Chapter 117
Lily POV
I came alive slowly to a soft, rhythmic beeping pulling me from the depths of unconsciousness.
My eyelids felt like lead, my body heavy and sore as I slowly blinked against the harsh white light filtering into the unfamiliar room. It took a moment for my vision to adjust, but as the blurriness faded, I took in my surroundings.
Machines. Wires. An IV drip connected to my arm. The slow, steady hum of medical equipment filled the room. The scent of antiseptic clung to everything.
A hospital. I was in a hospital. What was I doing here?
I turned my head slightly, my neck stiff from being in the same position for too long. That was when I saw Celeste curled up on the couch in the corner of the room, her dark hair was a tangled mess, her chest rising and falling steadily as she slept.
The sight of her brought and immediate sense of comfort to me.
I needed to sit up. My back was burning with pain probably from lying in one position for too long. The first attempt was embarrassing – my arms gave out immediately, and I collapsed back onto the mattress like I had no bones.
Gritting my teeth, I tried again, a groan escaping despite my best efforts to stay quiet and to force my muscles to cooperate.
It was at my third attempt, that I finally succeeded, even though it left me panting slightly. My back still ached but at least I was sitting instead of lying. The movement must have woken Celeste because her eyes flew open and in the next instant, she was by my side.
“Lily!” Her hands hovered over me, uncertain whether to touch or not. “Are you alright? Don’t move too much – the doctor will be here soon p>
I managed a weak nod. “I’m fine,” I croaked, though my throat was dry and scratchy. I swallowed thickly and cleared my throat. “How long have I been here p>
Celeste hesitated before answering. “Almost three days p>
Three days?
My mind reeled as the memories came rushing back. The way Kai had looked at me that night, the pure rage in his eyes, the bruising grip on my wrists, the moment I truly feared he would hurt me beyond what my body could take. And then—the sudden interruption, the blur of movement, the crash p>
I shuddered.
Celeste must have noticed my reaction because she reached for my hand, gripping it tightly. There were unshed tears in her eyes as she spoke, her voice laced with frustration and something deeper—fear.
“Lily, why did you stay?” she demanded, her grip tightening around my fingers. “No matter what, if you saw that he was losing control, why didn’t you leave?” Her voice cracked slightly. “I told you to be careful, I told you to take care of yourself. And still, you stayed until… until it got this bad.” She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “If the bird I assigned to watch over you hadn’t come to me when it did, I don’t even want to think about what could have happened p>
Guilt coiled in my stomach. I squeezed her hand weakly. “Celeste, Kai wasn’t… he wasn’t doing any of those things on purpose. He wasn’t himself p>
Celeste let out a shaky laugh, but there was no humor in it. “I know that. Of course, I know that.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “But that doesn’t make it okay, Lily. It doesn’t mean you had to endure it until you ended up in a damn hospital bed.” She bit her lip, her eyes growing glassy. “I didn’t realize how much I loved you until that night. Until I thought I was too late p>
The lump in my throat made it hard to breathe. I wanted to tell her that I was okay now, that she didn’t need to worry, but we both knew that wasn’t true.
Celeste moved closer, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. I melted into her embrace, burying my face in her shoulder as tears slipped down my cheeks.
The moment was broken by the sound of footsteps. We pulled apart just as the door swung open, revealing the doctor and a pair of nurses. But it was the figure that walked in behind them that made my heart stop.
Kai.
He stood in the doorway, his tall frame stiff, his face was unreadable. But his eyes—his eyes told a different story. They were stormy, tormented, filled with something that looked dangerously close to agony.
The air in the room shifted. I felt Celeste tense beside me and her hands tightened around me protectively.
The doctor cleared his throat, oblivious to the tension. “Miss Lily, it’s good to see you awake. Let’s check your vitals, shall we p>
I nodded numbly, my gaze flickering to Kai, who still hadn’t moved. His eyes never left me, as if he was afraid that if he blinked, I would disappear.
Celeste placed a protective hand on my shoulder, declaring her stance as she watched Kai carefully.
“Do you have any complain? Do you feel some sort of way?” the doctor asked drawing my attention back to him.
I nodded. “My back hurts so much. It’s on fire and my feet are a bit cold p>
“You’ve been lying on it. I’m sure it’ll stop after a few minutes but if it doesn’t by the end of the day, please let me know and as for your feet, I will ask the nurses to bring you some warm compression socks p>
I nodded beaming him a smile. “Thank you doctor p>
As the nurses bustled around me, checking my IV and adjusting the monitors, my heart pounded in my chest. The memories of that night, the fear, the pain—it all came rushing back. And yet, despite everything, a small part of me still longed for the Kai I once knew. The one who had held me gently, who had whispered promises of forever against my skin.
But that Kai was gone.
And I didn’t know if he was ever coming back.