“Miss Mila...” Enzo tugged my sleeve, pulling out of my thoughts.
I glanced at Enzo, who had large dark circles under his eyes. He must be exhausted. Yet, he didn’t want to leave his grandfather’s side.
“I can’t lose him...” he murmured. Enzo moved around the bed, fluffing Charles’s pillows and tucking him in gently.
I wished there was more I could do. However, after looking through the journals multiple tis in the past couple of days, I was at my wit’s end.
I sighed. “Enzo, it is late. We’ve done all we can for the night. You should get so rest.”
“No! I’m not leaving his side. What if—”
I put my hand on Enzo’s shoulder. “You’re no good to your grandfather if you don’t keep up your strength. Why don’t you grab a bite to eat? I’ll watch over him.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I need to keep up my strength.”
Enzo wiped off the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes, stood up and walked towards the door. He parted his lips as if he was about to say sothing, but he didn’t. He knew I’d done what I could. There was no use for more pleading.
Before he left the room, he gave a look. A look that was desperate, helpless and yet...still hopeful.
And it broke my heart.
I sat next to Charles, watching his pale face. Life was leaving his body.
The sad glance from Enzo lingered in my mind. I thought I’d seen that similar look before...I wished I could do sothing, but the only thing left to do was pray for a miracle from the Goddess.
The bright moonlight shone through the window, covering Charles. I closed my eyes, my hands folded together.
“Goddess above, please hear my prayer. Your light shall guide us and your rcy shall be praised...”
Suddenly, sothing popped into my head.
It was a distant mory, sothing that I’d known so long ago. The words were similar, possibly deep from my mory.
That was right. It wasn’t just sothing I’d known, it was a spell. A spell I’d used to do sothing important...to save a young boy.
The words ca to my lips before I could stop them.
“Amina hasteth corro sinat, amina hasteth corro sinat.”
Then I chanted again, and again. “Amina hasteth corro sinat, amina hasteth corro sinat...Amina hasteth corro sinat, amina hasteth corro sinat...”
Suddenly, my head slumped and my legs and arms shook. All the strength left my body and I could barely keep my eyes open.
“Miss Mila!”
Soone called to but his voice sounded fuzzy and far away.
I tried to get up, but my body felt like it was coated in cent. Enzo ca in. He looked blurry.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah... I’m just a little...”
I pushed myself to stand up, but my legs were shaking so hard I thought I might collapse.
“Miss Mila, you look pale, what happened?”
I shook my head, having no energy nor desire to explain. I didn’t want to tell Enzo I’d tried to use a spell to wake Charles because I knew it would just upset him further if it didn’t work.
Was he too weak for the spell to work? Or...did the spell even do what I thought it would do?
“Please wait here.”
Enzo left but he returned quickly with Soren.
“Mila, Mila, look at ,” Soren said, grabbing my shoulders and giving a little shake. “What did you do to tire yourself out?”
I glanced at Soren, then shifted my eyes to the bed and sighed.
Soren wrapped an arm around , waiting for to answer him. I looked up at him, my vision clearing slightly. I whispered so Enzo wouldn’t hear . “Soren... I tried... I tried, but I failed.”
Soren squeezed my hand. “Mila, it’s okay.”
He didn’t ask anything further, but he had a knowing look in his eyes and understood what I said.
“It’s not okay...Soren, you have no idea how I wish—”
Soren looked in the eye and his deep voice whispered into my ear. “Shhh...You’ve done more than expected and that is worth more than you know.”
His words were kind but they didn’t make feel any better. Unless Charles woke up soon, nothing would ease my disappointnt. anwhile, I leaned against Soren, still feeling weak and shaky.
“Miss Mila,” Enzo looked at worriedly, “Please get so rest yourself. If anything changes, I’ll let you know imdiately.”
Soren agreed with him and said to , “Let take you back to our room.”
I sighed. There really wasn’t anything else I could do, so I nodded to Soren. He helped up.
Then, just when we were about to exit the room, I heard Enzo gasping, “Grandpa! Grandpa! You’re awake!”
Enzo’s pleased cry filled with strength and hope. Soren and I turned around, my vision clearing.
The teenager was leaning over his grandpa, slowly helping him into a sitting position. Charles grunted and Enzo propped several pillows up.
I glanced at Soren, my heart fluttering in my chest, a smile tugging at my lips.
Soren grinned and leaned down. He whispered in my ear, his breath tickling my neck. “You’ve done it! See, I told you not to underestimate yourself. You saved Charles. So proud of you.”
My stomach dropped like a stone and Soren kissed my neck quickly. A shiver ran down my spine and I leaned on him again.
Charles leaned back on the pillows and sighed, nodding to his grandson.
I watched Enzo caring for his grandfather. The older man was still coming out of his unconsciousness but as long as he remained awake, the full recovery would be just a matter of ti.
He hadn’t noticed us yet. It was obvious that he was still disoriented. We patiently waited, giving him ti to adapt to his surroundings.
Without knowing, tears welled up in my eyes.
Soren hugged against his side. “You should be smiling, not crying,” he chuckled in a low voice only the two of us could hear. His tone was full of pride and his eyes were filled with admiration. “You have no idea what an achievent you’ve accomplished.”
I was lost in his proud gaze for a mont.
I always felt that Soren was so giving in our relationship. He had been saving , protecting , and fighting for . I never thought I could give as much back.
Yes, he was more powerful, but it didn’t change the fact that I wanted to do the sa for him.
I wanted to help him and support him in my own way, but I hadn’t been able to find my strength, until this mont—I saved Charles all on my own, with my own power and knowledge!
Knowing Soren, he would treat the sa regardless of whether I was an ordinary oga or a mighty witch, but I wanted to be a good match for him. It wasn’t fair for him to be the only one who bore the burden of whatever dangers ca our way, especially when those dangers were mostly brought by .
I wanted to help. And at this mont, finally, I felt I was able to do sothing useful.
I was finally one step closer to him. If I continued to work on controlling my witch power, perhaps one day I would be a good match and a peer for him.
“Mila, why are you staring at ?” Soren bead at , but seed a little confused.
“I’m happy...” I whispered and breathed in his indulging cedar wood and amber scent.
“Enzo?” Charles’s voice rasped as he spoke his first words, drawing my attention. His eyes filled with tears and he blinked rapidly.
“I’m here, Grandpa,” Enzo said, hugging the old man.
“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry, my boy,” Charles said, hugging Enzo back.
I could tell that his arms were still weak, but the color had returned to his cheeks.
I stayed close to Soren, enjoying his closeness and the warmth of his body. I didn’t want to intrude, though, so we stayed quiet, letting Enzo and Charles have their reunion.
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Enzo murmured.
“I didn’t make it in ti!” Charles blurted out. “I tried... I did. But all I could do was pull a few bodies out of the debris pile...”
He sniffled but Charles didn’t let his tears out. As upset as he was, he was still holding himself together.
“I couldn’t save anyone. I wanted to give them proper burials but the rain... it caused a mudslide and I was almost buried alive!”
“It’s alright, Grandpa. It isn’t your fault. You did what you could. I’m just happy you’re alive.”
He comforted Charles, sitting on the bed beside him and putting his arm around Charles’s shoulders.
Charles creased his brow like he’d just thought of sothing.
“Before I lost consciousness... I rember, I was wounded, all cut up...”
Charles pushed the blankets back and checked his arms and legs for his wounds. He frowned slightly.
“All healed. How strange. I wonder... I felt like I was drowning in the dark for a long, long ti. And then... oh, the most beautiful light ca to and guided out of the blackness. What happened?”
Charles finally got the chance to look around the room. When he slowly looked at the two of us, his brow furrowed and he narrowed his eyes. “Enzo, who are they!? Why did you bring them here?
“Grandpa, calm down!”
“How could you be so reckless? Trusting soone you don’t know... have you not seen the damage caused to our pack?”
Enzo quickly explained. “They saved you!”
Charles still looked wary. “Really?”
Enzo motioned to and assured him, “Really, Grandpa. We’re really lucky. If not for Miss Mila, I don’t know what would have happened to you...Look, your wounds are all healed thanks to her!”
Charles’ eyes landed on for a mont. Then, as if he thought of sothing, his expression softened and he tilted his head slightly.
“I apologize for my rude reaction,” he said to and Soren.
“It’s okay,” Soren nodded, “We understand it’s quite an unusual circumstance your pack has undergone.”
“Thank you for saving my life.” He slightly lowered his head towards . It was a very respectful gesture for a pack Elder like him to do.
I was about to say “You’re welco” when he continued with sothing I didn’t expect to hear.
“It is nice to see you again, young miss, and out of harm’s way.”
My eyes widened. “You know ?”
“Grandpa, you know Miss Mila?” Enzo asked almost at the sa ti, creasing his brow.
I looked at Soren. He was frowning slightly and I saw new suspicions in his eyes. He clearly didn’t like this older shifter knowing who I was when we didn’t know much about him.
“Excuse , but I don’t think I’ve t you before, have I?” I asked.
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