dreams whisper through silence by mae 228

Chapter 228 

Ellie’s POV 

I was already moving. Dominic called after me, but I didn’t stop to hear what he had said. The pull was too strong to ignore, like an itch that desperately needed to be scratched. 

A moment later, I reached the treeline. It was cooler here, shaded and quiet, the sounds of the festival setup going muffled behind me. I moved without thinking, stepping over roots and pushing through the low- hanging branches, following that feeling the same way I had the last time. 

Finally, I stopped at the base of a wide oak tree. 

There, growing out from between a crack in the trunk, was a small cluster of plants. The leaves were dark red and soft, growing low to the ground. I crouched down and picked one leaf, turning it over in my fingers. It had a faint smell like old books. 

I picked as much of it as I could carry and went back. 

Dominic was still standing by the truck when I emerged from the trees. He was wheezing now, his hands pressed into his knees while Sarah tentatively patted his back. 

I walked over and held out a handful of the leaves. He looked up at them. “What’s that?” 

“Eat them,” I said. 

Dominic blinked. “What?” 

“Humor me,” I said. He looked at the leaves warily, and I sighed, popping one into my mouth. It tasted surprisingly sweet. I chewed and swallowed, then looked at him. “See? Not poisonous.” 

“I wasn’t saying that,” he wheezed, but took the leaves and ate a couple. He shut his eyes, chewed them slowly, then finally swallowed. 

Nothing happened at first. I watched him, biting the inside of my cheek, wondering if they weren’t going to work. I wasn’t even sure what they were supposed to do, and suddenly I felt foolish. 

But then, out of nowhere, his wheezing faded. 

୮ 

Dominic furrowed his brow and rubbed his nose as he stood. He sniffled, blinking. “Wow.” 

“Well?” I asked. 

He glanced at me. “I feel… Better.” 

I let out a breath of relief. Dominic gave me an arch look. “Why do you seem surprised?” he asked. 

“Honestly, I didn’t know that those would actually help. I just knew to look for them, and it was like a part of me knew I had to give them to you.” 

Dominic stared at me for a long moment, clearly not buying it. I just shrugged, equally as dumbfounded as he was. 

Finally, his mouth split into the faintest smile. “Well. That’s impressive.” 

+30 Bonus 

My chest warmed a little. 

“You really had no idea those would work?” Sarah asked. I shook my head. She leaned in, studying them, then said, “Huh.” 

“What?” I asked. 

She shook her head. “Nothing, it’s just… Isn’t that Pink Spray?” 

I looked down, studying the remaining leaves myself. Indeed, after a moment, it hit me; I remembered reading about these plants in one of my classes. It was a medicinal herb with fast-acting antihistamine properties and no drowsy side effects. 

The last thing I remembered reading about this plant was that it was incredibly rare. Almost as rare as the plant that had healed my broken bone. 

The realization piqued my curiosity. It was one thing that I’d found that last rare plant with such ease, but for it to happen twice was definitely something to consider. 

My mind, of course, instantly went back to that book I had read on the Lycans. It was a long shot, obviously. Anyone who had so much as a drop of Lycan blood in their genes was likely long gone by now, and if they were still alive, it was highly unlikely that their abilities when it came to medicine were too diluted to do anything. 

But I couldn’t help it. I thought back about how the Lycans had opal eyes, and I thought about my own, and the whole thing got me wondering. 

Before I could dwell on it for too long, Vivian’s shrill voice cut through the noise of the festival preparations. 

“Dominic!” She rushed over, eyes wide. “I heard you were having a horrible reaction to Ellie’s flower arrangements. Are you okay?” 

I folded my arms, exchanging a glance with Sarah. I could tell my friend was trying not to roll her eyes. 

“I’m fine,” Dominic said, holding up one of the leaves. He smiled at me. “Thanks to Ellie.” 

A muscle jumped in Vivian’s jaw. “I see,” she said. “That’s awfully convenient, isn’t it?” 

I tilted my head. “How so?” 

r 

“Well, I just think it’s interesting that your arrangements would contain the one flower Dominic is allergic to,” Vivian said, meeting my gaze. “And then you just happen to have the antidote on hand.” 

“You’re saying it was intentional?” Sarah scoffed. 

Vivian smiled. “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…” 

I almost laughed. Of course she would say that. Little did she know, all her snide comments did was solidify my assumption that she had been the one to call and make the change. Probably so she could accuse me of intentionally making Dominic sick. 

I wasn’t a fool. I knew exactly what she was doing, because I had been through the same shit with her before and I wasn’t about to fall for it again. 

J 

+30 Bonus 

“you got me,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I intentionally set off Dominic’s allergies for fun.” 

“Oh, not for fun,” Vivian cut me off. “You were just trying to get on his good side.” 

My lips parted. But before I could respond, Dominic suddenly cut in, “She’s already on my good side, Vivian. She’s my wife.” 

I looked at Dominic. His gaze was steady, calm. Vivian, for her part, looked like she had just sucked on a lemon. She muttered something about the festival preparations and scurried away with her proverbial tail between her legs. 

Once she was out of sight, I turned to Dominic. “What did you mean by that?” 

“Exactly what I said.” His expression softened somewhat. “I do care for you, Ellie. Despite what you think. You’re always on my good side, even when you try not to be.” 

I couldn’t help it. Dominic’s words sent something shooting through my chest that I didn’t want to feel, but it was too late. I was feeling it, and it felt good and warm, like an embrace. 

Then, however, he asked, “Now, are you going to tell me what the deal is with the hay bales?” 

I sighed and bit my lip. “Look. Just… humor me, alright?” 

“Ellie…” 

“Just give it a chance. You’ll see.” 

Dominic looked at me for a moment, then huffed. “Fine, fine. But this had better not be another scheme.” 

“It’s not.” Was that a lie? 

With that, Dominic turned and left, rushing back to the house to deal with something. Sarah and I grabbed the remaining floral arrangements and walked back down to the festival grounds, placing them strategically at picnic tables and areas that needed a little extra oomph. 

Not half an hour later, the first guests began to arrive. The sun was high, and the morning had grown into a hot, long afternoon. 

I walked over to the front gates and helped the guards open them, letting in the first flood of people. Vivian was there already, opening the other side of the gate. She shot me a dirty look, but I ignored her. 

Once the gates were open, we both stood there and watched with our arms folded, waiting to see which side of the hay bales they went to first. 

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