The night was filled with restless tension, the only sound the soft, strained breaths of their daughter. Bella sat by Rosalie’s crib, her hands trembling as she watched her daughter’s chest rise and fall, the tiny movements growing weaker with each passing moment. Kael stood behind her, his fists clenched as he paced the room, his own fear mirrored in Bella’s desperate eyes.
“She’s getting worse,” Bella whispered, her voice barely audible, as she reached out to touch Rosalie’s forehead. The baby was burning with fever, her skin warm to the touch, yet her breathing remained labored and shallow. Bella’s heart twisted in her chest, and she felt helpless. “I don’t understand. Why isn’t she getting better?”
Kael stopped pacing and knelt beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder. His usual strength and composure were shaken, replaced by the same fear that had gripped Bella. “We’ll figure this out, Bella. We’ll get through this. We always do.”
But even as Kael spoke the words, he didn’t believe them. Rosalie’s condition was worsening, and nothing they tried seemed to ease her pain. The joy of her birth felt like a distant memory now, replaced by the crushing weight of worry and fear.
“Esmera,” Bella whispered through gritted teeth, her voice filled with self-loathing. “It has to be her. She did this. The baby’s illness… it has to be some kind of curse from that damn spell she cast.”
Kael’s jaw tightened at the mention of Esmera. The woman who had caused so much pain, so much destruction, and now, it seemed, she had cursed their daughter. He could feel the anger burning within him, but there was no time for vengeance now. There was only one thing that mattered: saving Rosalie.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. “Misery and Lira. We need their help.”
Kael’s voice was firm, and despite the chaos swirling around him, his resolve was unshakable. He wouldn’t lose his daughter. Not like this.
Within moments, Misery and Lira arrived at the room, their expressions grave as they assessed the situation. Misery immediately stepped forward, his sharp eyes scanning Rosalie’s pale face and shallow breathing. Lira, though concerned, stood quietly beside him, offering what comfort she could.
“I’ll start with her energy,” Misery muttered, his fingers hovering just above Rosalie’s tiny body. “We need to see if there’s any lingering magic.”
Lira nodded in agreement, moving to Bella’s side. “I’ll check her vitals, see if there’s something more physical going on.”
As Misery focused his attention on Rosalie’s aura, Bella held her breath, praying for some kind of breakthrough. Lira, meanwhile, checked the baby’s pulse and temperature, her brow furrowed with concern.
“I don’t understand,” Misery said after a moment, his voice heavy with frustration. “There’s no lingering magic. Nothing from Esmera’s spell, at least. No dark magic traces, nothing that’s causing this directly.”
Bella’s heart sank. If it wasn’t Esmera’s curse, then what was happening to Rosalie? What had gone wrong? The baby had been healthy, strong, just hours ago. This sudden decline made no sense.
Lira looked up from her examination, her expression just as puzzled. “She’s not showing any signs of infection, and her energy levels are low, but not dangerously so. Her body’s fighting something, but… I don’t know what.”
Misery sighed heavily, his gaze never leaving Rosalie. “This doesn’t make sense. Something’s draining her, but it’s not magic. It’s almost as if her energy is being siphoned from her, but by what? Or who?”
Bella’s chest tightened with anxiety. She didn’t know how much more she could take. The guilt was suffocating her. Was it her fault for bringing this child into such a dangerous world? Had she put Rosalie at risk by fighting for her, by defying Esmera?
Kael saw the look on her face and immediately moved to kneel beside her, his hand gently cupping her cheek. “Stop blaming yourself, Bella. This is not your fault. We will find a way to fix this. You hear me?”
But Bella shook her head, her voice breaking. “She’s my responsibility. I’m her mother, Kael. I’m supposed to protect her, but I failed. I let Esmera get too close. Now look at her.” She motioned helplessly to Rosalie. “She’s suffering because of me.”
Kael’s grip tightened on her, pulling her close. “This isn’t your fault,” he repeated, his voice firm. “Esmera’s the one who’s to blame. And we’re going to make her pay for this.”
Misery watched them for a moment before turning to Lira. “We need to find out what’s really happening here. This isn’t some random illness. Whatever’s happening to Rosalie, it’s deliberate.”
Lira nodded, her face pale with concern. “I’ll try to find something more. There has to be a clue somewhere. We’ll figure it out.”
Kael nodded curtly, his expression determined. “Keep looking. We’re running out of time.”
The tension in the room was suffocating as everyone worked tirelessly to uncover the truth. Bella stayed by Rosalie’s side, her eyes never leaving her daughter’s small form. She couldn’t bear to look away, even for a second. Every breath Rosalie took, every sound she made, was a reminder of how fragile life could be.
Hours passed in silence, the only sound the occasional murmur of Misery and Lira as they discussed possible leads. Bella’s exhaustion was thick, but she refused to give up. Kael stayed close, offering support, but even he knew the helplessness that came with seeing his daughter suffer.
Just when it seemed like hope might be slipping away, a knock on the door startled them all.
Misery opened the door, and a package was placed in his hands. The wrapping was plain, but a small piece of parchment was attached with a dark ribbon. The handwriting on the parchment was unmistakable.
Bella’s heart stopped as she read the words.
It was Esmera’s handwriting.
Kael stepped forward, his jaw tightening as he read over her shoulder. “What is this?”
The note read:
“For the Alpha and his mate. A gift. If you want to save your daughter, you’ll have to come to me. Time is running out.”