Chapter Twenty-Four

Pain. Darkness. Hopelessness. It was time to give up. Blythe couldn’t move, couldn’t see. She was surrounded by cold and complete darkness. Her entire body felt broken. She drifted off, deeper into the darkness. Slowly the pain receded. The deeper she went, the better she felt. Maybe it was time to let go. To let the darkness have her. It was better than the pain and brokenness.

She couldn’t remember why she was here. What had caused her to welcome the darkness? Why was there pain in the other direction? Curling into a ball, Blythe strained to remember what was going on. The darkness called to her the longer she stayed.

A thump… thump… thump filled her senses. What was that noise? Why was it slowing down? Thump…….thump…….thump. It was louder, but there was a longer pause between each one. Was she dying? Was she stuck in some type of limbo? Could that be her heart?

Was she ready to die? Blythe thought about the pain and knew that if she chose to live, she’d have to face that. Wouldn’t it be easier to just let go? To be free of the pain? No one would miss her, would they? She felt like she was forgetting something. Or someone. What was wrong with her?

The noise was growing fainter and then finally it stopped. Blythe froze. She guessed it was her time. Closing her eyes, she gave herself over to the darkness. Just as she was welcoming it, she heard a loud noise. It sounded as if someone was screaming. She heard her name and it all came flooding back to her. Killian! She couldn’t leave him. He was worth facing the pain.

Suddenly her heart started beating again, softly, but definitely there. She could hear it. She wasn’t ready to give up. Blythe wanted to live. For Killian. For her love. She fought the darkness, clawing at it. The pain was almost unbearable, but picturing Killian made her face it. She felt her mind enter her body and almost regretted her decision. Every part of her ached. She was broken.

How could she survive this? She heard voices. Then she felt something on her neck. Teeth sank into her neck and she screamed. No sound came out and her mouth didn’t even move. She was screaming over and over again in her head. If she thought the pain was bad before, she was wrong. This was worse. Fire was engulfing her. It was burning her up from the inside out. Her mate was killing her. How could he do this to her? Just as she had escaped the darkness willingly, she once again let it take her under. Anything to escape the pain.

***

“I’m going to go check on Shannon. I can’t believe we forgot about her,” Seth told Killian. Killian didn’t acknowledge him and Seth sighed. His brother had washed all the blood off of Blythe, but she wasn’t healing. She was basically stuck on the fence. If she didn’t accept the animal, she was going to die.

Seth wanted to get his hands on Leo, but knew that he was no match for the man. Everyone thought him weak and timid, but in reality, Seth wasn’t able to shift. No one had ever seen him in his animal form because he couldn’t shift to his animal form. He heard rumors that he was ashamed of it, and that he hid it away from everyone. Some might guess what the truth was, but they didn’t speak of it.

Killian was the only one that knew for sure. He longed to shift to his other form, but it was like it didn’t exist. When he was mad enough he could grow claws and sometimes fangs, but that was it.

Pushing thoughts of his own problems to the back of his mind, he made his way to Killian’s room where they’d left Shannon. He went to knock on the door and found the door to be cracked. He listened and heard voices. Shannon’s voice was loud, angry and frightened.

Seth barged into the room, ready to protect Shannon. Truth be known, he was starting to develop feelings for the girl. She deserved better than Leo, that was for damned sure. But was he the man for her? He wouldn’t be able to fight to protect her. He was here to save lives, not take them.

“What’s going on here?” Seth growled, looking from Shannon to the man sitting on his brother’s bed.

“This is between the Council and this young lady.”

Seth ignored his warning and looked at Shannon. “Shannon, are you okay?”

“This man is telling me that I have to go before the entire Council and tell them everything that’s been happening to me. Every little thing that Leo did and why I didn’t ask for help. Then they will decide what to do with Leo,” Shannon’s voice got higher toward the end.

“You mean the bastard isn’t dead?” Seth asked, his voice echoing his outrage.

“You need to leave.”

“Merrick, don’t you fucking talk to me right now. Did you not see what Blythe looked like? Are you seriously considering letting that bastard off? Even for the Council, that’s messed up,” Seth snapped.

“I never said that Leo was getting off so easily. We have to show some restraint and act human if they will ever accept us and let us out of this place. If we hold a trial and don’t act like animals, it may get us to that point,” Merrick pointed out.

“Fuck that! Humans will never accept us. They only give us women to have babies and take away our men to use in battles and for their own purposes. They use us! They will never let us live amongst them!”

“Seth, how’s Blythe?” Shannon interrupted.

Seth sighed and ran a hand down his face. “She’s on the fence. She can either choose to accept her animal half, or die. Killian’s all torn up about it.”

“This is all my fault.” Shannon walked around Merrick and sat down.

“This is not your fault! This is Leo’s fault. That bastard should have been put down forever ago. I knew that something was going on, but I had no proof. I wanted to help you, but couldn’t. I was too weak,” Seth muttered.

When he’d gone into the room and seen Blythe, a rage like no other flew through him. Even then, he didn’t shift. He couldn’t get revenge for his brother’s mate. He couldn’t attack Leo and rip the man to shreds. He’d had to let someone else do that for him. What kind of mate would he make? Maybe he wasn’t even meant to have one…

“He could have killed you if you confronted him about it,” Shannon looked up at Seth.

Though Shannon didn’t mean it, she hit a nerve. Yes. Had Seth confronted Leo and Leo shifted, Seth would be dead. Could that be the reason he hadn’t helped Shannon? Could he have been using evidence as an excuse? He was weak. He disgusted himself.

“Enough talk. We need to get you in front of the Council.”

“Will they believe her?” Seth asked Merrick.

“I don’t speak for everyone. But Leo has friends up high.”

“If they fucking let him go, Killian will rip him to shreds,” Seth warned.

“Then your brother will face the Council.”

“He attacked his fucking mate! What is your problem? What if that was your mate?”

Merrick jumped to his feet. “I’d rip the bastard to shreds and dance on his flesh.”

“Then what the fuck are we doing here? Let’s go rip the bastard to shreds!”

“I can’t. It’s my duty to take him before the Council,” Merrick shook his head.

“That’s fucked up. What if we just say he had an accident?”

“Seth, I can do this. I’m not scared. They will see that Leo is a monster,” Shannon placed her hand on Seth’s arm. Seth looked down at her hand and placed his over it. Merrick’s growl started low in his chest and then echoed through the room. Seth shot him a look and Merrick only shrugged. Shannon released him and Seth sighed.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Shannon nodded. “This has to be done.”

“If the girl wakes and is strong enough, bring her before her wounds heal,” Merrick suggested. “It would make everything go faster.”

“She will wake,” Seth growled.

Merrick shrugged. “Just saying. It could go both ways.”

Merrick started toward the door and Seth watched Shannon follow after him. Merrick motioned Shannon to go first and then turned back to Seth. “Don’t let them find him innocent,” Seth warned.

“I’ll do my best.”

“What will happen to Shannon if they find him guilty?” Seth asked.

“She will be given to a new mate,” Merrick stared him in the eye. Seth held his gaze and nodded. Finally, averting his eyes, he let Merrick and Shannon go.

***

Killian rested his head on the edge of the bed. He could hear his mate’s heartbeat in her chest. He knew that she was dying. Why wasn’t she accepting the animal side of her? Why wasn’t she turning into a shifter?

His heart was aching. Everyone he cared about, he lost. What was wrong with him? Did he push people to leave him? Was this his fault? Would he lose his mate, his heart? His fists clenched at the thought.

Why was she in Shannon’s room? Why had she gone without him? She had mentioned to him that she thought Leo was abusing Shannon. He hadn’t believed her. If he would have believed her, they could have stopped this from ever happening. This was partly his fault. He jumped to his feet and started pacing.

What he really wanted to be doing was ripping Leo into a million pieces and sprinkling his flesh to the birds off the roof. Too bad that couldn’t happen. Glancing toward the door, he wondered what was keeping his brother. What if Blythe needed him? Killian knew nothing about medicine and healing. Then again, was there anything Seth could do? Right now, it was up to Blythe to decide to live.

“Come on Blythe. Wake up,” he whispered to her, lowering his body over hers to kiss her forehead. Looking at the marks on her cheek made him see red. He’d washed most of the blood off, but more was oozing out because her wounds weren’t healing. She needed to decide fast or she would die regardless of her choice. “Please survive for me. Choose to live. I need you.”

Blythe didn’t move. Her heart remained steady, and for that he was thankful. He could still hear it beating and then stopping in his mind. He’d really thought she was gone. Now he had her, but for how long. Would he lose her again?

If she lived through this, he was never going to leave her side. Humans were so fragile. It was a miracle that they lasted long with the shifters. If there were others like Leo, then it was a miracle that some survived at all. How could a mate abuse the other? Mates were special and to be cherished and loved. Killian would never dream of raising a hand to Blythe. Maybe to spank her in the bedroom, but not hard and never to be spiteful or embarrass her.

Looking down at his beautiful mate, he remembered his life before her. It was boring, dull, and filled with unchecked rage. Blythe gave him purpose. He feared that if he lost her, he’d go into a state similar to Walker. Was there anyone that would be able to hold him back? What if he attacked his friends, his brother? Seth had no way of defending himself. Killian had always watched out for his brother. Would he really be so far gone that he would attack Seth?

Shaking his head, Killian dislodged all of those thoughts. What was he doing? He was already thinking of losing Blythe. He wasn’t going to lose her. She belonged here with him. Now was not her time.

“Come back, Blythe! It’s not your time. I love you. I need you here with me. Don’t leave me,” Killian called to her. Would she hear him? “Please, baby. Don’t do this to me. You’ve touched so many people here. Shifters and guards included. You’ve changed this place in the short time you’ve been here. You’re the light of my world. You are my heart. I can’t go on without you.”

Was that movement? Did Blythe just move? Killian’s heart started beating faster. Was she choosing to live? “You can do it, baby! Wake up! Choose to live!”

***

Again, Blythe woke in darkness. Maybe she was meant to die. This had to be a sign. Wake up. Blythe gasped and looked around. Only darkness met her eyes.

“Who’s there?” she called.

Our mate needs us. I can sense his pain, his loss. Wake up!

“Our mate? What are you talking about? What’s going on?”

Yes our mate! I’m you. I’m inside of you now. You must accept me. Let me pull us through this. Don’t give up. Killian needs us. The voice said Killian’s name with a purr. What did she mean that she was inside of Blythe? Wait!

“Oh no! Killian turned me! That’s what that extra pain was! I’m a shifter now.”

Yes. You are now a tiger like him. Now open your eyes and live! I will heal us.

Could she do it? Could she face the pain?

“For Killian.”

For our mate.

Blythe awoke in a room she was all too familiar with. At first, she only knew she was in the infirmary because of the smell. It smelled clean and sterile. Then another scent hit her nose. It was one that even as a human she’d recognize. It was Killian. He was standing beside her. She tried to turn toward him, but found that she couldn’t move. Even opening her eyes at that moment felt too big a task.

She did notice that her pain seemed to be slowly ebbing away. Was her shifter half healing her human body? That thought made her realize that she was no longer human. She would be able to turn into an animal. She wouldn’t be defenseless anymore. She could protect herself and those she cared about. If she was in a normal state, she knew that she’d be crying. As it was, she couldn’t move, not even to cry.

“Blythe, please wake up. Don’t give up on me,” Killian’s voice reached her ears.

Killian. Her beautiful, strong, loving mate. How could she have given up on him? How could she accept death so readily when she had him? She felt weak again, almost selfish. Yet, hadn’t she chosen him? She’d given up the peace of death to embrace the pain and stay with her mate.

Finally, Blythe felt some movement. She wiggled her fingers and toes. She heard Killian gasp. She tried to open her eyes, but it was like her body had to come alive in segments. She could feel Killian take her hand.

“If you can hear me, squeeze my hand,” Killian whispered to her. If Blythe could have, she would have smiled. Very slowly, she felt her fingers squeeze his hand. It was just barely, but it was enough to let Killian know she could hear him. “Oh, Blythe!”

She felt his lips brush her forehead.

Her arms and legs came alive next and she was even able to roll her head. She rolled her head to the side, leaning toward her mate and his deep voice. She pried her eyes open and met his worried, loving ones. His blue eyes pooled with moisture and then her big strong mate was crying.

“Killian,” she whispered, her throat feeling raw. Her voice came out as more of a rasp, and she tried again. “Water.”

“Anything,” Killian turned, letting go of her hand and wiping his eyes. He returned a moment later carrying a glass of water. She smiled at him, though it pulled the scratches on her cheek.

“Thank you,” she whispered, drinking slowly. He wiped her chin as some of the water spilled. She felt a blush creep up her cheek and he smiled at her.

“I thought I lost you,” he turned serious again. “Your heart stopped beating. You died.”

“The pain was so intense,” Blythe told him, taking another sip of water. “I wanted to die at that moment.”

“But you didn’t,” Killian reminded her.

“I didn’t because of you. I remembered that I had something, no… someone to live for. I wasn’t ready to leave you behind. I knew that you needed me,” Blythe admitted.

“I’m so glad that you didn’t.”

“I’m a shifter now,” Blythe breathed. “It’s hard to believe. She spoke to me. My tiger. She reminded me the second time that I had a purpose and needed to survive. She told me that she’d heal me.”

“That’s incredible. I think you were always meant to be a shifter, but this isn’t how I wanted to turn you. I wanted it to be when you were ready, not when I had to save your life. But I’m so glad that you accepted the change and didn’t die. I honestly think I’d go crazy without you,” Killian replied.

He grabbed her hand and held it. Blythe sensed that he needed to touch her. To reassure himself that she was indeed alive. Her heart went out to him. Her mate was special. Though at the beginning, times were rough and she almost gave up on him, she was glad at the trouble they went through. It brought them closer and shed some light on the man that was her mate.

“Where is Seth?” Blythe asked. “What happened to Shannon? Is she okay?”

“Shannon went and got help. She found us and told us what was happening. Seth told her to stay in our room. We left her there. Seth left a little bit ago to go check on her. He should be back any second.”

“What about Leo?” she asked. “Is he dead?”

Killian growled and squeezed her hand tighter. “I don’t know. I had to get you here to take care of you. Merrick was fighting him. He will either keep him alive to face the Council, or end him. I don’t know what decision he made.”

“He’s putting him in front of the Council. He just came and took Shannon,” Seth interrupted. Both pairs of eyes turned toward the door.

“Are you fucking kidding me? The bastard should be dead right now. Why are they prolonging it?”

“They say he’s got friends higher up on the Council. This could be bad,” Seth clenched his fists.

“If they let him go, I’ll kill him. He’s not going to be permitted to walk these halls,” Killian promised.

“Why would they let him go? He abused Shannon, and almost killed her. And then he did kill me!” Blythe was flabbergasted. Surely they wouldn’t let him go.

“We need to get Blythe to the Council before all her wounds heal. They need to see the damage,” Seth informed them.

Killian shook his head. “Absolutely not. She’s in no condition to move.”

“Please, Killian. I don’t want them to let Leo go. If this will help Shannon, I need to do this,” Blythe pleaded.

“No.”

“Don’t be like this. I’ll just have Seth knock you out and go by myself,” Blythe threatened.

“You are infuriating,” Killian snarled.

“But you love me,” Blythe reminded him. “Now pick me up and lead the way.”