Page 57 of The Silent Mountain
“Don’t,” she says quietly. “I… don’t know what to say, but I get it, Favian. I really do.”
“I used to see this view daily,” I mutter. “For weeks and months, and then it led to my captivity.”
“Does it always stand for death?” Alana asks.
I nod.
“But… who…” she whispers, her voice trailing off.
That’s when it hits me. I was so caught up in my own grief and pain that I completely forgot to prioritize my clan. Someone is dying! “Damn it,” I curse. “I need to check on this immediately.”
“I am coming with you,” Alana says, much to my relief. Maybe it shows weakness to rely on my mate in moments like this, but I couldn’t care less. I want to give my clan all the help they need, and if I need Alana to do this with me to fulfill the task, I will.
We both rush down the corridor, but we don’t get far because Stefan is running towards us. “My king!” he blurts out.
“Did you alert our witch and doctor?” I ask before inquiring further.
“Immediately, like the protocol demands,” he hurries to say.
“Who is it?” I ask. “What happened?”
Stefan gazes at me. “It’s Maggie,” he says quietly.
No matter how often you see it, no matter how much loss you experience, you never get used to it. Never! And even if you expect it to happen like with Maggie, it still comes as a surprise. It comes with pain and grief and sadness.
“Is she in her chambers?” I ask.
When Stefan nods, I turn on my heels and target Maggie’s room instead. “What happened?” I ask him again.
“One of the maids found her today,” he says. “She was lying on the floor in her room. Maybe she wanted to get up or… I don’t know. She was responsive, though, but very weak. She couldn’t link anyone for help.”
My heart breaks for Maggie.
“Stefan,” I halt, forcing my heart to slow down as I try not to show how much this affects me. “Go and wake Elio.”
“But, my king…“ he mutters. “He is so young, and he has experienced so much loss already, and-“
“Do what I tell you,” I say shortly, not bothering with explaining this to him. I couldn’t care less.
“He needs to be able to say goodbye,” Alana tells Stefan. “Not everyone is able to say goodbye when they lose a loved one, but Elio can. He still has the chance, and he wouldn’t forgive his brother if he didn’t get this chance when it’s offered to him so clearly.”
“Of course,” Stefan says before bowing his head towards me. “I apologize for doubting your decision.”
He hurries off while Alana and I continue to rush to Maggie’s room. “Thank you,” I mutter to her. “I didn’t have the patience to explain things to him.”
“You don’t like him much, do you?” she asks.
“You are right, I don’t,” I admit, more direct than usual. “But that’s a story for later.”
Alana nods. “If you want me to leave you alone with Maggie, I will. I know she was important to you, and I don’t want to impose.”
“Please come with me,” I say while stopping at Maggie’s door. “I… I think she will be happy to see you and know I am not alone.”
You never get used to losing those close to you.
With a shaky breath, I open the door and quietly step inside. Maggie is in her bed, covered with a blanket. Frederick is already there, attending to her. He looks at me when he spots me, his expression saying it all.I sent the witch back home,he tells me.There was nothing we could do anymore, and she didn’t need to experience this.
I nod.
