Who does the child belong to?

Chapter 8

Elera’s POV

The name fell from his mouth like a knife.

“Elera.”

The sound broke the air and cut me and I could not breathe.

Damon was sitting up now and his eyes were open now, fully opened, they were dark and sharp, it was like a storm that had found its way back home and then he stared at me as if I was something pulled from his blood.

My legs locked and my heart beat so loud that I feared he could hear it and then Lucien moved first.

“He is burning,” Lucien said fast. “The poison is still working in him.”

Damon did not look away from me.

“Elera,” he said again and it was gentler this time, it was like the name was a wound he kept touching.

I then forced my lips to move.

“You are confused,” I said and my voice sounded thin, like glass that was about to crack. “I am not who you think I am.”

His brow pulled together and pains flashed across his face.

“I know that name,” he said. “I know her.”

Lucien then stepped closer to the bed. “You are mixing dreams with the present, Alpha, fever does that.”

Damon’s jaw tightened. “Do not tell me what I know.”

I stepped back, one step and then another.

“You are hurt,” I said. “You lost blood, you lost time, that name belongs to your past.”

He then watched me like a starving man watches water.

“My past does not breathe,” he said. “You do.”

My chest hurt and then it felt like my ribs were closing in on my heart.

“I am Asha,” I said quickly. “That is my name.”

He blinked, just once.

“Asha,” he repeated and then the name sounded wrong in his mouth, it was like a shoe on the wrong foot.

He then leaned back slowly and his strength slipped again and then sweat shone on his skin.

Lucien nodded. “You see, she is only a healer.”

Damon then closed his eyes and he opened them again and kept looking at me, like I was smoking and he was afraid that I would fade and then I turned away.

That was when the door creaked and I heard small footsteps and then my heart dropped.

Lior stood at the door, his hair was wild and his eyes were bright and then he rubbed his face like he just woke up from sleep.

“Mama,” he said and the word flew out of him, it was gentle, sweet and honest.

Time broke and Lior froze, his eyes grew wide and he looked at Damon and back at me.

He swallowed.

“Damon’s eyes shifted to the door and to the child.

He then studied Lior, slowly and deeply.

Something moved in his face, confusion and then something darker and something sharp.

The room then went quiet and I walked to Lior. My legs felt weak, it was like they belonged to someone else.

“You should be sleeping,” I said and I knelt and held his shoulders.

He nodded. “I had a bad dream.”

I pulled him close and his small body fitted into mine like it belonged there, like a missing piece finding its place.

Damon kept watching.

“Is he yours,” Damon asked and the question hit me like cold water and then Lucien spoke before I could. “The camp has many children.”

Damon did not look at him and his eyes stayed on me. On my hands around Lior. On the way my thumb moves on his back without thought.

“That is not what I asked,” Damon said and I felt Lior’s heart beating fast against my chest and then I lifted my head.

Damon’s voice was low now and it was calm and dangerous.

“Who does the child belong to?”

The question hung in the air and my heart rang like a drum beaten too hard.

“He is an orphan,” I said and the lie came out smooth, but it burned my chest. “His parents died in a raid, I took him in.”

Lior looked up at me and his fingers tightened in my clothes. He did not speak but he only listened.

Damon’s eyes dropped to the boy again.

An orphan.

He said nothing but just looked.

The way he looked made my skin prickle, it was he was standing too close to a fire he did not understand.

Lior then lifted his head and his eyes met Damon’s.

They stared at each other and Lior’s face was calm, but his body leaned into me, it was like a cub hiding under its mother.

Damon swallowed.

“How old,” he asked.

“Four,” I answered fast and he nodded slowly. “Strong eyes for a child with no pack.”

Lucien then cleared his throat. “He is raised well.”

Damon did not reply and then he lifted his hand and my breath stopped.

His fingers hovered in the air, just a little away from Lior’s hair, it was like he wanted to touch, but fear chained him.

Lior stiffenned and Damon pulled his hand back and silence filled the hut again.

“Go back to sleep,” I whispered to Lior and he shook his head. “Stay.”

I then kissed his hair. “I will.”

He nodded and walked away, his steps were slow and he , looked back once.

Damon then followed him with his eyes until the door closed and then something heavy settled in my chest.

“You should rest,” I told Damon and he lay back down and then his eyes never left my face.

Later, when the night was quiet again, Lucien pulled me outside and his voice was sharp now. “You let them stand too close.”

“He is a child,” I said.

“And Damon is an Alpha,” Lucien snapped. “You forget too easily.”

“He is dying,” I answered. “I won’t throw him out.”

Lucien’s jaw tightened. “Your heart will cost you.”

“Then let it,” I said and then Lucien looked at me for a long moment. “You are playing with fire.”

I said nothing.

Inside the hut, Damon lay still but his eyes were opened and he was thinking but I did not hear him speak and I did not see his lips move.

But later, in the dark, his voice carried low and quiet.

“Watch the healer,” he said. “And the child.”

The order slipped into the night like a shadow and I felt it in my bones and then I knew that the danger had only begun.

Morning came gently, it was like it was afraid to wake us and then I opened my eyes and listened. There was no screams, no alarms, there was only the wind and the low breath of the man on the mat.

Damon.

He sat up when I brought water.

“You walk like a shadow,” he said and I froze for half a breath and then I smiled. “Healers learn to move quietly.”

He drank slowly and his hands were steadier now, they were too steady.

“How long was I out,” he asked.

“Days,” I said and it was not a lie, but not just the full truth.

He then nodded. “This place, how many people live here.”

“Not many.”

“Who leads them.”

“Alpha Lucien.”

He watched my face. “He trusts you.”

“He trusts my hands,” I answered and his eyes slid to the door. “And the boy.”

My chest tightened. “He stays out of trouble.”

“He looks at me like he knows me,” Damon said.

“Children look at strangers that way,” I wanted to say, but I did not and then of his guards stepped inside later and he bowed low and his eyes flickered to me, and then away.

“My Alpha,” he said. “The healer, she does not smell like a rogue.”

Silence dropped hard and Damon looked at him and then at me.

“She smells like herbs,” Damon said. “And smoke, you are tired.”

“Yes, Alpha,” the guard said and left and Damon did not look away from me.

“Do I frighten you,” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, because truth can hide inside honesty.

Night came again and then I heard his voice while I grind herbs near the fire.

“Elera,” he whispered and I stopped breathing.

“Do not leave,” he said and his voice broke. “Please.”

My hands shook and tears burned my eyes and then I stepped back.

I could not stay and I could not let him heal.

Tomorrow, I would send him away or everything I love would burn.