chapter 13

Chapter 13: “Not All Wounds Heal”

Ava’s POV…

I woke up the next morning and the bed was cold.

Kieran wasn’t next to me.

I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. My throat felt dry. I reached out for my phone on the nightstand, checked the time, then texted him.

Me: hey where did you go?

No reply.

I got up, threw on the first black hoodie I could find, pulled my hair into a lazy braid, and grabbed my work bag. Another day of pretending to be someone I’m not. Another day of fake smiles and coffee runs for a woman who used to sleep with my ex-husband.

Yay.

I paused at the front door, holding my phone and staring at the keys. I could take the car, but something stopped me. If I drove in with his car, people would notice. They’d start talking. I’m not ready for that yet.

As I stepped outside, something caught my eye near the garage.

A bicycle?

I blinked.

“Okay… why did he have a bike?” I muttered, walking over to it. It was one of those expensive-looking ones, super clean, like it’s never been touched. I smiled. “Guess rich boys need hobbies too.”

I grabbed it anyway. Beats getting into traffic. Besides, I needed the wind in my face, something to distract me from the thousand thoughts spinning in my head. Mostly about Kieran. And why he wasn’t here.

Just as I was about to ride out, a black car rolled up the driveway way too fast. I stopped pedaling and squinted.

The driver door opened.

Kieran stepped out—and I swear my heart dropped.

He looked awful.

He was limping, face all bruised, shirt stained, like he’d been through a literal war. His body was hunched over like it hurt to even breathe. I dropped the bike instantly and ran to him.

“Hey—hey, what happened?” I reached out just as he almost fell forward.

His butler or assistant or whatever came running out from the side of the house. I didn’t even let him speak.

“Help me get him inside, now.”

The guy nodded and helped me lift Kieran, one arm over each of our shoulders. He wasn’t saying anything, just wincing and stumbling. My stomach twisted.

Once we got him onto the couch in the living room, I crouched in front of him. “What the hell happened? Did you crash? Get jumped? Why aren’t you in a hospital?”

But all he did was give me this weak smile like it was no big deal. “It’s fine. I’ll heal.”

“What?” I blinked. “Kieran, you look like you just got eaten and spit out by a truck. What do you mean it’s fine?”

He shook his head, like that would make me magically chill out. “It’s nothing.”

I stood up, annoyed now. “No, you’re not pulling that ‘tough guy’ thing on me today. I don’t care that we’re not married yet, I’m still allowed to care, okay?”

His smile faded, and for a second he just stared at me.

I turned away, pacing a little, grabbing my bag. “I’m going to get something. Painkillers. Creams. I don’t know, maybe even a damn spell book if that’s what it takes.”

“You really don’t have to,” he said, softer now. “I told you, I’ll heal.”

I whipped around. “Yeah? Well until you do, maybe don’t act like this doesn’t freak me out. Sit. Rest. Don’t get up again.”

He opened his mouth to say something else but then just nodded.

I didn’t wait for more. I left the house, grabbed the bike again, and headed straight out the gate. The wind hit my face hard this time, but it helped. I needed to breathe.

Halfway to the pharmacy, I was riding past a four-way when this red car came out of nowhere and clipped the front wheel of my bike. I yelped, felt the whole thing tilt, and then—I hit the ground, hard.

“Crap!”

I sat up, ankle throbbing, palms scraped. The car screeched to a stop and a woman in a red blazer ran out.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” she said, helping me up. “Are you hurt?”

I brushed dirt off my hoodie. “No, I’m fine. Just… wow. You came out of nowhere.”

“I really am sorry,” she said again, biting her lip. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah. I was just trying to grab some meds for my husband,” I muttered, picking the bike back up and checking the wheel. Still rolled.

She blinked. “Your husband? Is he sick?”

I nodded, distracted. “Kind of. I mean, he says he’s fine, but he’s clearly not. Bruises, cuts—he won’t even say how it happened.”

Something shifted in her expression. She reached into her purse and pulled out a small glass bottle with some kind of clear liquid in it. She held it out to me.

“Here,” she said. “This’ll help.”

I looked at it. “Uh… what is it?”

“It’s cursed to undo curses,” she said like that made total sense. “It’s a new medication. Just tell him to drink it. It won’t hurt.”

I hesitated, then took it. I don’t know why. Maybe I was desperate. Maybe her tone just made me believe her.

“Thanks,” I said slowly.

She smiled. “It’ll work. Trust me.”

By the time I got back to the house, Kieran was still on the couch, eyes half-closed but still awake. I sat next to him, pulled the bottle out of my hoodie pocket.

“Okay, mystery lady said this cures anything. Not FDA approved but… worth a shot?”

He gave me a tired look. “What is that?”

“I dunno. Cursed to undo curses or whatever. She literally said that. If you start floating, don’t blame me.”

I popped the cork and handed it to him.

He sniffed it, frowned, but drank it anyway.

At first, nothing.

Then his whole body sort of went stiff.

“Kieran?” I leaned in. “Hey. Say something.”

His head tilted back against the cushion, eyes closed.

“Kieran?” I touched his arm. “Hello? Don’t mess with me right now.”

No answer.

I shook him. Nothing.

“Kieran!”

Still no response. My stomach dropped.

I grabbed my phone, ready to call someone—anyone—but before I could hit dial, the front door creaked open. I turned fast.

A group of men and women in dark suits walked in—silent, serious, like some kind of boardroom mafia. Their faces looked pissed. Sharp stares, tight mouths, eyes like they were all about to say something I wouldn’t like.

And they were looking right at me.