Chapter Thirty-One
Derek
A week later.
“Just one quick magic session with Remi and Juno and then we’ll return,” Nolen assured me.
I reluctantly left our room where Aiden was sleeping, feeling like my heart was breaking as we left him alone for the first time.
“Explain again why leaving him is wise?” I demanded, hating each step I took.
Nolen sighed. “Because you need some grass time before I’ll be put to sleep.”
He’d told me about Mindy’s idea of him being in a coma-like state too, and how it could potentially help me and Aiden heal faster, but it sounded like this would take more than just a week’s sleep.
“Just how long does Mindy plan on you sleeping for?”
“For as long as it takes,” he muttered quietly.
I stopped him, my hand grabbing his. “You plan on sleeping for maybe months?! I can’t ask you to lose that much of your life for me, for us.”
His smile turned from pensive to soft. “I don’t have anything to live for when you two are asleep.
I live for these moments when you’re awake.
Sleeping and then waking up to both of you being healed is actually a blessing.
I don’t have to lay there in silence, waiting for one of you to wake up only to be left alone again.
I know I shouldn’t complain. You two have it way worse than me.
I know that, but I feel so powerless. I want to fix you both, to heal your core so we can start living, the three of us.
And I selfishly can’t wait, so being asleep really is a help for me. ”
Blinking at him, I tried to come up with a reply, but how do you answer that weird love declaration?
“Grass time?” I said instead, lacing my fingers with his as we walked outside the castle.
We didn’t speak as we passed several castle workers, too in our own heads to bother with conversation. Remi and Juno waited outside by one of the only trees, waving excitedly at us.
Nolen leaned closer to my side and whispered, “They’ve missed you.”
My smile was wide as we approached them, and then I was crushed into a hug by Remi.
“We’ve been so worried,” Remi whispered as he held me close. I sank into the hug, enjoying the calming scent of my brother.
“I feel better,” I promised.
“Not from what I hear,” Juno interrupted, hugging me into his side. “Nolen now has to be asleep, too?”
Nolen groaned. “Who told you that?”
Juno crossed his arms. “My dad.”
“Figures,” Nolen muttered.
Remi looked between us. “Is it a bad thing?”
I shook my head. “Not at all. It should be what finally helps me out.” I still couldn’t mention Aiden and I hated that. But there was still a small chance he wouldn’t make it, and I selfishly didn’t want to talk about how my twin brother might die soon, so keeping him a secret was for the best.
Remi and Juno didn’t seem convinced, but we still managed to play around with glamour before I started to sway.
“And that’s enough for today,” Nolen declared, swooping in to catch me in his strong arms before I could faint.
My eyes drooped close and I heard a faint whisper, “See you soon, my darling.”