Chapter 23

Chapter

Twenty-Three

SAGE

T ears blur my vision as I grip Nyko's hand tighter, my fingers intertwining with his limp ones. The sterile smell of the medical room fills my nostrils where he lies motionless, his skin unnaturally pale against the white sheets of the medical bed. Tubes snake from his arm and neck, connected to machines.

The moment he collapsed in the cave room, Killian lifted him and ran up here. Wolfe clasped my hand, taking me alongside him in a rush. No one said a word, but the fear, the panic, coiled around me because if Wolfe and Killian were scared, then Nyko was hurt bad… really bad.

Now, I look up at them, searching their faces as they stand on the opposite side of the bed.

"Please." My voice breaks. "Tell me he'll be all right."

Silence stretches, heavy and suffocating.

"He's strong, and this won't keep him down," Wolfe says, and I know he's trying to be comforting, but I don't miss the hardness in his voice, the worry in his furrowed brow.

Killian attempts to give me a weak smile. "He'll be fine in no time. You'll see."

His words leave me shaking because I suspect I know… Truth is, I have no damn idea how, but I'm certain it has something to do with me and the shadow serpent back in the cave room.

The doctor, a monster resembling a stick insect with long, slender limbs and an elongated torso, moves with swift precision around Nyko. He adjusts the vials connected by thin, clear tubes to Nyko's veins. He has a small round head, and its large, green oval eyes study Nyko, making a grinding noise as if he's rubbing his teeth together.

"What's wrong with him? Please tell me," I plead with the doctor, who's holding a metal coil attached by a black handle, the machine emitting a low hum. He's looking at all of us instead of just me.

"You will need to vacate the room now, please." His words are devoid of warmth, but he's not unkind.

I blink at him, not wanting to leave Nyko's side, but Wolfe has his arms around me, ushering me out of the room. "Let's go. We'll be just outside."

One glance back and he's placing the coils against Nyko's chest. They instantly turn fiery orange, causing his whole body to convulse.

A whimper spills from my lips as I'm rushed out quickly, the door closing behind me. I barely remember moving, but I'm sitting on a chair in a long white hallway, Wolfe and Killian on either side of me I see their distraught expressions.

"Why are you being nice to me? I'm responsible. I don't know how I did it, but he's hurt because of my power. The shadow vanished just as Nyko collapsed." My throat's thickening, tears sting my eyes, and I can't stop replaying the scene over and over in my mind—Nyko collapsing just as the serpent shadow fell apart into thousands of particles before vanishing.

Wolfe grips my hand a bit tighter. "Every power is beautiful but can be a double-edged sword, Sage," he explains in a calm voice. "You didn't hurt him intentionally."

I shake my head, the tears spilling over. "It's not beautiful," I state. "I hurt Nyko. How can something that causes so much pain be good? And how did you even find me?"

Killian, sitting next to me, frowns deeply. "We finally found a stall owner who happened to see you being kidnapped. Tell us what happened in the cave."

Clutching the handles of the chair, the hard edges bite into my palms. I recount the terrifying events with the snake—the attack, my failed escape, the surreal moment when the shadow obeyed my desperate commands.

"I don't understand much of it," I admit with a trembling voice. "There was this rush of power through me. I didn't feel like myself, yet it was as though I could fight that stupid creature. I could have died." I'm gasping for air.

Wolfe's expression darkens, his brows furrowing, studying me, listening. "Powers like that… are rare and often a sign of deep connection to another's shadow essence."

The silence that follows sharpens with the distant hum of the soft whir of medical equipment from inside the infirmary.

"Give me a moment," Killian says, getting up and hurrying down the hallway.

I stare at Wolfe, murmuring, "It felt like I could take on the creature on my own, which is absurd. And that shadow, it moved with me, following my instructions. Well, sort of, as I really had no idea what I was doing." I give him a wonky smile, then glance at the door where we left Nyko, my insides turning into knots. "Do you think he'll heal?"

"I hope so," he answers, which leaves me feeling dreadful on the inside.

I curl in on myself, but he's hugging me, and I appreciate his tenderness more than he'll ever know.

Killian returns, his grin a welcome sight as he hands me a transparent cup filled with something milky orange. And when I sniff it, it smells like dirty socks. I scrunch up my nose.

"Drink it. It will help calm you down," he assures me.

Despite the odd aroma, I trust him enough to take a sip. To my surprise, it's sweet, almost like warm, spiced orange juice, comforting me more than I expected. I take a few more sips, letting the warmth seep through me.

A different doctor rushes past us and heads down the hallway.

"I'm still trying to work out your ability. It seems to need to draw energy from someone to work. And why Nyko? Why not me?" Wolfe asks. "Why not one of us? Why not someone else at the nearby market?"

"Maybe because we'd spent time together beforehand," I suggest, remembering our last discussion, the revelation about my father, the reality of why they brought me to Blight. Nyko never corrected me when I asked him because he knew I was right. I'm here to serve a greater purpose that benefits them in reclaiming their kingdom… and that's hard to swallow. Perhaps I'm being unrealistic, believing their feelings are true, and now I struggle to accept that they are. And what happens once they get what they want from me?

My stomach hurts, and I'm torn at the heartache I feel for Nyko because I did that to him, yet I'm angry at them…

"What did you do together?" Wolfe persists.

I'm hyperaware of their hands on me, while irritation is starting to fill me. But I remind myself this isn't the time to get into that argument, not until I know Nyko is safe.

I sip the warm drink. "We wandered through the market, then had a huge meal, during which I put on the brooch he bought me." I look down at it, still pinned to my shirt, unstained. "And then he gifted me this necklace."

Reaching up, I touch the pearls cradled in the small curve just below my neck, noticing the dried blood stains on them, and a wave of guilt rattles me.

Wolfe's focusing on my necklace, running his fingers along the silver chain.

"Do you know where he got this from?" he asks.

"A vendor in the market. Why?"

Wolfe glances over to Killian, also looming over me. He tilts his head, touching the necklace, too, leaving me slightly claustrophobic.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Is that chain made of blood-gold?" Killian quips, staring at Wolfe, not me.

I watch them both. "Nyko said it was crafted using his blood."

Wolfe nods his head. "That explains why you were drawn to Nyko's energy. The necklace connected you to him, and the blood in the metal had your power reaching out to him."

"Wait, how is that even possible?"

They both stare at me as if they're having the same thought, and the darkness behind their gazes worries me.

"Such powers are rare. I've only heard of them connected through true mates," Killian explains. "It's why when you mated with Wolfe and me, we were supercharged with unimaginable adrenaline. We were both buzzing around for hours afterward."

"You were? I had no idea," I state, feeling like it's a thing for them to keep me out of the loop, and I fucking hate it. "Wait, so you're saying Nyko's my true mate. too?" My head's spinning. How many mates can a girl have?

I'm trying to take it all in, unsure how I feel about three intended mates, but then it does make sense, seeing how attracted I've been to all of them.

"So, if I understand correctly, when I have sex with any of you, I fill you with a burst of energy, but when I use my power, I draw on yours, almost draining you to death?" I'm shaking all over. "This is too much. I simply won't use my ability ever again." I gulp the orange juice down. "Aren't those red flags to you?" I ask. "Or is this where you lock me up and use me for my energy?" I'm unsure why I even said the last part out loud.

Their expressions wear their gravity—the same heartache breaking me.

"We've only read about such abilities in history books," Wolfe explains.

"On the bright side, now that we have a handle of your shadow side," Killian suggests with a small smile, "it means we can help you tame it, learn how to control it."

I'm slightly scared. "You make it sound easy, but my ability didn't feel simple back in the cave." My knees are bouncing, my anxiety rising.

Wolfe's expression softens as he places a comforting hand on my thigh. I flinch, pushing his hand away, feeling a surge of irritation.

His brow furrows at me.

Caught between the frightening potential of my newfound powers and the unnerving plans the three Shadowfen had for me, I'm left feeling edgy and on guard.

"It's going to be all right," Wolfe reassures me gently, but his words don't soothe the angst burning up inside me.

"I'm not so sure," I murmur, skepticism heavy in my voice.

Just then, the door to the infirmary swings open, interrupting us. The doctor steps out, his expression somber, a slight grin on his lipless mouth.

"Lord Nyko is stable," he announces, and relief washes over me. "He was drained close to death, but with rest and proper care, he should recover in a few days."

"Can we see him?" I ask immediately, moving to the edge of my seat.

"Yes," the doctor responds. "He's on a strict regimen of medications and will need constant monitoring for the next few days. We can transfer him to his quarters in the morning, but he will need constant supervision for the first twenty-four hours."

"I'll do it," I interrupt swiftly. Taking care of Nyko feels like the least I can do after everything that happened. "I need to be the one to do this."

"Perfect," the doctor retorts, while Wolfe studies me with curiosity.

"Very well," the doc agrees. "Come inside with me, and I'll show you what needs to be done."

Getting to my feet, I glance back at Killian and Wolfe, still in their seats. There's a haunted expression on their faces, as though they suspect something else is going on with me, and they aren't wrong.

Right now, focusing on Nyko is a necessary distraction and a chance to maybe right some wrongs.

The thought that the affection these three Shadowfen have shown me is part of their strategy to use me against my father leaves my gut twisting into knots. A bitter taste of betrayal rises in my throat, leaving me sick to my stomach.

Killian

" S he's on edge. Nyko told her about her father. I saw it in her eyes." Wolfe's gaze sharpens, his voice a low growl as he leans against the cold metal hallway wall.

I nod, looking toward the infirmary where she's with Nyko, my fingers itching to go claim her. To bring a smile to her face because that last glance she gave us screamed her fury.

"I want to wring Nyko's damn neck to find out what happened. At least give us a heads-up." I clench my jaw. "But the power Sage unleashed, it's fucking impressive. That wasn't just a burst of shadow. She manifested a damn replica of the Sylar. I've never seen anything like it."

"Me, neither." Wolfe groans under his breath, his features set hard. "I need to speak with Sage. Come clean."

Arms tight against my side, hands curling from tension, I nod.

"She's really taken us off guard. I didn't expect her to be our true mate, so that fucked up our plans. All I want now is to steal her away to be with me. Yet if we don't get her to control her power, how long before she drains us all to death?" I'm not frightened of her, far from it. I'm more worried about her safety and her dealing with the risks. Fucking concerned she will do something stupid if she's angry, as a lot of our shadow powers are triggered by emotions.

Wolfe swallows hard. "A power we shouldn't mention to others. Remember the fear that spread in the old kingdom when everyone discovered my father's assistant's ability? They imprisoned her for life in a magic-encased cell because the city started revolting with fear that they weren't safe."

"Fuck them," I snarl under my breath. "Sage's energy should only impact us."

"Try telling that to the terrified Shadowfen, already feeling trapped on this vessel."

The girl I'm utterly obsessed with has the power to eliminate us, and our enemy is her father. Yep, this is getting really fucked up.

I pause for a moment, staring down the corridor that feels colder than usual.

"So, how much are we going to tell her about our original plans?" My response is low, not wanting the couple passing us to hear.

"Everything. She needs to know it all—the real reason she was brought here, what her father has done, and even our intentions with her." His face is stiff, eyes steely.

"Fuck!" My voice trails off, knowing she won't take it well.

"We're way past the point of half-truths and shadows. She's part of this now, whether we planned it or not. And she's not just a piece on the board. She's our true mate and will rule alongside us."

I smile at the thought, but worry still burrows through me that she'll push against us.

"And if she decides to side with her father?"

His lips are thin. "Then we did a shit job of convincing her how much she means to us."