Page 44 of Festive

The presidency will have to go to Wraith.

Not that he wouldn’t make an amazing president—he would—but he’snota Walker.

He might be married to one, but his blood isn’t ours.

A Walkerneedsto be president.

So Six has to fucking pull through this because I amnotready to see the Walker reign end yet.

Not on my fucking watch!

Another five minutes.

Then ten.

I glance at the door every few seconds, half expecting Chills to burst through with the news, but the door remains closed. The wait feels endless. Every time the door creaks, my stomach twists, my pulse racing like it’s a fight for survival. Time moves in slow motion, and I swear I hear the clock ticking louder, mocking me.

It’s been over an hour now—an hour that feels like a lifetime.

When Chills finally walks in, it’s like the world stops for a second. I stand instantly, and everyone follows, the tension in the room crackling like the might of an electrical storm. My throat tightens, and my legs feel heavy as I take a step toward her, my heart thundering in my ears.

I’ve spent the last hour convincing myself I’m ready to hear whatever she has to say, but the second she’s standing in front of me, the fear slams back into my chest, threatening to knock me flat.

Letting out a long breath, I steady my shoulders. “How bad is it, Chills?” My voice comes out hoarse, raw with desperation.

I can’t handle any more waiting.

I need to know.

Now.

She hesitates for a split second—a heartbeat that feels like an eternity—and my heart nearly stops.

My whole body freezes, then my heart suddenly slams back against my chest, and I don’t even realize I’m holding my breath until I see the smallest hint of a smile on her face.

Relief crashes into me, so sudden and overwhelming that my knees almost buckle out from under me.

“First of all, he’s going to be okay,” she says, and those words—those fucking words—are like a lifeline. “With the help that Six was poisoned, we could figure out that he and Nessie have both been infected with strychnine. Nessie received secondary exposure from touching the glass, and I recommend removing the dishwasher. You need a hazmat team there as soon as possible to cleaneverything.Luckily, Six was directly exposed to a low dose, and while the short-term effects are quite horrific, any long-term effects are unlikely. Though, we will have to monitor his kidney function closely for a long while to come… just to make sure he’s doing okay.”

Furrowing my brows, I try to take all this information in. “So where to from here, doc?”

“He’ll have to stay in the hospital for a couple of days so we can flush the poison from his system. Same with Nessie, but after that, they should be good to return home to light duties. Hewillneed to take it easy for a while. This shit is hard on the body.”

I let out a shaky breath, my hand running over my face as I try to keep it together. My chest feels tight, but this time, it’s not from fear—it’s from the release of it. I’ve been wound so damn tight, expecting the worst, that I didn’t realize how much it was suffocating me. Now, the air feels a little easier to breathe.

“Thank fuck,” I mutter, swallowing hard as the tension drains from my body. I glance around at the others, seeing the same flood of relief wash over them. My throat feels thick, and my hands are trembling, but I don’t care.

He’s going to be okay.

That’s all that matters.

It takes everything in me not to just collapse right here. The weight that’s been crushing me for what feels like hours is finally lifting, and for the first time in forever, I feel like I can breathe.

“Thanks, Chills. You watch him closely. Any sign ofdeterioration, you let us know.”

She smiles her usual beautiful smile and gently caresses my arm. “Will do. He’s in good hands.”

I turn to Prinie, and she nods at me knowingly. “It’s time, Zero. You need to make that call.”

---