Chapter Fifteen Zenovia
My throat is killing me. It feels raw, and the taste of blood is making me nauseous, not to speak of the pain all over my body.
It feels like I was hit by a wave on the reef over and over and over.
There’s a beeping sound that’s hurting my ears and head.
I want it to stop. I want all of it to stop.
The sounds fade as I give into exhaustion.
I groan as I try to move even though my body is protesting with me. Every move feels like it’s ripping me limp from limp. I cough slightly trying to soothe the rawness of my throat.
“Zen?” My whole body lights up at his voice. Cassian is here. I knew he would save me. “Baby, try to open your eyes.” I feel a soft kiss on my forehead.
My eyes flutter open, and I groan at the bright light. “Li..gh..t,” I choke out.
Someone shuffles in the room, and I know it’s not Cassian. He’s still next to me. I can feel him. His touch eases the pain, and I want more of it. “You can open your eyes now, baby.” He kisses my forehead once again.
I open my eyes slowly and smile at the handsome face of my boyfriend staring back at me. “He…y…” I clear my throat, or try to. It’s on fire.
“I’ll get the doctor.” I look past Cassian as Jaylen talks. He waves at me before he disappears out the door.
I turn my attention back to Cassian. He looks like he hasn’t slept for three days. “Ho..w lo..ng..”
“A day. You’ve only been out a day.” He runs his fingers along my cheek.
“The cupcakes were poisoned.” I nod as I close my eyes.
No one knew that I kept the cupcakes. The kids would have gotten them if Jaylen didn’t change his mind.
All those innocent kids who would have gotten sick, or worse, died.
It would have been my fault. “Jaylen is working on finding the one who did this–” He’s interrupted by the doctor walking in.
She gives me a sweet smile as she moves to check my vitals. I watch her as she walks around and does what needs to be done. She turns her attention to me. “I’m Dr. Twain. Your vitals look good. I can discharge you once the IV is done, but I need you to take it easy—bed rest for at least two weeks.”
“I’ll make sure she takes it easy.” Cassian smiles down at me as he rubs his hand up and down my arm.
Dr. Twain writes something in my chart before she winks at me. “I’ll get her documents and the nurse to remove the IV” She walks out, and Jaylen comes closer to the bed. He reaches out and squeezes my foot.
“Sorry for worrying you. I… I’m glad it was me and not the students.” I look down at my hands, and Cassian puts his fingers under my chin to lift my face. I meet his eyes and see the tears dancing in them.
“This never should have happened. We’ll make sure that this never happens again,” Cassian assures me.
Jaylen clears his throat, and we look at him. “I have my whole team working on it. Whoever is behind this will be found soon.”
“I hope so. I’m sure whoever did this wanted me to take the fall for it. They wanted Cassian’s students to be the ones poisoned.”
I take a deep breath. I hate to think it’s someone from the bakery.
I mean, I only have Evy and Jordan around most of the time, but Valerie has been by a few times.
It could be anyone who passed through the bakery.
“Wait, I have security cameras in the bakery. Maybe we could see who added something to the cupcakes.”
“I forgot about them. We had them installed without anyone knowing about them.”
Cassian kisses my lips and Jaylen pulls his phone out.
“Let’s get you ready while Jaylen calls this in.”
Jaylen waves his phone at me as Cassian helps me to sit up.
He takes my hand and helps me off the bed and to the bathroom.
“Do you want me to help you?” He smirks and I nod, holding his hand in mine. He closes the door behind him.
He helps me out of my clothes and into the shower. I watch him as he stands next to the shower, making sure I don’t slip. “You’re not coming in?”
He shakes his head as he scans my body. “Nope, you need to heal, not have me ravishing you.”
I chuckle as I take a quick shower under the watchful eyes of the man I love.
***
We’ve been home for a little over an hour, and I can tell something is eating at Cassian, but he isn’t saying anything. It also doesn’t help that Jaylen has been a cranky Joe since coming back from the hospital.
“Will one of you please tell me what’s going on?” They look at each other before Jaylen walks out of the living room.
“I need to go to the dance. You’ll be home with Jordan and two officers. Jaylen will be with me. We’re hoping that my stalker makes a move tonight.” Cassian kisses the top of my head, and I feel my stomach doing flips.
I cup his face in my hands, loving the fact that his golden locks look a little messy. I love it when he wears his hair like this. “I’ll be safe. You go do what you need to do. I will be here.” I take a deep breath as I glance around the room. “Where’s Evy?”
“She’s with Jordan at the bakery and then going home with Jordan to get ready for the dance. Her friend will join them at Jordan’s. Jordan wanted to give you time to rest. Also, Evy has been very emotional since you were taken to the hospital.”
My heart aches for Evy. She’s been through so much, and she doesn’t deserve it. I can’t even begin to imagine what she’s thinking. She has seen me in the hospital twice, and both times I was poisoned.
I lean against Cassian and he runs his hand on my arm. I fight to keep my eyes open, but with Cassian’s steady heartbeat and the feel of his fingers on me, I give in to sleep.