Shared Agony

LUCIAN

I feel her drift and know she’s left me, for now…

I’m grateful for the bond or I would feel completely alone, even with her here beside me. I sigh, trying to relax. She’ll be in a sort of coma for two days at least. It could be more; everyone is different.

I hug her to me tighter, smoothing my hand over her outline with my eyes closed.

“I’m right here, beautiful. I won’t leave your side.”

***

I lie with her for hours. I don’t even know how long I spend just caressing her gently, softly kneading her muscles, until Kia calls to me.

~“Sir. I know you’re busy but may I—?”~

~“Come in, Kia.”~

I stay where I am, wrapped around her, and he comes in a few moments later.

Coming to her side, he takes a knee and bows his head.

“My queen.” He speaks quietly and I smile as he stands again, righting himself.

“I need you to handle everything out there for the time being.”

“Of course I will, sir. Whatever you need.”

“Did the council fuck off earlier?” I chuckle—and he does too, with a nod.

“They did. Not happily, I will add.”

“Good. Serves them fucking right.” I sigh, looking down at her. “You should have seen how she handled them, Kia. She’s everything this kingdom will ever need.” I run my fingers down her cheek while watching over her.

“This is the best time, you know. The transition…trust me,” he says with a dreamy smile, remembering Charlotte’s transition.

“Thank you, Kia.” I smile back keeping her close.

“You need to eat, sir. Can I get you anything?”

“Please. Nothing special, just whatever is around.”

“Of course, sir. If there’s anything else you need…”

“Not right now. Thank you.” Just as he is about to leave, I frown and sit upright, looking around.

“Everything okay, sir?” Kia asks with a furrowed brow. I look straight at him, his face, the details… Then I look back at my hands. They are my human hands. No talons, no long hair.

I gasp a strange and confused chuckle and ~look~ at Liana. I had been looking at her, but it somehow hadn’t clicked.

I am human.

“Sir?” Kia asks more anxiously and I stare straight at him.

“Kia, I…I can see you,” I say with disbelief.

“What?!” he asks quickly and dashes to my side, looking over my face curiously. I smile, looking back at my little, comatose queen.

“You. It was you.” The smile splits my face and I crush her against me, holding her close. “She did this. Somehow, she did this. She gave me my sight back.”

Kia lowers his head in respect. “A gift from the Goddess,” he mutters to himself.

I just sit there, stunned, taking in every part of her.

~“I can see you, my love.”~ I push the words through to her, hoping a part of her will hear me, even in her current state. ~“Thank you, my incredible little mate.”~

Today I’ve been reborn. Reborn for everything she will ever need. She was all I needed, all along. Someone to love me for me, and for every single thing that I am. I belong to her; our souls are entwined by magic and the promise of acceptance through it all. Now, all I need is for her to come back. Come back to me so I can look into her eyes and feel every part of her as myself.

The Goddess gifted me with blindness, all this time, like somehow she knew I needed to remain humble until the day my mate was created and brought into this world.

***

I spend the time I’m eating just chuckling to myself. You wouldn’t expect that actually being able to ~see~ my food would make eating difficult again.

“Oh love, you have turned my world around,” I tell her after swallowing my mouthful. It’s refreshing to keep talking to her, even though she can’t hear me.

After finishing my meal, I carefully turn her over to face my side of the bed. I don’t want her to get stiff from being in one position for too long. She groans ever so slightly, but that’s it. Lying back on my side, I pull her to lie on me slightly so I can feel her closeness.

***

I wake with a start and look around. Liana has rolled into a ball, crunching herself up. I glance at my clock and frown.

Impossible… It’s only been ten hours.

Her crying gets louder and she’s shaking like crazy.

“Liana! Baby!” I run my hands over her and her cries turn to ones of relief.

“It hurts, Lucian! It hurts so bad!” she shouts, choking through the tears.

“Hush, baby girl, it’s okay. I’m here.” I wrap myself around her as tightly as I can to hold her still, then take a deep breath before opening myself up to her and letting her pain flood into me.

I wince and try not to squeeze her as the intense pain shackles my bones and buries itself in my muscles. But then I feel her relaxing and that all slips away.

I can do this. I will do this for her.

Although it does beg a question. Why is the change happening so fast? The coma state usually lasts two days at least. It takes the worst of the pain and leaves you with the withdrawal symptoms, which are more manageable.

Holy Goddess, the pain is making ~me~ tremble, and I keep a fist clenched but try to stay soft around her. She needs me.

~“Kia. It’s happening. She’s awake.”~ I push the words through, trying to distract myself.

~“What?!”~

~“I know.”~ I keep fighting against the pain, feeling his anxiety.

~“Can I do anything, sir?”~

~“If you feel me fading, then come. I have to hold this for her.”~ I feel him agree and try to settle myself into this pain-filled hell while she rests.

“I’ve got you, baby.” I breathe out the words before clenching my jaw shut again.