Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 78

**Healing Slowly But Surely**
By R. Joseph

The tension in the air was palpable as I sped through the city, my heart racing alongside my car. Every traffic rule was a mere suggestion as I barreled toward the hospital where Zevran had summoned us. The urgency in his voice echoed in my mind, pushing me to drive faster. Just before I arrived, I sent a text to Caelum—the same message Zevran had sent to me. So, it was no surprise to see him emerge from his vehicle as I parked, his demeanor as dark as the storm clouds gathering above us.

His face was a mask of stone, devoid of the usual spark that lit up his eyes. The playful grin that typically graced his lips was conspicuously absent. As he stepped out, his gaze locked onto mine, and for a fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of a tumult of emotions swirling within him—regret, guilt, confusion. But before I could process it, he strode toward me, his voice low and heavy with accusation. “I killed her.”

No preamble, no softening of the blow. Just those three words, sharp as a knife.

In that moment, I felt the world tilt beneath my feet. I had not expected to hear such a confession, especially not now, not here. I clenched my jaw, forcing down the tempest of anger and despair that threatened to consume me. “Don’t ever say that,” I managed to say, my voice steady despite the chaos inside.

“Why?” His question was a challenge, a plea for understanding.

I rolled my eyes, dismissing him as I stepped into the starkly lit corridor of the hospital. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting an unnatural glow. After a brief pause, I spat out, “Just don’t say it, especially not here. This is something that should remain between us.”

Caelum’s bloodshot eyes held mine, and I could see the turmoil reflected in them. He was just as shaken as I was, though he often masked his emotions behind a facade of indifference. Deep down, I knew he had cared for Leilani, perhaps more than he was willing to admit.

Or perhaps he was merely afraid—afraid that she might be gone forever.

As we entered the morgue, the cold air hit us like a slap. Zevran’s deep voice broke through the silence, laced with a mixture of anger and concern. “Brother,” he said, his eyes darting between Caelum and me. “I don’t remember sending a text to you, Caelum. What are you doing here?”

I halted, turning to Caelum, whose complexion had drained of color, leaving him looking ghostly pale. “Is she dead or not?” he demanded, his voice trembling with barely contained rage.

“Are you here to see if you’ve finally succeeded in destroying her?” Zevran shot back, his tone venomous.

“Zevran!” Caelum hissed, but I could see the flicker of panic in his eyes, the way his throat constricted. “Don’t say that!”

Zevran was relentless, his arms crossed defiantly across his chest, his glare piercing. “Oh wait, aren’t you satisfied with the extent to which you’ve tortured her? Do you want to inflict more pain?”

I could feel the tension rising, the air thick with animosity. My instinct told me to intervene, to quell the brewing storm between them, but I felt paralyzed. Panic coursed through my veins, rendering me weak and tremulous. My heart thundered in my chest, and I was drenched in sweat despite the icy chill of the room.

“Zevran, what happened was a mistake!” Caelum’s voice broke through my haze, pulling me back to the moment. I turned to him, and for the first time, I noticed the vulnerability etched on his face, the way his lower lip quivered. The confident facade he wore was gone, replaced by a broken man whose shoulders sagged under the weight of his guilt. “I only wanted to teach her a lesson for hurting Chalice. I didn’t mean to hurt her. You know I’d never do something like that.”

“I don’t know what you’re capable of,” Zevran replied coldly, his voice devoid of sympathy. “You shouldn’t be explaining yourself to me. The person you need to explain to is in there, in one of those fridges, looking all blue and grey because you decided to drain her dry.”

“I didn’t mean to—” Caelum started, but Zevran cut him off.

“She was anaemic!” he roared, his voice echoing off the sterile walls. “With a rare blood type! Instead of taking what was necessary for Chalice’s transfusion, you took it all! You completely drained her! And now you have the audacity to look remorseful?”

“Please…” Caelum’s voice was a whisper, barely audible.

“I could tear you apart right now, and it wouldn’t be enough punishment for what you’ve done,” Zevran spat, his words sharp and unforgiving. Each syllable felt like a dagger, piercing through the tension in the room. The gravity of the situation settled heavily on my chest, and when I realized what Zevran was saying—that Leilani was now in one of those freezers—my heart plummeted.

I watched as the realization dawned on Caelum. He staggered back, his back hitting the wall, trembling uncontrollably.

Seeing him like this tore at my insides. My heart ached for him, and my wolf howled in anguish, but I was frozen in place. My chest felt like it was on fire, and my heart was being crushed under the weight of guilt.

Not when I felt so lost and filthy…

Not when I had just killed my mate…

A small cry escaped my lips, but I ignored the look of fury on Zevran’s face as I stumbled back, pressing myself against the wall, struggling to regain control. It was an uphill battle.

The pain was overwhelming.

The heartache was raw and unrelenting.

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