I woke up groggy, rubbing at my bleary eyes while sitting up in bed.
I had passed out after the meeting yesterday due to stress and exhaustion from using too much power.
I remember Holden sweeping me off my feet, then darkness.
Where could he be?
I hope I didn't bother him.
I stiffle a yawn, as I take off the blanket. Hands braced by my sides on the bed. I turn stiffly, find my flip flops and Slip into it.
I stare at it.
Lost.
Remembering how the master had reached for me at the same time Holden had. His reaction when Holden had touched me. Not to mention, Lugard's weird behaviour... is it just me or is there something more to this?
Before I can ponder deeper on this, I hear Jax float towards me. Tail swishing lazily as he eyawns, a paw lifted in a failed attempt to stiffly it.
"Morning Mystic." He said, eyes squinted. I pause, turn to him with an unimpressed expression.
"Morning," I say despite myself, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Did you sleep well?" Jax asks me and I nod.
"I feel weak and sore though, but I think I can manage." I say, bracing both hands on the bed again, gathering the strength to push my body upwards.
Jax shakes his head, the laziness in his eyes gone now.
"Don't move," I stop, turning to him perplexed. "Your body is weak right now, you can't strain it further."
I arced a brow. "I'm not going to war yet Jax. I just need to be present for the discussion on the strategy. Its important."
Jax hesitates, "Its not my choice, Holden made me make sure you don't leave until he's back." I go rigid, my mind blank, my heart stuttering.
I narrow my eyes, "don't tell me... he was by my side the entire..." I say trailing off. Jax nods, having understood what I had wanted to say.
"Yes, he had fallen asleep by your side. He'll be back soon." Jax says, I don't respond. My mind reeling from what I was told.
As though on cue, I hear a faint knock against the doors of my chamber before it is pushed open. I slowly turn to the source of noise, dazed and curious on who it could be.
Steps echo in my chamber before he comes into view.
Holden.
He looked tired, his hair tossled and his posture a bit slouched. Did he really sleep at all?
In his hands was a tray of breakfast for me. He didn't even seem to notice I was awake. His eyes were downcast and lost in thoughts far away.
Jax leans closer and whispers, "he's here."
When he gets closer, his eyes find me. I watched the transition happen, while taken aback.
His eyes widen slightly, his lazy slouched posture straightens. The tiredness in his eyes gone, his eyes sweeped over me as though looking for casualties in a weapon.
Though it wasn't cold and calculating, but it had the same aim, to check for damage.
He reaches my side in the blink of an eye, gently sets the tray by my side before turning back to me.
"How do you feel?" He asked, voice hoarse at the edges. I lower my gaze from his eyes for some wierd reason. "Stiff, but okay." I gritted out, he blinked then smiled.
"Don't worry, it should subside after this medication." He says, eyes searching my face before locking with mine.
He takes a seat beside me, and rubs his hands nervously on his jeans. His eyes shift to Jax who is still floating lazily around me. "Thank you for not allowing her to leave." My eyes narrowed, but Jax scoffed.
"I'm her guardian, I can't let anything bad happen to her. Can I?" Jax says brushing him off, which leads to a small smile on Holden's lips.
"Yeah right," he says, playflully dismissing Jax, before turning back to me. "I ran into the master on my way back to your room." My body tenses, my survival instincts kicking in for some reason.
"What did he say?" I ask carefully, voice low and soft. Holden watched me for a moment before carrying on. "He wants us to have a meeting to discuss our battle strategy." I fall silent, my lips pursed but he continues anyway.
"He asked if you'd be attending after what happened last night." He added, my mind reels and suddenly its like... a bit noisy.
I lower my head, eyes squeezed shut, trying to fight and silence the chaos in my head. The grip of my hands braced against the bed tightening.
The noise in my head gets so loud that I barely hear him calling out to me. I grit my teeth, struggling to silence the noises when I feel it.
His hand against mine, not wanting anything, just gently squeezing mine. My mine goes blank, and suddenly the noise doesn't exist.
He... he had silenced the noises in my head with just one touch?
I slowly open my eyes which had been squeezed shut in agony. I lift my head and lock eyes with him. He looked worried.
"What happened? I kept calling out to you but you didn't respond. Everything fine?" He asked, eyes scanning me, while my eyes searched his face for a lie but found none.
I shake my head, "I'm fine now. It happens once in a while, I'll be okay." I say stiffly, slipping my hands away from his. Holden blinked, and seemed to withdraw back into himself.
I narrowed my eyes, "everything okay?" He asks again, his hand rigidly by his side. Almost restrained. I nod, "yeah, and I will be going to the meeting. I should be fine by then." I say looking at him with a soft small playful smile.
He nods, his rigid shoulders relaxing when he sees the faint smile on my lips. His eyes softening, "good. We'll surprise him then." He said and I nodded, eyes filled with mischief. "Of course we will." I smile, and he smiles back.