Chapter 35

Chapter 35 Had he come?

CA SSANDRA

Luckily the small crowd of people that had gathered in the chamber left after nearly an hour. Adalyn had wanted to stay and keep watch over Asher, but Margaret insisted that the Luna accompany her instead. It took a little pleading on Asher’s stepmother’s part, but Adalyn finally agreed and left along with the rest of the family.

Once they were gone, relief flooded through me. This had become quite a messy affair, and I didn’t need the added pressure of a million eyes on me while I tried to get Asher’s condition under control.

When I was certain that no one else was going to burst into the room, I carefully lowered the blanket I’d tucked around Asher. Kane had seemed curious about why it was there when Asher was so feverish, but I’d made up some kind of excuse that it was used for treatment. However, keeping him warm was the worst thing I could have done.

In all reality, the blanket had been a means to cover up Asher’s dark mark. I hadn’t wanted his family to know about the Alpha King’s strange disease. It would have only added to the chaos and made Adalyn’s bloodlust rise further.

I placed my hand on his head. Despite the cool rag I’d used to soothe him, his skin was still exceptionally warm, and his l*ps hadn’t lost their blueish hue. This wasn’t good. I was worried that if the fever continued, the consequences could be dire.

“Asher,” I whispered. “Oh, Asher.”

I stared down at him for a moment and then walked over to the door where the guard had resumed his post.

“Can I help you, miss?” he asked as I approached, and his dark eyes grew serious.

“Yes, could I have a pair of se rvants retrieve a few items for me?” I wondered, and when the guard nodded in response, I listed off the things I needed. “I could use some fresh towels, some cool water, ice, and a dry blanket for the king.”

mea

“Of course,” the guard replied, and after he gave small nod of respect, he walked out the doors and relayed the information to the one posted outside. When he returned, he offered me a solemn nod. “The se rvants will return shortly, healer.”

“Thank you,” I replied, and after I offered a small smile of gratitude, I returned to Asher’s side. I carefully lifted his muscular arm and pulled it closer so I could

examine the bite.

Just as I was scared of, the bite was still swelling.

The herbs weren’t working this time.

The venom from this particular viper seemed much stronger than the one back in Wild Crawler territory. I’d a*sumed that the two were the same, but apparently, my a*sessment had been incorrect.

I decided quickly that the best course of action was to cool down his b*dy.

The se rvants entered the chamber not long after with the materials I’d requested, and once they were gone, I asked the guard for a little privacy. He agreed to my request and told me he would be lingering outside the door. I was a little surprised that I was being granted this much privacy, but I wasn’t about to question the blessing.

Once we were alone, I unbuttoned Asher’s white shirt. Once it was open, I carefully lifted him to the best of my ability and sl*pped it off. Heat spread to my cheeks. I hadn’t expected for things to be this intimate.

Next came the trousers, and my cheeks felt as if they were on fire as I folded them and set them on the ground. I gave the Alpha King his privacy and averted my eyes from his area

When I rolled him on his side, a gasp escaped me.

His lean yet muscular back was covered in scars. The marks marred the entirety of his back, from his spine down to his waist, and as I leaned in closer, I realized they were burn marks.

What was going on?

Why was he covered in such marks?

As much as I didn’t want to consider the idea, I couldn’t help but wonder if Asher had gotten the scars from the inferno. Had he come to Rosepteal after all to

rescue me? Did he rush into the inferno?

Under normal circumstances, werewolves healed very fast, especially a young, strong, and capable Alpha like Asher, but the scars suggested that he had been severely burned by fire.

I resisted the urge to reach out and touch the marks for a while until I could no longer fight it. I gently traced the outline of the worst one that ran down his spine, and tears sprang up in my eyes. I tried to push the thoughts from my mind, but it

was no use.

After I’d recovered with the help of Emmett, I’d finally heard about the inferno. Back then, everyone in Wegalla had known about it and was constantly buzzing about it. The fire had lasted an entire day and burnt everything to the ground. Coral Felix had met her demise at its hands. Some said it must have been a relief to the Alpha King that he had finally gotten rid of her.

After my alleged death, rumors spread that I’d started the blaze myself to get the king’s attention, that I’d done it deliberately. Everyone in Wegalla seemed to hate me.

They seemed glad that I was gone.

At the time, it’d hurt greatly to know that people thought of me that way, that they didn’t know the truth of what I’d been through. But Emmett had told me to remain strong.

I wiped the tears from my cheeks. Why was Asher covered in burn marks? Had

he come to save me after all? And if he had… why hadn’t he been successful? Why had I been left alone to die?

As a cry rose up within me, I managed to push it back down. It didn’t matter and it wouldn’t change what had happened. I had to remind myself over and over that the past was in the past. Right now, all that mattered to me was making sure that Asher would survive the night.

I had to save the Alpha King.

Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by the creaking of the door. I stiffened up immediately and wiped the remainder of my tears.

“Who’s there?” I called out in a stern but polite tone, and I quickly draped a blanket over Asher’s bare skin. I couldn’t let anyone see any of the marks that painted the Alpha King’s skin.

“It’s Becky,” a feminine voice called out to me. “I… I have the test results, Ca ssandra.”

My heart stopped in my chest as her tone registered in my mind. My a*sistant didn’t sound hopeful. In fact, she sounded downright worried.

Panic surged within me, but I took a long, deep breath, and made sure that Asher was tucked in tightly. No matter the results, I needed to stay strong and brave. I would do everything in my power to make sure that the Alpha King was going to make a full recovery.

“Enter,” I said finally, and Becky entered the room.