Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Burning from Within

Third POV

“Are you sure you’ll be fine?” Jude asked, his eyes still filled with concern as he looked between Zayne and the barely conscious Estelle in his arms.

Zayne’s grip tightened protectively around Estelle. “I have everything handled.”

Jude nodded slowly, though his expression remained worried. He glanced at Estelle one more time, taking in her pale complexion and the way she seemed to be fighting just to stay awake. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Mm.”

After Jude left, Zayne looked down at Estelle. Even through her clothes, he could feel the heat radiating from her body. Her skin was burning up like she had a severe fever.

She definitely needed medical attention, whether she wanted it or not.

If she was unwilling to go to an infirmary, then bringing a healer to her would be the next best option. She might be more comfortable if it were someone she trusted, who wouldn’t make her feel vulnerable or exposed.

Zayne made his decision quickly. He adjusted his hold on Estelle and started walking toward his apartment building, her body fitting naturally against his chest. She was lighter than he expected, and the realization made something twist uncomfortably in his stomach.

The elevator ride felt endless. Estelle’s breathing was shallow and uneven, and every few seconds, a small whimper would escape her lips. Each sound made Zayne’s jaw clench tighter.

Once inside his apartment, he carried her straight to his bedroom. He set her down gently on the edge of the bed, keeping one arm around her waist to make sure she didn’t fall over. She was conscious but barely, her head lolling against his shoulder.

‘Mason,’ he called through the mindlink.

‘Yes, Your Majesty?’

‘Summon Oliver Jones, the healer from Blackmoon. Ask if he’s still in the area. I need him here immediately.’

‘Is everything alright?‘

‘Just get him here,’ Zayne ordered curtly.

While waiting for Mason’s response, Zayne found himself studying Estelle’s face. Her usual composure was completely gone, replaced by an expression of pain and exhaustion that made his chest tighten. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her lips were pressed into a thin line.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered suddenly, drawing his attention.

“For what?”

“For... always troubling you.” Her voice was so quiet he had to lean closer to hear her properly.

“You’re not troubling me.”

She shifted slightly, unconsciously moving closer to him. The movement was small, barely noticeable, but it made Zayne’s heart skip a beat. Without thinking, he reached up and tucked a strand of her black hair behind her ear.

His finger accidentally brushed against her cheek, and she shivered at the contact. The touch sent a wave of electricity through him, starting at his fingertips and spreading through his entire body. For a moment, neither of them moved.

The spell was broken when Mason’s voice came through the mindlink again.

‘Oliver is twenty minutes away. He happened to be in town tending to another patient.’

‘Good. Bring him up as soon as he arrives.’

They waited in relative silence. Estelle seemed to drift in and out of consciousness, sometimes leaning more heavily against him, other times trying to sit up straighter. Zayne found himself tracking every small change in her breathing and every shift in her posture.

When Mason finally arrived with Oliver, Zayne straightened.

Oliver took one look at Estelle and immediately shifted into professional mode. “I need to examine her properly. Please vacate the room, Your Majesty.”

“I will stay,” Zayne said immediately.

“Unfortunately, you’ll be a distraction. I need her to be as comfortable as possible, and having people hovering won’t help.” Oliver’s tone was firm but not unkind. “I’ll call you back in as soon as I’m done.”

Zayne wanted to argue, but he knew Oliver was right. He helped Estelle lie down fully on the bed, making sure she was comfortable before reluctantly following Mason out of the room.

The waiting was torture.

Zayne found himself pacing back and forth in his living room, checking his watch every few minutes. Mason tried to make conversation a couple of times, but Zayne’s responses were distracted and short. His mind kept wandering back to Estelle lying in his bed, wondering what Oliver was finding.

Thirty minutes felt like three hours.

When Oliver finally emerged from the bedroom, Zayne was immediately at his side.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Oliver looked thoughtful, almost puzzled. “I might need to run some bloodwork to be certain, but her symptoms are very similar to what we see in werewolf children when they’re awakening their wolves for the first time.”

“How is that possible?” Zayne frowned. “That usually happens around ten or twelve years old,” he said slowly.

“Exactly. It’s practically unheard of in adults.” Oliver paused, studying Zayne’s carefully neutral expression. “Though it could also be that she’s simply overworked and exhausted. She’s taken on enormous responsibility very suddenly with the Blackmoon transition. That kind of stress can manifest physically in unexpected ways.”

Zayne absorbed this information without comment.

Oliver seemed to interpret his silence as worry. “Do not fret, Your Majesty. I’ll run some tests and get back to you with results as soon as possible.”

Zayne pursed his lips shut. Anyone with eyes would be able to tell that he was still worried.

“Estelle is like a daughter to me,” Oliver added, noting his unease. “James was one of my closest friends, and I’ll do everything I can to help her.”

“Thank you for looking into this.”

“Of course.” Oliver gathered his medical bag. “Let her rest. Her body is fighting something, and sleep is the best thing for her right now.”

Mason escorted Oliver out, leaving Zayne alone in the suddenly quiet apartment. He stood outside his bedroom door for a long moment before finally pushing it open.

Estelle was still sleeping, but it didn’t look peaceful. Her brow was furrowed with pain, and she kept shifting restlessly against the pillows. Small sounds escaped her lips occasionally, like she was trapped in some kind of nightmare.

Zayne felt his heart twist as he watched her suffer, even in sleep.