Chapter 89: What’s (not) Real?
The Blackwood convoy: the ambulance and Alpha Darius’s car, alongside other security vehicles, reaches the estate just before dawn.
Adrian and Nyra are immediately transferred into the private infirmary, where the estate’s medical staff take over their care.
The room is quiet except for the steady beeping of monitors.
Adrian and Nyra lie completely still in the same room, but in different beds, both connected to several machines.
As for Adrian...his wounds have already begun closing at an unnatural rate, but the blood loss and trauma have left him still unconscious.
Both of them need deep rest to recuperate.
For several minutes, Luna Selene simply stands outside the door, staring at them.
Then finally, she enters the room, ushering their home nurse out. "I want some time alone with my son."
The woman simply nods and rushes out after ensuring everything is working smoothly. The door closes behind her.
Selene walks to Nyra first, brushing back a loose strand of brown hair. She can only imagine how much pain Nyra would be in when she wakes up, remembering her own experience when she lost her second child.
She vows by her bedside to give her all the support and care she needs in those moments.
Then she turns to Adrian’s side, face heavy with guilt. For a moment, she says nothing, just stares...but what happened is eating her up from the inside out.
"I’m so sorry, son." She whispers in a cracked voice, her fingers trembling as she carefully brushes some hair away from his forehead.
"I really did try to stop him, told your father this had gone too far and we couldn’t keep doing this forever." She swallows hard. "But he believes he’s protecting you."
"Your father loves you more than anything, Adrian." She looks down at his unconscious face, a tear slipping down her cheek. "And I know you might hate us when you find out what happened to your friends... I won’t blame you.
"But it is necessary. To protect you." Selene lowers her head, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I’m so sorry, baby. I really am."
She doesn’t notice the faint twitch of Adrian’s fingers. Doesn’t know that despite being unconscious, Adrian can hear every word.
A few hours ago.... Julian rushes to his side. "She’s okay. I swear to you, she’s going to be okay. We’re taking the both of you to the hospital now."
Adrian nods, his face peaceful like that’s all that matters in that moment. Then his eyes fall closed, and he slips into unconsciousness...
Adrian opens his eyes, but he’s not in a hospital. No machines, no stinging antiseptic smell.
All his wounds have completely disappeared, and strangely enough, he feels rejuvenated.
He’s sitting in the middle of an enormous field filled with daisies, white and beautiful.
His black hair dances with the early morning breeze, the morning sun is warm against his skin.
And beside him is Nyra.
Her body is pressed comfortably against his side, her head resting against his shoulder.
Adrian smiles, staring down at her. They had found themselves here days ago, though in the real world it’s been just a few hours.
Before they both slipped into unconsciousness, they had both thought of each other last...and somehow ended up here together.
It’s been beautiful spending these past few days here, together. No more worrying about the real world, the struggles, the aftermath.
Just them together, finally at peace.
Though Adrian has healed enough to go back to the real world, he doesn’t want to leave Nyra here.
Or more selfishly, he wants to have her all to himself.
"You’re staring again." Nyra chided him when she catches him staring.
"I like staring at you."
She laughs softly. "Yeah? But you’ve been doing it for five minutes."
"I can stare at you for eternity, Nyra." He smiles, dimples popping on his cheeks. "You’re so beautiful."
Nyra blushes hard, looking down at her hands. "You’re so damn cheesy."
She reaches out to poke his chest, but he just catches her hand and kisses her knuckles.
"I really love you, Nyra." He meets her eyes. "I never anticipated I would feel like this one day...but I’m so happy we’re together."
Nyra can’t meet his eyes. The irony that Adrian’s first I love you is from his subconscious. But it’s perfect.
Much more real than everything they ever had in the real world.
Her chest feels tight, wolf dancing happily in her chest, purring for its mate. "I love you too, Adrian."
Yes, in this space she can hear and feel her wolf loud and clear, almost like the laws of the real world don’t matter here.
Adrian smiles at her response, pulling her closer until she is practically sitting in his lap.
"I love you, love you, love you." With every word, he peppers kisses across her neck, temple, lips, and cheeks.
She giggles, trying to free herself from his grasp, but his hold feels like steel. "Adrian...stop!"
"Never!" He argues, pressing another kiss to her neck. "Here I have you all to myself, I want to be selfish for once."
She rolls her eyes. "You’ve always been selfish with me even in the real world, Adrian. I remember that night you didn’t let me go with my friends."
He frowns playfully. "Julian has had you for months now, I didn’t want to share. Besides.." he holds her tighter. "...it doesn’t count."
"It does!" She counters. "And the other time when you lied to the art professor just so you could have me alone in the..."
"Shhh." He presses a hand over her mouth before she can finish, head tilted back as he laughs out loud. To Nyra that’s the most beautiful sound she’s ever heard. "Okay, I get it. I get it."
"So you’ll change?"
He pretends to think. "Maybe..." His eyes drop to her lips. "Depending on how exactly you plan to compromise."
She laughs, loud and unbashful. "You’re such a pervert, Dri!"
He freezes at the nickname, silver eyes darkening. "Dri?"
Nyra slaps a hand over her mouth. "It just-it just slipped out. Sorry if-"
"I love it!" He hugs her tighter, pressing her against him. "I love it. I love you. I love--"
Adrian suddenly cuts himself off, ears perking. Then the smile slowly disappears from his face.
Nyra immediately notices. "What’s wrong?"
Adrian stares into the distance. "Our friends, they are in trouble."
That makes her straighten too. "What happened?"
"My mother." His silver eyes are glinting with worry. "She’s saying my father wants to hurt them to protect me."
Nyra sits upright. "What?"
That doesn’t sound right. The man has always been so composed, why would he suddenly be acting like this?
Adrian shakes his head, trying to process what he’s hearing.
"But Alpha Darius is so nice. Why would he want to hurt them?"
"Because he knows that they know." He meets Nyra’s wide, worried eyes. "He knows that they know my true form. That I’m an Enigma."
He sighs, remembering their confession the first time he’d confronted them about keeping this a secret from him.
"My parents have spent my entire life hiding it. They’ll do anything to keep the secret from getting out."
Nyra’s expression softens. "I understand why they’re afraid. Being an Enigma makes you a target, Adrian!"
"I know, but.." he looks down. "...but I trust our friends more. I trust they wouldn’t use this against me."
Nyra nods in agreement. "They followed us into those woods for hours. They risked their lives for us, and I was so shocked to see them."
Nyra reaches for his hand, a sad smile on her face. "Adrian...I think you need to go now."
"What!?" Adrian looks at her, then at the small garden they spent days cultivating. "And just leave you here?"
"I’ll be fine." She squeezes his fingers. "Besides, my wolf is awake here, maybe I can also try to train it to be stronger before I come back."
"Nyra..."
"Your father will only listen to you, Adrian. You have to stop him!"
Adrian looks ready to burst into tears. "Baby..."
Nyra smiles sadly. "I’ll be fine. You know I can’t wake up now. I’m not as strong as you yet."
He nods solemnly. His friends had sacrificed for them, now it’s his turn even though it pains him to go.
"Promise me.." he laces their pinkies together. "That you’ll wake up quickly."
"I promise." Then she leans forward and kisses him.
Softly at first, then deeper, pulling him closer and closer until there’s no space between them.
Adrian smiles against her lips as they finally pull apart. "I’ll be waiting for you, okay?"
She kisses his forehead. "Now go."
Adrian reluctantly stands, dusting the mud from his clothes. "I love you."
"I love you too."
He takes several steps away before looking back at her, legs slowing in front of the bright light at the end of the field.
Nyra is still sitting among the flowers, smiling at him. "Go quickly, Adrian!"
He nods, blows her a kiss, then finally walks fully into the bright light. It’s almost blinding, but somehow he manages to navigate his way through it.
The farther he walks through it, the louder the world around him becomes.
Beeping. Voices of worried servants. Footsteps outside in the hall.
His mother is still crying, muttering guilty confessions.
Adrian’s brow furrows as the sounds and everything hit him at once. Then his breathing changes, slowly becoming steadier.
Selene immediately notices. "Adrian?"
His fingers twitch against hers.
"Son? Can you hear me!?" She sounds ecstatic.
Slowly, slowly, his eyes snap open. He stares wildly around the room, trying to steady his blurry vision.
Then his gaze lands on his mother’s worried face hovering above him. "Adrian!"
"Mum, call Dad." He struggles to talk despite the pain shooting through his abdomen. "Don’t hurt my friends!"