Page 79 of Oleander
The fear in his voice spurs me to move, and I finally get my eyes to open. “Am I seeing double?” I croak out, hissing in pain from the simple task of speaking. I clutch at my side and squeeze my eyes shut.
“No, dumbass. It’s Flame. Can you walk?”
I glance at Oleander, who’s scowling at his brother.
“I can’t even stand.” At my pained reply, Ander’s concerned eyes dart down to me. He squats, resting the back of his hand against my forehead.
“You’re burning up, Sky. I’m worried. Really worried.”
“Y-yeah. I think I might be pretty fucked up, to be honest.” I lift the corner of my shirt slightly before hissing in pain and dropping it.
Oleander lifts the edge for himself and gasps at what he finds. “Sky. . .No.”
“Fuck!” Flame curses, leaning over his brother’s shoulder to get a closer look.
I meet Ander’s glistening gaze, the tears instantly welling up. And I think I finally understand that it’s not just a scratch.
“W-when?” he stutters, already knowing the answer.
“The Hunt.”
He squeezes his eyes shut, and a single tear slips out, making a lonely journey down the curves of his face and settling into the seam of his lips. If I could move, I’d kiss it away.
I’m fucked. I know it.
“Am I a goner?” I choke on the last word, not ready for this to be the end. I feel sick, and not just from the hellhound venom flowing through my veins.
Ander opens his eyes, a new determination shining brightly in their lavender depths. “No.I won’t let that happen. Flame, help me get him up.Please.”
Both brothers grab me under the armpit and lift. I yell out in excruciating pain as the movement pulls at my infected wound. I’m breathless and on the verge of passing out, and black spots swim in my vision as Oleander and Flame practically drag me back to the dorm and into the waiting elevator.
“H-how did you find me?” I mumble incoherently as we wait for it to take us up eight floors.
“The trees talk. They guided me.I was worried about you.”
“I. . . I thought you wanted to leave,” I pant out.
“What? No?”
“I heard you tell your mom there’s nothing here for you.”
“No, Skyler. You mustn't have heard the rest. I said, there’s nothing here for me exceptSkyler. I told her exactly how much you mean to me and that I’m staying.”
We stare at each other for a moment, inches apart. Our unspoken connection thrums between us like a living, breathing entity.
Before I have a chance to say anything, the elevator doors open, revealing Gaia and Nerine waiting outside our door. Gaia’s giant smile immediately drops when she sees the state I’m in.
“Oh my goddess, Skyler!” She runs over, attempting to help Flame and Oleander drag me through the front door and to my bed. They gently set me down, and Gaia immediately throws out a slew of questions that overwhelm my brain. “What happened?Are you sick? Injured? What’s wrong?”
“Gaia, please,” Oleander says as politely as a life-or-death situation can allow for.
Nerine wraps long, slender arms around her girlfriend, pulling her out of the way. “Let us know what we can do to help,” she whispers softly, and Oleander nods his thanks.
“Thank you. Can you get him a glass of water and a bowl for me? Oh, and a fresh towel, please. To the right of the sink.”
Ander holds up the pair of scissors from my desk. “I’m going to cut your shirt open. I can buy you another.”
“Do it.” My skin pebbles as it’s exposed to the cool air, even though my temperature is spiking.
