questions swirling within me. “Where am I?”
“This is an abandoned hunting cabin, hidden deep within the surrounding forest of Shadowbrook. Nobody comes here anymore, so you’re safe for now.”
“How did I get here?” Each word struggles to escape my dry lips; every syllable scrapes against my raw vocal cords.
“I discovered you in the woods; you were gravely injured, and I brought you here. What is your name?”
“Lyra Starling.”
“I recognize the bite of the wolf. Who did this to you, Lyra?”
“My brother.” I cough, and a cry of pain escapes my lip. “I challenged Lucian to a fight... I wanted... I wanted to save Xavier.”
“Your own blood did this?” Amara looks shocked that my own brothers would do this to me. “How did you find yourself in the forest?”
I don’t know how I got into the forest; all I can think of is that Lucian must have disposed of me in the forest when he was done with me. Maybe he thought I was dead, or maybe he didn’t care, and he left me for the scavengers so they could finish me off. My eyes roam Amara’s face, taking in the slight uptilt of her eyes and the pointy ends of her ears.
“You are a Fae?” Xavier said that fae were easy to anger and hard to trust. “Why are you helping me?”
Her smile fades slightly. “I’m not helping you; I’m simply trying to ease your way.”
Her cryptic words make me realize that something is terribly wrong with me—more than pain. I can’t feel my inner wolf; the little bit of magic that my body held is broken, and I’m not healing. I lick my lips, wincing at the taste of blood. “I’m dying, aren’t I?”
She nods solemnly, her eyes filled with pity. “Yes, Lyra, you are. My kin are known for their healing abilities; we hold magic that can mend even the most fatal wounds. When I discovered you, I attempted to mend your wounds with my powers, but they failed, and I don’t know why. I then brought you to this cabin, and I gave you vampire blood, but even that did not work.” Amara pauses, her eyes searching mine for any sign of understanding. “I sense traces of wolf blood within you, but it’s fading rapidly, Lyra. It seems your inner wolf is also succumbing, preventing any self-healing.”
In other words, I’m beyond saving.
The realization of never seeing Xavier again smashes my heart into a thousand irreparable pieces. The thought of his face, his touch, fills me with inconsolable grief. I’ll never see that cocky smirk; he will never have the chance to take me to another magical place like the waterfall. The memory of our trip to the waterfall, once a source of happiness, now only adds to my heartache.
“I... I need to get up... I have to go to Xavier, but it hurts so badly,” I sob, the words choked with pain, knowing deep down that it’s an impossible longing.
In my mind’s eye, I see us together, living a life that defies the boundaries of normalcy. We would roam the night side by side, exploring the hidden corners of the world. Our love would transcend the mundane, igniting a passion that burned brighter than any mortal flame.
I imagine stolen moments of intimacy, stolen glances filled with unspoken promises. We would dance under the moonlight, our bodies intertwined, surrendering to the music that echoed in our souls. We would soak in the thrill of the unknown, chasing adrenaline-fueled adventures that most could only dream of.
But now, those dreams crack before me, broken pieces of a future that will never happen.
Through my tears, I whisper, “I... I just wanted to save him.” How naïve could I be, thinking that I could take on Lucian? I didn’t rescue Xavier; instead, I robbed him of a future and condemned myself. My actions ripple far beyond my own anguish. Xavier will suffer because of my mistake. He is immortal, and I’ve cursed him to an eternity of torment. I wish I could turn back time and make things right, but I know that’s impossible. I didn’t tell Xavier that I love him, and that is possibly my biggest regret.
