Chapter 115 Healer Stealer

Nikolai

I decided to stay up all night, just in case something happened. I'll call the healer and the doctor again first thing in the morning. It was just an hour for sun to rise anyways.

I felt Ava stir and her breathing turned harsher. Her eyes opened and her lips parted. Her hair turned silver and I knew she was using her powers. Most probably to heal herself.

Which means she is still very sick.

'Send a healer right now.' I mind- linked Nat and felt her snap out of her sleep.

'Okay. What is it? Is Avalyn sick again?' She sounded very worried.

'Yes. Be quick.' I said and cut off the mind- link.

"I don't even know why this is happening, Nik. I tried to heal myself but using my powers made me feel more nauseous." Ava clutched her head.

"Don't then." I picked her up and placed her in my lap. If she's upright, she's less likely to puke. She leaned sideways against my chest and curled into me. I caressed her back. "I have called a healer, hang on, Love."

She nodded against my neck, snuggling further and breathing in my smell.

Her wolf felt distant. I could hardly feel her right now. And that made my wolf sad. He couldn't feel his mate properly.

In the next five minutes, there was a soft knock on the door and then Nat walked in with an old woman. I was impressed with her speed.

The old lady's eyes slightly widened upon our sight and her hands started trembling.

I gave Nat a look. Who the hell has she brought here?

"Nikolai, Avalyn, this is Lai, an experienced healer." Nat introduced her to us.

Lai bowed.

"Rise." I allowed and she stood up straight again. Her pupils were dark and dilated.

I gently patted Ava's back, motioning her to get off me.

She slid down and sat on the edge of the bed and greeted Lai with a polite smile. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."

"Likewise." The old lady smiled and then something felt off. "How would you like me to help you?"

"I'm sick and I don't know what's wrong with me," Ava began and Lai moved forward. She caught Ava's hand in both of hers.

And then suddenly Ava's hair turned silver and a scream erupted from her throat but Lai did not release her. I froze for a second, not understanding what was happening.

And then Ava's knees buckled, she was about to slide off the bed and I came to my senses.

"Nikolai!" Ava's horror filled, terrifying scream met my ears and I snapped out of it. Lai was hurting my Ava.

Someone was hurting my mate. My Queen.

A snarl left my mouth.

In a flash, I plunged my hand into her chest and ripped her heart out, letting her limp body fall on her floor. I tossed her heart on the floor.

Ava fell silent and my heart stopped for a second, thinking that I made her upset but she wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head on my chest, breathing harshly.

"She was hurting you." I breathed, giving her the only explanation I had.

"She was hurting me." Ava nodded against my chest and I wrapped my blood- free hand around her.

I looked at Natalia. She nodded in understanding and left.

Eliyah snapped out of it, picked up the dead body, the heart and walked out.

I walked in the bathroom to wash my hand. Once I was done and when the smell was almost gone, I came out to see tears silently fall down Ava's face. Tessa was trying to talk to her but Ava paid her no attention.

"Hey." I stood in front of her and tipped her chin up so she would look at me. She shut her eyes but the tears didn't stop. "Don't cry, Love. We will find out what's happening to you and I promise I will help you get better."

"I -I just feel so sad." She cried softly, breaking my heart. "I don't know what's wrong with me!"

"Nothing. Nothing is wrong with you, my Love. You're just sick. It happens sometimes." It does not happen. Full grown supernaturals don't get sick. Our immune system is strong enough to fight against the human sickness and diseases. Very few of us get sick, but they don't puke, least of all blood.

She wretched her head from my hold and covered her face with her hands, her elbows on her knees and began crying.

I got to my knees so we were on the same level and tried to pry her hands from her face. When that didn't work, I hugged her. "I love you, Ava. So much. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

Her hands came around my shoulders and she cried against the crook of my neck. "I can't feel my wolf."

Oh, Love.

"Maybe she is taking her time and getting well. She's saving up energy for you." I whispered. I really hope that is actually it.

Ava gagged and immediately released me, her hand covering her mouth and her eyes wide. She pushed me aside and ran to the bathroom. I followed.

She was kneeling against the toilet and puking her stomach dry. I held her hair back and rubbed her back. Tears were streaming down her face as she emptied all the contents of her stomach. It was all liquid, she had puked most of her dinner out earlier itself.

This made me furious at Lai. Ava was fine until she did whatever she did. She died an easy death. I should have tortured her more. I was imagining what I would do to her when Tessa came running in, her eyes wide with worry a fresh wash cloth in her hand.

"Bring water." I told her. She nodded and ran out.

After Ava stopped, she sat back on her heel of her feet. I pulled her body against mine when she swayed. I brushed the tears off her cheeks but new ones kept coming.

I felt so helpless. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know who could actually help us. I've never felt this useless. It made me angry.

Ava jerked towards the toilet again and started puking again. This time, she was puking blood. It was more blood than the last time. My fingers gripped my hair in frustration. Fuck. Fucking fuck. Just fuck.

What do I do?

I held her hair back and whispered sweet, encouraging words.

Tessa brought a towel and began dabbing out the sweat lining Ava's face. We both tended to her together till Ava settled down once again.

"Are you done now or do you still feel nauseous?" I asked softly.

"I think I'm done." She whispered.

I picked her up.

"Mouth...gross. Brush." She murmured.

I sat her down on the couch and got her toothbrush with a little toothpaste on it. She went to take it from my hand but I simply motioned her to open her mouth.

Reluctantly, she did and I gently brushed her teeth and her tongue till she signalled me to stop, which was probably when she couldn't taste the bile in her mouth anymore. I helped her to the basin at the counter and she spat out the toothpaste and gargled some water to clean her mouth. I dabbed the water with a towel before I carried her to bed.

I placed glass of water Tessa had brought against her lips. Ava gulped a couple of sips before turning her head away. I placed the glass on the side table and sat besides her. She rested her head on my shoulder and I wrapped my around her.

I could feel her weakness. Her wolf was very weak, I could hardly smell or feel her.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." I called.

Eliyah stepped in with Natalia and a middle aged woman in tow. Her eyes instantly fell on Ava and darkened. I stiffened.

"This is healer Kelsey." Nat spoke and like a siren was calling out to her, Kelsey began walking towards us, as if she was in a trance.

I growled before she could get close to Ava.

She stiffened and then backed away. "Apologies, King Nikolai, Queen Avalyn," she bowed.

"Explain yourself." I ordered. I know she was about to do what the last healer did. There is no way I'm going to let anything happen to Ava that will make her puke again. I'm not going to let anything happen to her. Period.

"Queen Avalyn..." she gulped, "she excludes this... silver... ethereal power. Like what the moon does. Like what we think the moon goddess will. For a second I felt like I was in a trance. And my powers were attracted to hers. I felt I would grow.... stronger and closer to the Moon Goddess if I get a taste of her powers." This revelation shook me. The was the last thing I was expecting.

"The slightest harm to her and you are dead." I said in a low but deadly voice.

She gulped and nodded.

"Can I know what is happening to her?" She asked and I explained everything from how she was feeling weak when we were in Poziarne to how she just vomited blood earlier and now once again.

Kelsey listened patiently before she said, "I need to do a body check. And for that, I need to get closer to her."

I looked at her. I was still unsure about her but I nodded. Ava needs help, not my scepticism.

"Can you please lie her down on the bed, Queen Avalyn?" She asked.

I picked Ava and placed her down on the bed, remained close and kept a keen eye on them, just in case.

Kelsey closed her eyes and placed the palm of her right hand against Ava's forehead and started muttering something. Ava closed her eyes and heart rate evened till she instantly fell asleep.

Kelsey's words slowed before stopping completely. She gulped. A flash of hurt of flickered on Ava's face and her hair started turning silver again before Ava's eyes flew open. I saw the panic in them. I saw heart breaking pain in them.

I snapped Kelsey's neck in a flash and growled loudly in anger. "I gave you one task!" I snapped, glaring at Natalia. "One fucking task, Natalia!" I hissed.

Her eyes lowered. "I'm sorry."

"I don't want an apology. I want a fucking healer who will help Avalyn and not hurt her. Is it so hard to find one?" I growled furiously.

"Nik..." Ava interrupted, not wanting me to shout at Natalia.

I gave Natalia one last scathing look. "You are treading on thin ice and so is your position. Go take Dimitri with you, he knows how to get things done right."

Hurt slashed in her eyes before she nodded and left.

Avalyn

There was something wrong with my wolf. I knew it. I could feel it in my gut.

Nikolai was scared. Scared for me. But his strength gave me strength. Moments like these made me remember how much he cares for me, how much he loves me.

Normally, I would have been hurt and upset and angry that he killed two people to protect me. But now, I felt safe. I was proud to have a strong man by my side that can fight for me. And Nikolai has always fought for me. From the second he bought me. I understood him so much better now. I understood his need to protect me. I would kill to protect him too. I will kill in cold blood if it means protecting Nik and my family.

"Ava?" Nik called.

I looked up, tearing my eyes away from the huge diamond ring on my finger that Nik had gifted me a while ago just because he wanted to see me smile.

"One more healer has arrived." I didn't want to meet any healer. They hurt me. And they ended up dying. I might like Nik killing for me but I didn't necessarily like people dying.

"I'll be fine, Nik. I don't feel like seeing anyone." I bit my lip.

Nik caressed my lip with his thumb before he leaned in for a soft kiss. "Please. For me?"

It didn't leave my attention at how free Nik had gotten with words like please, sorry and thank you.

"Okay," I relented.

"Come in." Nik called and Dimitri, along with Nat and a young woman stepped in.

"Her name is Allie." Dimitri said. "She is... safe."

Nik looked at her sceptically before nodded.

Allie smiled at me kindly and I smiled back.

"Beta Dimitri has already briefed me up on the situation but I still need to do a normal checkup before I begin." Allie said. "I need you to lie down, hands on your sides and and eyes closed."

Taking a deep breath, I did as she said. I felt her soft hand on my forehead and I relaxed instantly.

"Hello Avalyn." The lady with silver hair greeted me.

All the pain I was feeling, the tiredness, the empty space inside me because of the absence of my wolf evaporated.

"Hi." I smiled widely. It had been a very long time since I had seen her. And it was all the more better because she always made me feel at peace.

It felt so good.

"You have done a wonderful job, Ava. I'm so proud of you." Her eyes were light with happiness and warmth filled me.

"I have done nothing, really." I blushed.

She only smiled in reply. "You have been unwell." She looked upset about it.

"Nik says I'll be fine soon."

"That you will. I want you to do something for me Avalyn. Will you do it?" She asked.

"Ask me anything." I trusted her.

"When you wake up, I want you to find 'the tree' before sunrise and have exactly one fruit from it."

"Which tree?" I asked.

Again, she just gave me a smile. "You will be given the gift of life and when the time comes, live." She said, confusing me with her words. What did that mean? Am I not already living?

"Until then,

Stay strong,

Brighten the darkness,

The time is coming."

And then she disappeared, slowly and then all at once.

My eyes flickered open. All the pain, the tiredness and emptiness came crashing back. It hurt. But I was feeling more positive and energetic than before. I saw Allie take her hand away from my forehead. She looked troubled.

Her alarmed eyes snapped to Nik.

He instantly tensed. "What is it?"

"May I talk to you alone, King Nikolai?" She asked, her voice thick. I instantly knew something was seriously wrong with me.

"Follow me." Nikolai said and walked out of the bedroom with Allie following after him.

Dimitri and Nat took a seat next to me.

"You will be fine, Avalyn." Dimitri reassured but it didn't look like he believed it too much.

"Yes. We won't let anything happen to you." Nat said, sounding very sure about herself.

I wasn't convinced.

Something bad was going to happen. I was sure of it.

Nikolai walked in with a grim face and threw both of them out, along with Tessa and Eliyah.

"What did she say?" I asked, my voice small.

His eyes turned a thunderous grey. He pressed his lips together tightly. I know he was deliberating if he should tell me or not.

"I have to right to know what is happening to me, Nikolai." I said softly.

His eyes softened and he came near me and sat by my side, pushing my hair out of my face, looking at me like he was seeing me for the last time.

It scared me.

The back of his fingers caressed my cheek and I covered his hand with my own, giving it a light squeeze. "What is it?" I whispered.

"Your wolf is dying Avalyn." His Adam's apple bobbed as he gulped. "And there is nothing really we can do to stop it."

I bit my lip.

What? Why? How? I have so many questions. But the most important question was 'what now?'.

"Any normal werewolf wouldn't have survived it. But your faye side is getting stronger so we think that the spell Mary had put on your mom is slowly disintegrating after her death. And she was already weak because it was passed on to the next generation. So when your wolf finally dies," a look of pure torture filled his eyes, "you will fully become a faye."

"And?" There was more.

His eyes slid shut painfully.

"Nik." I called softly and pleaded, "look at me please."

"There is a chance that you might not be my mate anymore."

My heart stopped.

What?

"Explain yourself. Please."

For the first time in my entire life, I saw Nik's shoulders fall. He looked like he was carrying the weight of the entire world.

"I am half human- half wolf. You are half faye- half wolf. Our wolves are mates. So if your wolf dies..." He couldn't complete his sentence.

I cupped his cheek. "Wolf or not, Nikolai, I am your mate. Nothing will change that. I love you with all my heart, body and soul. I am with you not because you are my mate but because I want to be with you."

His eyes lowered in defeat. "After your wolf dies, you will finally see me for who I am, without the influence of the mate bond. You will finally see the monster that I am."

I really don't understand why he keeps referring to himself like that. Like he... like he loathes himself.

Nikolai has always been a confident man with a high sense of self. He's always self-assured about himself and his capabilities. So much so that he can come off as arrogant. But in front of me, he sometimes cracked, and revealing his inner demons.

And through those cracks, I saw hatred for his own self, doubt in his abilities and in my love for him.

And I heard his demons counter his logic and try to pull him into an endless pool of self-created misery. But Nik is a fighter and he doesn't let them win. His good side always prevails. His will to do good is stronger than his urge to succumb to his negative thoughts.

Maybe that's why Nik has such massive walls around himself. He was determined to not let anything or anyone break them and hurt his love ones in any way.

And how glad I was to be inside those walls from the very first day. I've never had to work to be let in, to prove myself and fight for the trust he gave so scarcely.

But sometimes, it felt like he had left himself on the other side of the walls. Like he didn't love himself enough to feel like he deserved to be truly close to his loved ones.

Our family was as tight and as close-knit as a family can be. But Nik doesn't open up to them like he does to me or they do with each other.

I loved Nik more than I love myself— he was the reason I love myself in the first place. I would have been miserable or probably dead if he hadn't saved me that one fateful day and loved me like he did. His love healed me. And I ardently hoped that one day, my love heals him of himself too.

My hand slid down his chest and his abdomen, relishing in feeling his muscles clench under my touch. I grasped his hand, brought it up and kissed the back of it. "The world is full of monsters, Nikolai. The difference between you and them is intentions. And you always have the best intentions."

He stepped closer to me and rested his head on mine. "You might not always think that." His grey eyes seemed sad. Freaking sad.

"There are times even now that I don't think that." I admitted. There are things he did because of reasons I couldn't fathom. "But I know. You will never ever, ever hurt me. And that is enough for me. I will stay with you because I truly want to. You're my saviour, Nikolai." Tears rose in my eyes. I never not wanted to be his mate. Why was this happening to me? To us?

He remained silent for a while. And I let him be. He needs to come in terms with this on his own. Nothing I say will matter unless he believes it himself.

"I've been thinking about myself, Ava. Your wolf is dying. How do you feel?" His eyes finally met mine. He didn't let his demons win but the war within himself hadn't ended either. But that was a battle in which I couldn't stand beside him. It was his own to fight and win. All I could do is support and love him.

"I'm not sure. I'll miss her, sure. But my wolf has been growing weak since a very long time. I'm actually surprised I didn't see this coming." I bit my lip. I should have known this. "And I'm not like you that I need to shift every other day. Hell, now that I realise it, I haven't shifted in weeks." I let out a breath.

Nik swore under his breath. "I know. Dammit, I should have done something."

"We've been very busy." And then I remembered the silver haired lady. "Wait, at what time does the run rise?"

"Five." He replied.

"And what time is it right now?"

Nik checked his watch. "Four forty eight."

"Shit. We need to find the tree." I sprang to my feet and then swayed a bit. Nausea hit me again but I breathed through it.

Nik caught me. "What tree?"

"I got a dream. The white haired lady told me to eat one fruit from the tree before sunrise." And then my eyes widened. "Maybe my wolf won't die after that."

"The lady that showed us the palace?"

"Yes... she visited me in my dream when Allie was doing her thing. She told me to do it. I need to have that fruit Nik."

"And where are we supposed to find it? There are literally thousands of trees in the pack. How will you even know it's the tree she was talking about?"

"I definitely won't know without trying." I said and started walking towards the door but my legs felt like noodles.

Nik immediately caught me. "Do you really need to do it? You are in no state to walk."

"I have to do it." I nodded.

Sighing, he swept me off my feet and started walking outside.

I was about to protest, not wanting to trouble him but it died in my throat. Instead, I decided to simply appreciate his much needed help and said, "thank you."

He glanced down at me and gave me a small smile that warmed my heart.

We started from the back garden. No tree seemed special or different. All of them looked pretty normal to me.

"Maybe at the frontside?" I asked.

"Let's see." Nik changed the direction and started walking towards the front of the palace. I kept my eyes wide open and looked out for any tree that looked different.

"What time is it now?"

"Four fifty three." He checked his watch.

"Can we go faster?"

"As you wish, Mistress." He winked and started running. "Anything else?"

"I will let you know if there is, slave." I joked along with him.

A hearty chuckle left him. "Am I your slave or are you my slave? I distinctly remember paying for you."

I placed my hand on his chest, making him look at me. I batted my lashes, "you must've misread the fine print. I think you got a Queen instead."

His hold around me tightened deliciously and his smile stopped my heart.

"We are here." He said and I looked around as he wandered around, not catching any tree that looks special.

"What's the time?"

He checked his watch again.

"Four fifty eight."

I sighed. We are never going to find the tree like this. I really, really wanted to do as the lady had said.

"I think I know what tree she is talking about." Nik said suddenly. "I'm not sure. But it's our last try."

"Let's go." I replied.

Nik started walking inside the palace.

"Why are we going inside?" My brows furrowed. "The trees are outside."

"Trust me." He simply said and so I did.

Nik took twists and turns inside the palace until we entered the throne room.

I'm pretty sure there is no tree in here.

He walked to the side of the throne room, his steps filled with determination.

Nik placed a hand on a pillar which held the red and gold carvings of our blood that covered the walls of the palace. On his touch, the pillar twisted and moved out of the way, creating a path for us.

He walked the short distance and we entered a high roofed area.

The room had circular and tall columnar pillars lined along the borders that supported the high arched ceiling. There was a circle in the middle of the ceiling of the room that was made out of glass.

I felt a slow hum of power and that's when my eyes fell on a small plant that looked like a tree in the very centre of the room.

Pure moonlight fell on it mixed with the very first rays of the sun through the glass ceiling and it looked like it was glowing. Tiny white flowers had bloomed on it and I could see even smaller whitish-translucent berries like fruits.

It looked very cute.

"This is a Bonsai tree. It's a miniature tree that represents peace, harmony and balance." Nik educated. "And from the looks of it, this is exactly the tree that the lady told you to find."

"Yes." He walked closer to the Bonsai tree and placed me down.

When I got a closer look, I realised that it wasn't glowing because of the moonlight. It had it's own glow. The hum of it's power grew when I touched it.

Softly, I kneeled next to it and plucked a berry and then popped it in my mouth.

It's flavour exploded in my mouth and I moaned in delight. It tasted like...like what one would imagine the moon to taste like. It was unlike anything I had ever had before.

Almost instinctively, my hand reached out for another.

"Only one, Ava. She said only one." Nik stopped me.

Oh yes. I needed to have only one.

"Do you feel different now? Better than before?"

I paused, wanting to be very sure with my answer. My wolf was still absent but the pain was reducing.

"Better than before." I replied.

"Good." He helped me up and gave me a deep kiss.

"How did I not know about this room?" I asked.

"This room was supposed to be a part of the throne room but the Bonsai plant was there and for some reason it wasn't going away. So I just gave it a place for it's own. I thought this could be a good place to think. It's nice here... quiet and peaceful."

That it is.

And then he added quietly. "The palace is filled with secret rooms and passages."

My jaw slackened.

What? Why?

"The palace is a hundred percent safe, yes. Especially with it having it's own magical powers. But there are still many people who come and go and reside here. We can never be too sure. That was one of the reasons why I have the west wing sealed from everyone other than our family. Those are the only ones we can truly trust."

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" How did I not know about it all this time?

"I don't want you to worry." He replied. "But I think it's about time you know now. I'll show you the secret passages soon too. No one knows about them, not even our family. And it will stay that way unless it's absolutely necessary. Only our handprint will open them. And you will use them only when you are in danger."

I nodded, unable to say anything.

"Promise me you won't bring any outsider in the west wing. It's only for family."

"I promise." I didn't even need to think about it.

"Good girl." He kissed my lips again, slowly and deeply this time.