Chapter 59

Theodore

The ambulance ride felt like an eternity, the sterile smell of the vehicle mingling with the sharp scent of blood that lingered on her clothes. Violet’s body was unnervingly still on the stretcher. They’d left her wrapped in my jacket, but they were struggling to stabilize her as whatever she’d been dosed with was causing her temperature to fluctuate wildly. She hadn’t even cracked her eyes once.

My heart pounded in my chest. The image of Lucas hunched over her limp body on the bench, her dress wet, smeared with dirt and blood. Her feet bare and filthy. His tie in her mouth and her dress ripped open flashed through my mind. Her helpless cry, the howl from earlier, echoed through me.

If they were asking me questions, I couldn’t answer them. We rode through the wild and sudden storm that had taken the city hostage, but I couldn’t hear anything but her breathing and the slow, soft thrum of her heart.

“...Alpha Nightshade?”I looked up at one of the EMTs. He pointed toward my hip. “Your phone.”

I pulled it out slowly, checking the number. It was Dahlia. I answered.

“I just wanted to update you and ask what you want to pass on to the legal team… They’re pissed off and already drafting a slew of charges.”

There were so many answers to that, but the real one, the truest one rumbled out of me as I heard Violet let out a soft whimper, and her hand twitched in mine.

“... I want to challenge him.” I set my jaw.

There was a brief pause before she let out an affirming sound.

“I’ll make sure the legal team gets that message,” Dahlia said. “How are you holding up?”

“Threadbare.”

“Can I bring you anything?”

“A slice of Violet’s cake,” I said. “I… want her to have something nice to wake up to.”

“I’ll coordinate with Lily, and we’ll see you soon.”

“Is Kincaid there with you?”

A brief pause came then Kincaid was on the line. “Are you asking me to kill him and make it look like an accident?”

“No,” I said. “I know you are not a member of Midnight—”

“You’re the Luna Consort of Darkmoon now.” I blinked at that, laughing despite myself.. “You need only ask.”

“People don’t tend to use that term often.”

“There hasn’t been a reason to in a long fucking time, but the Donovans have had female alphas before. What is it?”

“I want to challenge Lucas, but I know that Owen will disagree. Spread notice of my intention and what happened among every noble that sits on the Civil Court and all through the capital. If they have power and they’ve even met Violet or her father, I want them to know what happened before the news breaks.”

I didn’t want to give Lucas even half a moment to run or hide from what he’d planned to do. It would make it that much harder for Owen to try to deny me the right to kill him in challenge.

“It would be my absolute pleasure.”

I glanced at her. “And do emphasize that Violet gave him absolute hell.”

“Of course,” he laughed. “Not that they would believe any differently. I’ll coordinate with Tyron. I hear we’re allies now.”

My lips twitched. “I’ll leave it to you.”

“And we’ll leave our alpha to you.”

We arrived at the hospital and I followed the gurney in through the emergency room doors. The doctors didn’t hesitate to let me come and sit with her through all the tests and examinations. They drew blood and started the paperwork for her. I could appreciate their efficiency, but since Violet hadn’t stirred since I found her, I couldn’t manage much of my usual charisma.

The doctor, a woman, assigned to Violet came in with a small smile.

“How are you holding up?”

I didn’t look up. “Will she be alright?”

“Yes, we believe so based on the rate the drug in her system is being processed. We did manage to confirm what it was: Black Haze.”

I set my jaw. I knew of it. A lot of Midnight’s most recent work had been helping territories bust Black Haze trafficking and cutting off supplies. It was a powerful, magical sedative meant to completely subdue women and leave them with a complete memory of what happened to them when they woke up. Why it only worked on women, no one knew, but its counterpart, White Haze, only worked on men.

It was less prevalent as well.

“Did he… He looked like he was going to—” I couldn’t even say it. “Or that maybe he already had…”

Her gaze softened. “Would you like me to add that to the list of examinations?”

“Yes.” I took a deep breath.

I’d need to add it to the case.

“Would you like to stay for it?”

“Yes.” He paused and looked at Violet. “No.”

She placed a hand on my shoulder. “I may not know Alpha Donovan, but today was your wedding day, I hear, and… if I were in her place and I woke up, whatever the news was, and I learned that my husband wasn’t there…”

I looked up at her. “She’s… prideful.”

“She’s vulnerable.” She offered a small smile. “But it’s your choice to make.”

I took in a shuddering breath and took Violet’s hand. “I don’t want her to be alone with this… even if she doesn’t remember it.”

She nodded and left the room before coming back with more equipment. She draped Violet’s waist and locked the door, working quietly as I held Violet’s hand and watched for any sign that she might wake or was uncomfortable.

It seemed forever before she was done.

“It seems that you made it to her just in time.” I shuddered, slumping forward with relief. I kissed her hand and some of the guilt, maybe just the smallest grain of it lifted off of me.

“Now, she’s been through alot. A few fractures, but nothing broken. Her windpipe is a little bruised, so she’ll have a hard time speaking when she wakes up. I’m most concerned about her head injury. There was a bit of swelling, but we think we caught it in time that she won’t have any lasting effects. Her healing factor seems to have kicked in.”

I nodded. “When do you think she’ll wake up?”

“Once the drug passes out of her system, I’m hoping within the next few days.”

I nodded, my throat tight.

“Can I stay with her?”

“Of course. I’ll have a roll-away bed brought in for you. Any other questions?”

I shook my head, and she left.

The rest of the night felt like an eternity. I focused on the still glowing band of light on her forehead. It hadn’t grown any dimmer since we said our vows. It was the smallest of comforts, but I was grateful. The hours stretched on with the constant beeping of machines and the soft murmur of medical staff coming in every hour to reassure me and check on Violet. I stayed at her side, watching for the slightest change in her expression.

I wasn’t sure how long I had been sitting there when the door creaked open. I felt him before I looked at him or even heard him speak. My senses were too on edge to deal with Owen right now.

“How kind of you to stop and see your sister-in-law,” I said, keeping my tone even. “I appreciate your concern, but we’re not seeing guests right now.”

“I’m placing you under arrest for the assault and attempted murder of Alpha Lucas.”

The scent of a flint striking, ozone, and something like poison filled my nose. For a second, the world was made of only darkness, like I’d blacked out. Blood rushed through my veins, my heart pounded in my ears like thunder. The lights flickered before the emergency power kicked in and suddenly, I was standing over Owen, glaring down at him. Not a single officer he’d brought with him moved. They all seemed just as frozen in place. Stunned and wide-eyed as if they hadn’t seen me cross the room so much as just reappeared in another place.

“I’ll let you arrest me for murder, Owen… but not defense of my wife.” I narrowed my eyes. “I suggest you find new ways to work out your issues with me.”

His mouth opened, then closed. Then, he sneered.

“Is that a threat?”

“I wouldn’t waste my breath on a threat, Owen. This is a warning, and it’s the last one you’ll ever get.”

Thunder rumbled outside as he stared up at me. The silence seemed to stretch like molten metal about to be cast. There was fear in his eyes, and I waited for him to make his decision.

To my surprise, he wisely took a step back. I closed the door in his face. The lights flickered back on.

Then, I turned to Violet just as her eyelids fluttered and opened.