Chapter 35: Chapter 35

TRISTAN:

Albus and I were very desperate. He started to summon Dahlia’s wolf through our mind-link.

‘Eve, where are you?!’

There was no answer, of course. What did I expect? Why should she return to me after what just happened? If I were her, I wouldn’t come back to a monster!

I ran wildly into the path before me, feeling her heart against my chest. I did not tell Samalah about this, but right after I casted that mark tampering spell, I started to feel something weird inside my chest.

It was as if something else was beating inside my rib cage alongside my own heart. It took me a few more days to realize that it was Dahlia’s heart.

I didn’t know if it was an aftereffect of the mark tampering spell. As far as I know, the spell should only work physically by creating an illusion of a fated mate’s mark on one’s body. Feeling a mate’s heartbeat was supposed to happen only between real mates. Why then am I suffering from this phenomenon?

I must be cursed, right? Perhaps Dahlia’s body and my body were reacting differently from the spell I gave her because she had the power of a spirit stone inside of her. That’s the only sane explanation I can think of at the moment…

Anyway, this shared heartbeat proved to be useful. Because of this, I have an idea how Dahlia was feeling and where she might be heading.

At this precise moment, I sensed her slowing down a bit. Her body must be feeling tired from that sudden adrenaline rush that came to her when she fled. I can feel myself coming closer towards her.

Not too far from where I was, I saw a small cave, and almost immediately, the smell of milk, honey and cherries – the smell unique only to Dahlia - wafted into the air.

My heart was overjoyed to finally find her, but once again, I was overcome by guilt as I smelled the odor of fresh blood coming from her. I also heard a few hapless whimpers inside as I approached.

“Eva! Eva, it’s me,” I started to howl towards her.

Looking from the outside, it seemed that the cave could only fit a single person, and so imagine my surprise when I saw someone else staying close to Dahlia’s wolf form.

As expected, it was none other but that blasted prince! He was stroking Eva’s unconscious head in his lap as she slept.

As soon as he saw me, he carefully set her away from him and stood, blocking the view of my mate.

“You animal! What did you do? What did you f*cking do to Dahlly?”

Albus hissed back at him. I hated this prince, but at the back of my mind, I understood his wrath perfectly. I could sense the feeling of pure love emanating from him for Dahlia. It must hurt him like hell to see her suffer like this…

However, that does not give him the right to touch her affectionately like that in front of me!

“What the hell do you care? Get away from my mate,” Albus growled ferociously back at him.

“Do you think I’ll let you take her away after this?! Not a chance!”

He pulled the sword from his scabbard and slashed it across towards me, aiming to slice our body in half.

The cave was small, but I evaded his attack successfully, missing his blade by inches.

He was smart to use a sword. That puny wolf of his couldn’t possibly win against me. I would have enjoyed this fight with him, if I wasn’t pressed for time…

I could feel Dahlia’s heart beat slowing down. Goddess, what’s happening to Dahlia?!

As I landed on the floor, I almost skid. My paws landed on a wet surface of the cave. I frowned and looked down, and to my horror, I saw blood.

A dreadful realization hit me hard on the face as I stared at my bloody paws. My Dahlia is still losing a lot of blood!

I wasted no time and transformed into a half-wolf. Walking now on my hind legs, I leapt on Kaist and slammed his body against the hard, stoned floor of the cave.

“Get out of my way!” I roared in fury.

Fortunately, he remained on the ground when I landed on him, and then I hastily went to Eva on the other side.

I scooped her small frame into my hands. She was so weak and frail that Albus couldn’t help but whine at the sight of her.

I whispered to her as I clutched her closer to my chest. “Dahlly, come home with me first… I understand if you hate me… I really do, but I need to treat you first… Let me help you first. Let me treat you, and then you can hate me all you want after that…”

Eva did not budge. She didn’t say anything at all.

I don’t care if she hated me, but I don’t want her to die!

I hated her father. I hated the people surrounding Dahlia, and I hated the fact that she may be the reason my mother died, but I never wanted her to die from all of this!

I was shocked by these conflicting thoughts and feelings welling inside my chest...

Darn it, Samalah was right! I was turning soft against Dahlia! I must be suffering from the aftereffects of her potions!

I shoved that idea at the back of my head. Right now, the most important thing was to get help for Dahlia.

An idea came into me… I remembered Samalah’s words…

“Didn’t she have the power to heal herself? She can’t possibly die, so don’t worry…”

“Dahlia… Dahlia, wake up…” I said, trying to rouse her into consciousness. “Dahlia, can you hear me? I need you to wake up… Let me help you…”

I know of a way to awaken Dahlly’s powers. If she was really using a spirit stone, I can connect her with my own spirit stone, channel her power and heal her, but I need her consent for this.

‘Dahlly, will you allow me?… Allow me to channel it… Allow me to use your powers and heal you…’

Dahlia did not say anything, but she began to stir in my arms. She buried her face closer to my chest.

I didn’t have time for this! In a fit of panic, I used my own spirit stone and channeled its power.

A mysterious violet glow enveloped us. I used that power and infused it inside Dahlia’s body.

I didn’t know if it’ll work. As far as I know, my powers were not inclined towards healing, but I have to try. Darn it, I cannot lose her due to my stupidity like this!

“Dahlia, live! Just live… You don’t have to go back to me… Just live… I’ll let you go if you want to…”

I used my powers, the innate powers given to me as a Shadow Rune wolf for the very first time. I didn’t care whether or not Dahlia would begin to question who I was because of this… I just wanted to save her at all cost!

I didn’t care even if Prince Kaist was looking at me in a funny way too. I will save my mate despite anything. I’ll just think of the consequences later on…