Chapter 213
Athena’s POV
The room we’ve set up looks nothing like the cozy guest room it was this morning.
Derek and Orion moved all the furniture against the walls, pushing the bed frame and dresser into the corners like we’re preparing for something violent.
Sarah covered everything with plastic sheets that crinkle every time someone moves, and the sound makes my teeth hurt.
There’s a mattress on the floor in the center of the room, positioned under the overhead light so we can see everything clearly.
Clean white sheets that won’t stay white for long, and I try not to think about what that means.
Towels are stacked nearby in neat piles, more towels than any normal situation would ever need.
Medical supplies that Derek brought from somewhere I don’t want to think about are arranged on a small table like we’re setting up an operating room.
And the knife.
It’s sitting on a small table next to the mattress, gleaming silver in the afternoon light coming through the window.
1
The blade is long and sharp and coated with something dark that makes my stomach turn every time I look at it.
The handle looks ordinary, like something you’d find in any kitchen, but I know what it really is.
A weapon designed to kill werewolves.
Wolfsbane mixed with silver, Derek explained earlier, and the combination would prevent Tristan from healing and make the wound fatal within
minutes.
The wolfsbane would stop his body from shifting to heal itself, and the silver would make sure the wound stayed open and kept bleeding.
Within minutes, that’s how long I have to figure out how to use this power to save instead of kill. Minutes to do something I’ve never done before,
something I’m not even sure is possible.
My hands won’t stop shaking, and I keep wiping them on my jeans even though they’re not actually wet.
Sarah keeps glancing at me with worry in her eyes, but she doesn’t say anything.
Orion is pacing back and forth by the window, running his hands through his hair over and over again.
Derek is the only one who looks calm, but I can see the tension in his shoulders, the way he keeps checking and rechecking his supplies like he’s forgotten something important.
“You don’t have to watch,” Tristan says quietly. He’s standing next to me, fully dressed still, but I know that won’t last long. His voice is steady, but I can hear the underlying current of fear that he’s trying to hide.
“Yes, I do,” my voice comes out stronger than I expected, and I’m surprised by my own determination. “If I’m asking you to do this, the least I can do is
9
1/2
17:52 Tue, Jan 13 GRM
Chapter 213
watch.”
He nods like he understands, like he knew I’d say that. There’s something in his eyes that looks almost proud, and it makes my chest tight with
emotion.
“Are you ready?” Orion asks, and his face is pale, almost gray in the afternoon light. His hands are shaking slightly, and I realize this is just as hard for him as it is for me. Maybe harder, because he has to be the one to actually do it.
He has to be the one to stab his best friend.
The thought makes me feel sick, and I have to swallow hard to keep from throwing up.
This is insane, what we’re doing is completely insane, and I can’t believe we’re actually going through with
it
Tristan pulls his shirt over his head and drops it on the floor next to the mattress. His chest is bare now, and I can see his heart beating under his skin,
fast but steady.
The muscles in his chest and arms are tense, and there are small scars scattered across his skin from old fights and accidents.
For now, his heart is beating. For now, he’s alive and whole and looking at me with trust in his eyes.
In a few minutes, that might not be true anymore.
“Where?” Orion asks, and his voice cracks on the single word. He’s holding himself stiff, like he’s trying to keep from falling apart.
Derek points to a spot just below Tristan’s ribs, on the left side where his heart is. “Here, it’ll hit vital organs but give Athena the best chance to reach him before it’s too late. The angle needs to be straight in, no hesitation.”
Comments
R Visitor
OMG I have tears in my eyes! please let Tristan survive!
7 days ago
18
SHARE
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
