CHAPTER 49: 49- SAFE FROM THE KING

Phoenix:

Behind him, I saw Kiara stiffen. She had that mean look on her face. Beta Brian whispered something to Alpha Blake. The discomfort was evident on their faces, too.

And then I realized something else.

Beta Hunter had stopped the speech. Standing there, he was looking at me.

Oh, Goddess. Please save me.

Sebastian King was standing there, staring at me. He didn’t move.

"What’s your name?" he asked quietly.

My lips parted a little...

But no words came out of it. Ha-ha. He still had that effect on me.

That day was still fresh on my mind when I was peeking outside the window, thinking that he couldn’t sense my presence. But he did see me, and he had smiled.

With him standing so close to me, my heartbeat was gaining speed. It was pounding in my ears, and now I was sure he could hear it too.

What did he want from me?

Why was he here when there were so many warriors on the ground? His golden eyes had something, and I couldn’t name it.

Curiosity? Suspicion?

"What’s your name?" he repeated the question, and I blinked.

My throat was dry, but I swallowed anyway and lifted my chin, trying to act braver than I felt.

"Phoe... Phoenix..." My voice cracked a little, so I cleared my throat and tried again, "My n...name... It’s Phoenix... sir... I mean your highness..."

Goddess! My eyes went wide when I realized that he was now a king.

I quickly knelt on one knee, "Your highness... please forgive me... I... I forgot..."

Such a dumb wit you are, Phoenix!

He stood there without saying anything.

He didn’t pull away.

Instead, his fingers... just the tip of his finger... touched my chin so lightly.

I gasped and tilted back my head. There was a spark. The part where he touched seemed to be burning through the mask.

He didn’t seem to mind and touched again to tilt it upwards until our eyes met.

Goddess! Please!

I almost pleaded to the Moon Goddess.

Why was this happening?

Why was he even here?

"Phoenix. Please stand up."

Before I could act on this gentle command, his hands curled around my shoulders and helped me up.

"No need to bow," he pleaded in a low whisper, and I wanted to run away from there.

Sebastian. Please turn around and leave.

I told him in my head.

Please leave before I start crying.

"Are you the same woman who... survived Crimson pack’s fire?" he shot another question, and then his hand raised to twirl a red hair strand around his finger.

No. This isn’t fair.

The time had traveled back when he had invited me for the date. I could still feel his eyes on me.

Enough!

I wanted to push him.

I raised my hands to place them on his hard chest when someone shouted from a distance.

"Phoenix!"

Both of us jumped and turned to look in the direction of Alpha Brian’s voice, "Jai. He had an accident and was taken to the operating room. He needs healing."

My one hand was still on King Sebastian’s chest.

Jai," I whispered and turned to walk away when the king placed his hand on mine to press it against his body.

I jerked, remembering where my hand was placed, "Meet me when you are done with the healing."

I nodded and then jogged off to reach the hospital with nothing but Jai on my mind.

***

While jogging to the hospital, I started crying.

I had no idea what happened to Jai, and I couldn’t even feel itching in my hands.

Jai. Please be alright for me.

We were still not on talking terms. I used to check my phone repeatedly if he had sent any text or a call that I might have missed.

"Where is he?" I asked the on-duty doctor who was taking rounds, keeping a check on the patients.

His face went pale when he saw me.

"There," he pointed his finger at a room, "he is admitted there."

I didn’t have time to drill him with questions. My friend needed me right now and had to be there with him.

I stormed inside the room and then halted in my steps. The white sheet that was covering his body was soaked in blood.

My heart missed a beat.

He wasn’t even moving, and I didn’t know if he was even breathing or not.

"Jai!" I tried to control my tears and raised my hands to heal him.

Nothing.

No glow. No warmth.

Oh, Goddess. Why was he alone? Why was no doctor treating him?

"Jai!" I called him and wiped the tears off my face. Raising my hands, I tried healing, not understanding where he got such an injury.

In my desperation to heal him, I pulled the covers and tossed them aside. That was when I stopped dead in my tracks.

His clothes didn’t have any blood.

They were neat, crisp, and... he was still wearing his polished shoes.

What happened to him?

"Jai?" I whispered, my voice barely asking it out of my throat, "Oh, please, Jai. You are the only family I’ve got."

I shook his shoulders harder, "Please don’t do this to me..." Tears spilled out as I clutched his shirt, pressing my forehead against his chest.

"Please, Jai. You idiot. Wake up!" I yelled at him, and then I felt like something warm grazed my ear.

"Ow!" I gasped. My head snapped up.

There he was. Fully awake.

His eyes were wide open with the most annoying grin on his face.

I stumbled back in shock when a loud clunk echoed in the room. A beer can rolled across the floor that must have fallen from his bed.

My mouth fell open, "Jai?"

While rubbing the back of his neck, he gave me a sheepish grin and got out of bed, "Sorry. Had to do this. It was the only way to keep you safe from the king."

What? I blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice...

Then I picked up the nearest pillow and whacked it straight at his head.

"Jai, you jerk! I’ll kill you! You were eating my ear!"

He covered his ears, squeezing his eyes.

"Yeah. Because you were crying so loud. Phoenix," he grinned wider, "I beg you not to become a singer ever. You can do everything, honey, but singing isn’t for everyone... ouch! No, Phoe. No! Oui! I’m sorry!"

I had stopped listening and was continuously attacking him with all the pillows present in the room.