Chapter 24 #2
Before she found the strength to tell them to leave her alone, Laurie whispered, “I love you, Meadow Vale. Please believe us and fight to wake up. You’re burned out, and this is all a hallucination determined to make you lose hope.
And deep down, I think you know I speak the truth. Remember what happened to your mother.”
Images of her mother being unconscious for days flashed through her mind. And even when her mom eventually woke up because of an experimental treatment—used to shock fae witches awake—she’d walked around like a ghost.
Not long after, she’d jumped off a building.
Could she be experiencing the same thing?
Joseph whispered into her ear, “I love you as well, Meadow Vale. Please fight and wake up. Everyone’s waiting to see you again. You helped save the day, and so many want to say thank you.”
Doubt crept into her mind. Could it be true? Was this a burnout hallucination meant to make her feel hopeless?
Or were Laurie and Joseph the hallucination, one she’d conjured to make her feel less defeated?
Laurie and Joseph lay down on either side of her, and laid their arms across her body, holding her tight.
They were warm and familiar, and they made her feel safe and wanted.
Maybe it was all fake. But for now, for however long they were here, she desperately wanted to believe them.
“Love you too.”
Their arms tightened a little across her, and they each kissed a cheek.
And even if she were wrong and woke up later to discover her vampires had been a dream, Meadow snuggled into their warmth and willed for them to be speaking the truth. That she’d wake up and find everyone still alive.
She drifted off into nothingness.
“Meadow. Open your eyes, Meadow. You can do it.”
The voice sounded like…River.
“Did she just move a hand?”
“I think so.”
“Come on, Emmy. Just a little more and you’ll be back with us.”
And now Laurie, Joseph, and Nora had just spoken to her?
All the people she’d thought she’d killed?
Determined to see if she were imagining things, Meadow struggled to open her eyes. However, her eyelids weighed a ton, and she couldn’t do it.
Then she felt someone—or two someones—squeezing her hands.
Even without seeing them, she knew it was Laurie and Joseph.
Her heart ached to see them again. So she used the last of her energy, and dim lighting finally greeted her eyes.
She blinked a few times, and Laurie, Joseph, River, and Nora came into focus.
Laurie grinned, and Joseph briefly closed his eyes. They both leaned down on the bed, to better make eye contact.
Joseph spoke first. “Welcome back, love.”
Laurie said, “That means now you’ll have to marry us.”
Joseph sighed. “Give her some time to regain her strength before you say things like that.”
Laurie quirked an eyebrow. “No. We nearly lost her, and I’m not waiting for anything.”
Meadow’s head buzzed as she tried to take it all in. “Is this real, or am I dreaming again?”
“It’s real, pet.” And Laurie kissed her.
“You burned out, but now you’re back with us. Where you belong.” He also kissed her.
She glanced between the pair as hope gathered in her chest. Was this reality and not the bleak one?
However, before she could reply, River said, “You were unconscious for over two days, Em. But now you’re back, and I need to disturb your reunion to examine you.”
“River,” she said with a sob. “I thought you were dead.”
He smiled and shook his head. “No, Em. I’m right here. If this were a dream or hallucination, I’m sure that I wouldn’t look like a sleep-deprived hermit.”
She laughed, actually laughed, and said, “This has to be real. That’s only something you’d say, River.”
He snorted. “Well, glad to be of service.” He gestured at Laurie and Joseph. “You two need to let us examine her. While you wait, maybe you can think of a better way to propose to my little sister because your first try was pretty shitty.”
They both gave him the double-finger salute before focusing back on Meadow. Laurie and Joseph each kissed the back of a hand before murmuring they’d be back.
However, as soon as they released her hands and stepped back, panic raced through her. She cried out, “Don’t go! Please don’t go.”
River’s face filled her vision. Her poor brother looked ragged.
He said, “They’ll be just outside the door, Em.
You’re out of immediate danger, but I need to make sure your brain is healing from the burnout.
” An unfamiliar fae witch entered and nodded at River before he continued, “This is Stella. She also has healing magic, and will help me determine if anything else is wrong. Please let us take care of you, Meadow.”
At the pleading in his voice, no doubt a result of him also remembering what had happened to their mother, Meadow softened. “Of course, River. As long as Laurie and Joseph come back as soon as possible. I need to answer their proposal, after all.”
River sighed dramatically. “You’re going to say yes, aren’t you? And then I’ll have to deal with them all the time.”
Nora shook her head and said, “You like them both, so stop pretending you don’t.” She smiled at Meadow. “I’ll keep Laurie and Joseph company and bring them right back, I promise, Meadow. I’m so happy you’re with us again, too.”
With that, Nora herded them out of the room, and Meadow let her brother and the other fae witch doctor examine her.
Her heart raced the whole time, but not from some lingering burnout effects. No, it raced because she wanted to give Laurie and Joseph her answer.
Because of course she would marry them. After thinking she’d lost them forever, she didn’t want to waste another minute apart from them. Ever.